Back Pain And The Sleeve

[v_dub1968 13]

Well I will give you some info about me. I weigh 360lb and I would like to lose 120lb. I have a bad back I have been living with for years (over 15). I have a herniated disc, degenerative disc disease and the cartilage is very thin to gone between a couple disc. My doctor suggested to go until I can't stand the pain any longer then look into surgery. I know even with weight loss im going to have pain but my nsaids really help me. My weight loss doctor is wanting me to get RNY to lose more weight faster. He suggested for the back pain take tylenol and Water therapy. I know tylenol and water therapy won't help me so im considering the sleeve. Has anyone else been in a similar situation? I'm trying to decide between the two surgeries and its only two weeks away from surgery time.

[Coykoi 45]

I have a very similar back situation, but back surgery is way down on my list of things to do. RNY tends to be faster weight loss, but some of the downsides are the malabsorbtive part that makes the weight loss faster can cause other problems. I found several websites of info on the sleeve and RNY which is good for info so you can make the decision. One thing to keep in mind is the sleeve can be converted into an RNY later, but not the other way around. Good luck on making your decision.

[ZombiePiper 11]

I too have a similar situation and have had back surgeries. The reason I picked the VSG was absorption. My first accident was bad I fractured vertebrates and I'm already showing arthritis clearly on x-ray. When I'm retired god willin' and the river don't rise at some point logically I'll be on meds for arthritis or my quality of life could have a really high percentage of being very poor. I don't want to be a burden to anyone epically my children nor do I wish to suffer because I can't absorb anti-inflammatory's.

I wanted to note something for you to think about that I think will be of value. You will have to sleep on your back post op. If your like most people with back injuries you don't sleep on your back, I haven't once since my accident because it's painful. Because you can't sleep on your side after the surgery it's going to be rough on your back. I'm in more pain from sleeping on my back then anything that had to do with my surgery and I'm 19 days (I think I might be off a day) post op. I can't sleep on my side at this time call it 20 days post op, the inside sutures pull way to hard still.

I raised my bed with a 4 x 4 because the information my surgeon provided noted it will help you keep from aspirating while you sleep and keep you from choking. Once your drinking Water and they release you this will make all the sense in the world, you aspirate for a few days just sitting reading a book after the surgery. My Dr. recommended a 30° incline, the 4 x 4 I used does not give that high of a range. When I did the math I think it was 22°-ish degrees. I now wish I would have done the full 30° because the incline I have now is helping so much with my back, another 10 or so degrees would have been even better.

If you plan on raising the head of your bed get it up there as high as you can. I wish mine were higher but I live alone and theirs no way I could lift my bed now, it would rip the sutures. Just food 4 thought, my back is really bothering me and it's keeping me awake. I'm not really getting a lot of sleep and it's slowing my recover a bit.

Good luck with your Surgery!

[O.T.R. sleever 3,386]

You're weight loss is going to rely almost entirely on you. I'm a big fan of the sleeve over RNY for numerous reasons not the least of which is the fact that the healing from the sleeve is much easier. Mine & my wife's fathers wives have bothe had RNY & both had miserable recoveries. After I breezed through mine my father is going through the process now to get sleeved.

Also there are mixed opinions about NSAIDs with the sleeve. I take naproxen for a bad knee(not often). Also not having malabsorption issues means much less problems with future medications & more easily getting all the nutrients needed to properly nourish your body after future surgery.

I am currently 6 months out & have lost over 2/3 of my excess body weight. I started @ 289lbs and am currently at 194. I need to get to 155 to have a normal BMI(25). I will say I have been pretty strict on my diet, but haven't gotten much exercise due to my knee issue. So IMO if you were willing to knuckle down and limit yourself to only eating what benifits your body, I see no reason why your weightloss with the sleeve couldn't be as fast as it would be with RNY, without the future issues RNY creates.

[v_dub1968 13]

I would prefer to have the sleeve myself because I know in the future I will be needing back surgery so im kinda leaning towards the sleeve as of now. I have tried Water therapy and tylenol and it didn't help any at all. My thought is if I get the sleeve I could still take nsaids and be able to exercise alot more than without nsaids on the rny.

[thepick4u 8]

Hi,

I have both knees, feet/ankles, and your same back problems in the lumbar area. My arthritis is both RA and OA with the disc disease. No NSAIDS is hard to handle and the liquid lortab does nothing for my pain really. Sleeved DEC 19th and right now miserable. Having steroid injections in back Jan 4th. I think I made the right choice due to having the extensive need for arthritis meds. Good luck and know you have someone out here who can totally relate.