I had gastric by-pass surgery, Rouex -n-y 10 years ago, to loose weight, specifically to help my severly degenerated knees. I have been diagnosed with both osteo arthritis in many joints and related bone spurs on my back and knees and shoulders... etc. Had an upper tibial osteotomy on my right leg ~14 years ago, to postpone replacement surgery a while longer. Both knees are covered in spurs, catch in certain positions... very painful, click when moved, etc. :( The spur(s) on my upper spine have been causing problems with blood flow up the arm... due to pressure on the nerve that controls that particular artery.
I'm supposed to have surgery for the spine and the knees replaced; but have been delaying due to needing to care for my sick husband. He has a recent leg amputation and now a wound on the remaining foot and requires my care. He's diabetic and has Parkinson's Disease... so my plate is very full.
After the by-pass surgery, I was told never to take NSAIDS again... due to the risk of bleeding from the staples that remain in my stomach. And, with the benefit of so much weight loss (170 lbs at my lowest) it was easy. I went from sometimes being in a wheelchair, always needed either a walker or sometimes a cane.... to needing no equipment! :) A miracle!! However... time moves on and so did my disease. Now I'm in constant pain. The internest put me on Meloxicam, because I'd rather walk than be cautious about bleeding when I've done well so far. A risk.
Do you agree that Meloxicam is the best choice for me? Is there new information about how to treat those of us who had to have surgery to loose weight for our arthritis and now need pain releif?
Thank you.
Marla
wow, i thought i was loosing my mind and my doctors think i am a drug seeker because i tell them my meds aren't working for me. i had gastric bypass 3 years ago and i have been on several different meds for several different reasons. for example over 4 years i have had back problems and just 3 months ago i had to have disc replacement and a cage put in my back. the pain meds they give me work for half the time they should, and it takes more of a dose to kill the pain than it would a normal patient. as for sleeping at night, i have been a non sleeper for several months and they have tried everything. the only thing that is working is ambien and i have to take 2 doses. one before bed, 3 hours later, another dose. 1 dose is supposed to give a person a full 8 hours of sleep, but not me... anti-depressants, none of them work, at all. the only effects i get from them are nausea and exhaustion. somedays i feel all alone because i try to explain this to all of my physicians and they think im crazy... what a relief to know im not alone! i dont understand how it makes since how they can say "you will have to take twice as much vitamins as a normal person because of malabsorbtion" but when they give you other medications and you tell them they aren't working properly they consider you nuts. how does that make since???