Do you have degenerative arthritis or fibromyalgia?

[Iowa_summergirl 46]

Do any of you have issues with your medications wearing off too quickly? I had total knee on 9/11, sleeve on 10/14, had my knee incision cleaned out for infection on 11/10, and had to have a knee joint manipulation on 12/2. So my pain has been pretty much constant and at times unmanageable. I have been on Norco throughout all my surgeries and some Tramadol and Tylenol too. Really missing the non-steroidals for the joints. But now I take my pain med (either narcotic or regular Tylenol) and it seems like two hours later it is like I have nothing in my system. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Trying to be back at work full time (on my feet) and it isn't going well, plus I'm in therapy for an hour 5x weekly.

[deedadumble 1,033]

I have fibromyalgia, PCOS, and Hashimotos. I'm almost two years out from surgery and 5 months out from plastics and I've lost over 90 lbs from my highest weight. I went to see my rheumatologist today and he kept looking at me and smiling. Finally, he said "you look amazing!" So nice to hear that from my doc. I had no pressure point pain at all for the first time in such a long time. I'm running 4 times a week up to 4 miles and I just feel amazing.

The only negative was my CRP lab came back at 105!! Doc said to get it redone at a different lab (he has a deep dislike of Labcorp), so we'll see. It just doesn't make any sense. My weight is normal, I don't drink, I'm not in pain (or as much pain), and I'm staying away from foods that produce inflammation.

[deedadumble 1,033]

Great job on the weight loss!! I would agree that the fibro fog seems worse after the sleeve. But I still think everything will improve over time.

Mine got so bad that I finally went to the psych and did a trial of Strattera (ADD meds). It really seem to be helping and it's not a stimulant like Adderal.

[BellaLuce4 261]

I have fibromyalgia, PCOS, and Hashimotos. I'm almost two years out from surgery and 5 months out from plastics and I've lost over 90 lbs from my highest weight. I went to see my rheumatologist today and he kept looking at me and smiling. Finally, he said "you look amazing!" So nice to hear that from my doc. I had no pressure point pain at all for the first time in such a long time. I'm running 4 times a week up to 4 miles and I just feel amazing.

The only negative was my CRP lab came back at 105!! Doc said to get it redone at a different lab (he has a deep dislike of Labcorp), so we'll see. It just doesn't make any sense. My weight is normal, I don't drink, I'm not in pain (or as much pain), and I'm staying away from foods that produce inflammation.

105 is really high, you should be in agony! Glad that u are not enjoy Beijing pain free! I'm jealous????

[Iowa_summergirl 46]

105....wowzer!

[deedadumble 1,033]

105....wowzer!

Yep, crazy high! I think the highest it's ever been is in the 20s. I'm hoping it's just a lab mistake. Should have new test results on Monday.

[Iowa_summergirl 46]

I've had a sed rate (ESR) that high, but not a CRP. Hope the results come back better....but glad you aren't too symptomatic!

[Melitta 19]

I have fibromyalgia and I exercise but the pain is still there especially on my right side. sleep is challenging. I have lost over 50 pounds. The pain killers help. But I work through the pain. I am tired and would rather just stay in bed. But I get up around 9am and start my day. Anyone with any ideas on this please help. I have degenerative arthritis as well.

[bobbyswife 862]

I am 10 days post op today and I am THRILLED to report that my surgery did not throw me into a fibro flare. I don't know how I escaped that, but I am not complaining!

[CanyonBaby 1,852]

I also have DDD, and was once diagnosed with fibro, but later on, the pain we thought was from fibro actually turned out to be from a severe Vitamin D deficiency that turned out to be hyperparathyroidism. One of my parathyroid glands had a benign tumor on it and it needed to be removed. I had severe bone pain, lethargy, and it turned out I had very brittle bones, so much so I fractured 2 ribs-1 which had to be removed, as after a year it still wouldn't heal. A simple Vitamin D blood test would have told the story, but no one thought of it at the time. It has been a very long process, and very painful, but now with 5000 daily units of Vitamin D and lots of Calcium, I am doing better. This happened in 2009. I will never have perfect bones, as I can never recover the all of the Calcium that was stolen from my bones, but I am now on top of the situation. As far as the DDD and osteoarthritis, I have noticed a change, for the better, since the surgery. What was really surprising is how good I felt when I went on the preop diet. My arthritic symptoms disappeared-no really! My dietician said it was probably triggered by certain foods that I had been eating, and I should try, once I'm back to eating normal foods, to isolate which ones are triggering me. That won't be until Jan. 27th, but I intend to find out what my triggers are. I hope, sincerely so, that my experiences may help some of you. Then it wouldn't have been in vain.

[CanyonBaby 1,852]

Oh, almost forgot! My nurse team suggested "Sit and be Fit" which in our area is on PBS TV, and are exercises you can do in a chair. Chair-walking is one, which is exactly like it sounds; you sit in a chair , one without arms, and with knees bent, march. Just lift your legs up and "walk". Do it for a count of 30, three times a day to start, then work up to 30 minutes a day. There are all kinds of arm exercises, as well, all done in a chair. It really helped my arthritis in my hips/lower back. Good luck, all!