I am waiting on my final insurance approval (SO excited) but I have a question about knee pain at night for y'all. I take 4 ibuprofen EVERY night right now, and still toss and turn in pain most nights. I have to come off it before surgery- at least 10 day before- and my surgeon said I need to stop takin it forever since I can cause ulcers. He says some of his patients use some topical compounded medicine that works for them. Any serious pain sufferers out there had any luck with stuff like this? I am skeptical...

My primary reason for having surgery was the knee pain that had disabled me. I could not stand for more than 5 minutes without pain, had trouble walking, especially downhill or down steps. I hadn't been able to manage a big trip to the grocery store in well over a year. I can't straighten either leg fully, but my left knee is much worse than the right. At night I would sometimes wake up in pain when I rolled over or shifted my legs from whatever position my knees had frozen in. I was in pain every single day, but I stopped taking pain meds for the most part, because nothing ever helped enough. Towards the end of last year, my ortho surgeon told me it was time to plan my double knee replacement surgery. I was only 48, and I knew that was far younger than is ideal for knee replacement. Also, the prognosis for the life of my new knees wouldn't be great, due to the extra weight I was carrying. I knew I would be in for a second replacement at some point. On the way home, I decided to look more into the sleeve. My stepsister had just had it, and she was doing really well.

I went through all the preop steps & was sleeved on June 19th. At 3 months out, I'm down about 65 lbs & my knees feel better than they have in YEARS. I can stand for about half an hour now & I am exercising regularly. Losing the weight won't make my knees magically regenerate, but I have been astonished at how much better they felt even after losing just 20 or 30 lbs. You may find that you don't need the meds like you have been used to. As you are able to exercise, you can strengthen your quad muscles, which help support the knees. Good luck to you!

My primary reason for having surgery was the knee pain that had disabled me. I could not stand for more than 5 minutes without pain' date=' had trouble walking, especially downhill or down steps. I hadn't been able to manage a big trip to the grocery store in well over a year. I can't straighten either leg fully, but my left knee is much worse than the right. At night I would sometimes wake up in pain when I rolled over or shifted my legs from whatever position my knees had frozen in. I was in pain every single day, but I stopped taking pain meds for the most part, because nothing ever helped enough. Towards the end of last year, my ortho surgeon told me it was time to plan my double knee replacement surgery. I was only 48, and I knew that was far younger than is ideal for knee replacement. Also, the prognosis for the life of my new knees wouldn't be great, due to the extra weight I was carrying. I knew I would be in for a second replacement at some point. On the way home, I decided to look more into the sleeve. My stepsister had just had it, and she was doing really well.

I went through all the preop steps & was sleeved on June 19th. At 3 months out, I'm down about 65 lbs & my knees feel better than they have in YEARS. I can stand for about half an hour now & I am exercising regularly. Losing the weight won't make my knees magically regenerate, but I have been astonished at how much better they felt even after losing just 20 or 30 lbs. You may find that you don't need the meds like you have been used to. As you are able to exercise, you can strengthen your quad muscles, which help support the knees. Good luck to you![/quote']

Thank you for the encouragement! I am so glad your knees are getting better

My primary reason for having surgery was the knee pain that had disabled me. I could not stand for more than 5 minutes without pain' date=' had trouble walking, especially downhill or down steps. I hadn't been able to manage a big trip to the grocery store in well over a year. I can't straighten either leg fully, but my left knee is much worse than the right. At night I would sometimes wake up in pain when I rolled over or shifted my legs from whatever position my knees had frozen in. I was in pain every single day, but I stopped taking pain meds for the most part, because nothing ever helped enough. Towards the end of last year, my ortho surgeon told me it was time to plan my double knee replacement surgery. I was only 48, and I knew that was far younger than is ideal for knee replacement. Also, the prognosis for the life of my new knees wouldn't be great, due to the extra weight I was carrying. I knew I would be in for a second replacement at some point. On the way home, I decided to look more into the sleeve. My stepsister had just had it, and she was doing really well.

I went through all the preop steps & was sleeved on June 19th. At 3 months out, I'm down about 65 lbs & my knees feel better than they have in YEARS. I can stand for about half an hour now & I am exercising regularly. Losing the weight won't make my knees magically regenerate, but I have been astonished at how much better they felt even after losing just 20 or 30 lbs. You may find that you don't need the meds like you have been used to. As you are able to exercise, you can strengthen your quad muscles, which help support the knees. Good luck to you![/quote']

OMG this is so great to hear! Congrats! I had cartilage surgery on both knees, the last one just 1 1/2 months ago . I was just sleeved 5 days ago and one of the big reasons was because of the knee pain. This really inspires me to exercise and stay on track!

I am bone-on-bone in both knees and also relied heavily on ibuprofen before surgery.

Now I use Topricin topical cream and Beneflex arthritis meds (over the counter).

I have lost over 60 pounds and my knees feel SO much better! Good luck!

Right knee replaced 2007, left knee replaced 2012 (different hospital - different doctor). Right knee was a total botch job with a lot of residual pain. Since I have several orthopedic issues and can no longer take Ibuprofen because it tore up my stomach big time and made it raw, my ortho specialist prescribed Voltaren Gel. Voltaren Gel is a topical crème that provides significant and noticeable relief for all the achy places. There is no OTC equivalent with the same active ingredient, but Aspercreme is a close second.. I hope you are able to find some relief. I am waiting to get rid of this extra person I am wearing for a belt. Bet my knees feel better then.

I have severe osteoarthritis. Everywhere. Giving up NSAIDs was my absolute biggest fear. I went through a transition from Mobic and Voltaren Gel to topicals and Tylenol, then Tramadol and ice. The pain has diminished with the weight loss everywhere except for in my fingers. I still have days I'd like to chop one of those off, but weight bearing joints have fared much better than I expected.

That's what I am hoping for: that the weight loss itself will bring relief, not to mention getting rid of this inflammation machine (my big old belly) that feeds it.

I too had total knee replacement two years ago and a "clean out" on the left this summer. Not wanting another knee replacement for a long time I opted for the sleeve . Ortho said h

Each pound we lose is twenty lbs of pressure on those joints. Since I have lost 43 since meniscus surgery I took almost 900 lbs of pressure off those poor knees. Left knee is so much better!!!

This is also the reason I am going for surgery I have bone on bone on my left knee and I'm tried of the pain. It's good to hear that taking off the wt. can help so much. I have 2 more visits to go for insurance purposes and can't wait to have the surgery!!

Hmmmm.... I have tried the voltarin gel on my hands and it didn't help at all.... Doubtful it would work even as well on much larger joint like my knee : (

sippigrl, I am pre-op, and was taken off NSAIDS, too. Like you, I also have arthritic knee pain. I bought some Salonpas spray (not the patch), and didn't really expect it to work, but it does! Give it a try!

I am wondering if something like JOINT JUICE (liquid glucosamine condroitin would help for arthritus post op) has anyone tried it?

I too am wondering what happens once we get off the ibuprofen post op.

So we can never take it again?

I won't even meet my surgeon Til I get to Mexico in six weeks so I really apreciate everyone's experiences and ideas!

sippigrl' date=' I am pre-op, and was taken off NSAIDS, too. Like you, I also have arthritic knee pain. I bought some Salonpas spray (not the patch), and didn't really expect it to work, but it does! Give it a try![/quote']

It is worth a try- thanks!

I have RA and am 6-7 weeks out. Until last week I was in remission and had zero pain. 3-4 days ago the pain has returned in full force and I am struggling to cope with that mentally as well as physically. I've started the meds again and am hoping for some relief.

I have to believe that the lower weight is easier on our joints. I had really hoped that the inflammation would subside with the surgery and with a change of diet. There are people on the board for whom that was true. In my case that didn't turn out to be true.

I also have bad genes on both sides of the family. My mom had RA, and on my day's side, a cousin and Aunt have it and they are both skinny people. So I guess it was unrealistic to think it would go away--but I had hoped it would.

Rambling but my point is, your arthritis may or may not go away, but the weight loss will help your joints and disease progression. Good luck!