Did anyone have severe knee or lower back arthritis before the surgery and it was resolved after surgery? If not, are u still able to take NSAIDS (Tylenol, tramadol, percocet, etc) for relief?

I take

Actemra IV infusion once a month

Methotrexate shot once a week

Prednisone once a day

I take two vicodin twice a day.

I am 4 months post op and my Neuro prescribed me a liquid form of Vicodin I can take up to 3 times daily... I try to only take it as needed though.

@nursemissy, truly nothing works for me. My knee is bone on bone. Ive taken all over the counter meds, tylenol, aleve, advil. Ive taken prescription, mobic, tramadol, vicodin, percocet which makes me sick and woosy (lightheaded/dizzy) and sleepy. Ive had cortisone injections which are laughable and synvisc injections, expensive and of no help. Ughhh. So i move very little now days.

I am just coming up on a 1 year anniversary of surgery, I had left knee replacement on may, 28 2013, I had the right one done, in 2011, prior to bypass, this recovery has been much easier! I'm 53, had the 1st one at 51. Either osteo or psoriatic arthritis, Dr can't say definitively which. Pain relief since having to give up Celebrex & NSAIDs has been, h!!!. Almost stopped me from going forward with surgery, they really don't address this issue well. Tylenol is barely useful, but when I don't take it, I notice pain even more so I guess it does a little something. I use the extended release arthritis formula, the only strength that touches pain. Be careful not to take too much tylenol if you are still using narcotics as they also contain tylenol. narcotics do work for arthritis pain, but make me feel weird & you can't drive when you take them. tramadol, also known as Ultram also works but make me feel weird too & it gives me insomnia, apparently there is about 15% of the population that Ultram can do this too. So, my advice for knees, is go for replacement, don't wait, it's the only cure.

@nursemissy' date=' truly nothing works for me. My knee is bone on bone. Ive taken all over the counter meds, tylenol, aleve, advil. Ive taken prescription, mobic, tramadol, vicodin, percocet which makes me sick and woosy (lightheaded/dizzy) and sleepy. Ive had cortisone injections which are laughable and synvisc8 injections, expensive and of no help. Ughhh. So i move very little now days.[/quote']

My plaquinelle has irritated my pouch..scope for me thursday.

Waiting on insurance to ok injections.

Sometimes its hard to exercise the way i wan t.

HW 255# surgerversary 04/29/13 cw 211#

I am just coming up on a 1 year anniversary of surgery, I had left knee replacement on may, 28 2013, I had the right one done, in 2011, prior to bypass, this recovery has been much easier! I'm 53, had the 1st one at 51. Either osteo or psoriatic arthritis, Dr can't say definitively which. Pain relief since having to give up Celebrex & NSAIDs has been, h!!!. Almost stopped me from going forward with surgery, they really don't address this issue well. Tylenol is barely useful, but when I don't take it, I notice pain even more so I guess it does a little something. I use the extended release arthritis formula, the only strength that touches pain. Be careful not to take too much tylenol if you are still using narcotics as they also contain tylenol. narcotics do work for arthritis pain, but make me feel weird & you can't drive when you take them. tramadol, also known as Ultram also works but make me feel weird too & it gives me insomnia, apparently there is about 15% of the population that Ultram can do this too. So, my advice for knees, is go for replacement, don't wait, it's the only cure.

Colorado, I really want to have a knee replacement, but the Ortho dr refused due to my weight. Dr said if a knee replacement last 15 yrs for a normal size person, and if he replaced my knee, due to weight, wear and tear, it may only last 7 yrs.

I feel as long as I am (with insurance assistance) paying for the replacement, I am entitled to the 7 years! It should not matter to him that the replacement may not last as long as intended, as long his services are paid.

Then he brought up the fact that surgery is risky at my weight...well me falling down on someone if my knee goes out is risky for others too!!!! haaa

My plaquinelle has irritated my pouch..scope for me thursday.

Waiting on insurance to ok injections.

Sometimes its hard to exercise the way i wan t.

HW 255# surgerversary 04/29/13 cw 211#

Nursemissy, I googled Plaquenil and will research injections, prednisone, etc. I am unfamiliar with injections, etc for pain relief...only knew about pills and since they do not work for me, I was at a loss. I should see a Pain Management doctor to learn what my options are. Thank you!

What the dr says about weight and the impact on the implants has some truth, but there are Drs who will give new knees to larger people, I suggest see another surgeon for a second opinion. Many of the Drs say wait, you are too young and the implants won't last that long, but I say, what about quality of life now. I'd rather slow down in 10 or 20 years when the implants wear out. Who knows, in that time they may have something better.

The injections are called synvisc, or there are a couple of other brands, they are supposed to provide a kind of artificial cushion in the knee, they help a few people, they did not work for me. You can also get cortisone injections that will help for a while, you can get them every 3 months but for me they only lasted about 6 weeks, nut everyone is different how long they last. The most effective injections I had prior to surgery were Toradol (a very powerful painkiller) and a local anesthetic. Just make a note, that if you are diabetic, the cortisone will shoot your blood sugar higher for a few days.

Good luck with finding some relief, a try a new Dr!