I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and am dealing with that as well as the surgery and for me, it is kind of scary.

Is there anyone out there in the same boat as me?

I have OA with abundant spinal bone spurs. I am very concerned about tools for OA pain management post surgery. I have managed to not use narcotic pain killers for the OA, but my surgeon said I might have to since NSAIDS might harm my stomach.

I am fighting the problem in my knees. It was managed with anti inflammatories but am now using ice and the least amount of Vicodin I can take to be comfortable. I am hoping as the weight comes off this will get better. I am frustrated because I can't walk as much as I want to.

I have lupus, Hashimoto's , and Addison's disease. I got the band July 1, 2013 and am doing great.

I have fibromyalgia, osteo arthritis, RSD, stenosis of the spine and I'm doing better with pain management most of the time.

You should work with a pain specialist because there are alternatives to not using narcotics to ease your pain. There are Linoderm patches which are applied to the effected areas 12 hours on 12 hours off. They help. There are topical pain relievers that work also. There are shots that you can get to help with the pain.

Loosing weight helps a lot and you will move easier and for longer periods of time.

Feeling good is the most important thing.

The only time I use narcotics is when my pain is so severe that I cannot sleep. I have been doing my best to not use any ibuprofen so that I will be used to it. I may have to use some steroids after my surgery...

I do have Lidoderm Patches and I use voltaren on my skin.

A big concern I have is healing properly. I have stopped my Methotrexate and Orencia as of the end of last month and I will not be able to take it for two weeks after the surgery.

It is just scary...

I have patches and creams too.. I am waiting for referral to orthopedic doctor to try to figure out what is happening...

I have RA. After years of steroids and all the toxic chemo drugs they give you for RA I found a wonderful doctor that treats it with simple antibiotics...Dr. Joseph Sentef in Chattanooga, Tn. People go to him from all around the country. I am in remission after 4 months on the antibiotics. I was having severe flare-ups and on pain management. Now I take Tylenol.

I have RA. After years of steroids and all the toxic chemo drugs they give you for RA I found a wonderful doctor that treats it with simple antibiotics...Dr. Joseph Sentef in Chattanooga, Tn. People go to him from all around the country. I am in remission after 4 months on the antibiotics. I was having severe flare-ups and on pain management. Now I take Tylenol.

Treats it with antibiotics? I have never heard of that, and to be honest, I think I would be so afraid of that.

Edited July 12, 201412 yr by pik

Pik,

Antibiotics were used years ago but the drug companies couldn't make the money off them that they do with the "designer" drugs. Have you read the side effects on Methotrexate? If not, here's a link....

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682019.html

I am off the antibiotics after taking them for just four months and am in remission. I had years of pain and agony using the other drugs. The antibiotics are Metronidazole 250 mg, twice daily, and minocycline 100 mg once a day. I also take CQ 10 with this. Dr. Sentef is crippled in his hands from his RA. He developed the program after not being able to get any relief from his own doctors. He's treated over 2000 RA patients and we all love him. It's worth a try.

Good luck!!!!

Pik,

Antibiotics were used years ago but the drug companies couldn't make the money off them that they do with the "designer" drugs. Have you read the side effects on Methotrexate? If not, here's a link....

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682019.html

I am off the antibiotics after taking them for just four months and am in remission. I had years of pain and agony using the other drugs. The antibiotics are Metronidazole 250 mg, twice daily, and minocycline 100 mg once a day. I also take CQ 10 with this. Dr. Sentef is crippled in his hands from his RA. He developed the program after not being able to get any relief from his own doctors. He's treated over 2000 RA patients and we all love him. It's worth a try.

Good luck!!!!

I am glad you are doing well, but I do not trust that for a minute. I do take Methotrexate as well as Orencia weekly.

As far as I know, years ago, aspirin and steroids were used. I know many aged women who have it as well and that is how they were treated.

For me, it is def not worth a try. If nothing else worked, maybe a different story but now I do not see how antibiotics can stop the disease process.

Pik ..... I completely understand your fears. I have RA and going off my meds, having to walk and move after the surgery with the pain is a bit concerning. Also, the discontinuation of my ibuprofen makes me wanna cry .... but I just try and remind myself that I am in pain NOW and function every day. I am positive that with the weight loss, even knowing it won't cure the RA, will still benefit my joints and energy level. I will not be returning to my biologic (none have worked to date but will be trying a new one when I can continue my treatments) until 6 wks after my RNY and I have vowed to avoid the steroids this time. Nothing packed my pounds on faster then 2 years of prednisone. Nasty stuff! Good luck with your surgery

Edited July 13, 201412 yr by ChristyAZ

Pik ..... I completely understand your fears. I have RA and going off my meds, having to walk and move after the surgery with the pain is a bit concerning. Also, the discontinuation of my ibuprofen makes me wanna cry .... but I just try and remind myself that I am in pain NOW and function every day. I am positive that with the weight loss, even knowing it won't cure the RA, will still benefit my joints and energy level. I will not be returning to my biologic (none have worked to date but will be trying a new one when I can continue my treatments) until 6 wks after my RNY and I have vowed to avoid the steroids this time. Nothing packed my pounds on faster then 2 years of prednisone. Nasty stuff! Good luck with your surgery

Thanks, and to you as well. I have not had my meds since June and I only have to go two weeks after the surgery without them, just as long as I have healed well. The one that worked the best and fastest for me was Enbrel, and then on week 5 I had a terrible reaction to it.

I just saw my rheumie on Friday and she feels the surgery is going to be very beneficial to my hip and knee joints. She took a listen to them and wasn't happy.

I stopped taking any IBU probably 3 weeks ago and I have been doing pretty well.

I had to be off of my meds for several weeks, probably a month a few months ago and I didn't have any problems until my first week back on them, so who knows.

Good luck!

I have RA and am taking Enbrel for it. The risk of infection from taking Enbrel worries me more than going off Enbrel does. I don't have surgery approval or a date yet, so I don't know how long my dr. will want me to be off it. I am planning to convert from a LAP Band to RNY.

I have RA and am taking Enbrel for it. The risk of infection from taking Enbrel worries me more than going off Enbrel does. I don't have surgery approval or a date yet, so I don't know how long my dr. will want me to be off it. I am planning to convert from a LAP Band to RNY.

Different surgeons have differing opinions, even within the same group. I am on Orencia, but when I began all of this, I was on Enbrel. My first surgeon wanted me off of it 4 weeks before the surgery and 4 weeks after. The surgeon I used said 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after.

I haven't had my Orencia or Methotrexate since the end of June......