Hi fellow PLIS'S,
I am curious as to what your doctors have told you concerning arthritis medicine. I had been taking Arthrotec for several years to keep my arthritis, which is pretty bad under control. Dr. took me off of it 10 days before surgery and says that I can't take it or any other arthritis medicine for at least 6 months due to the fact that it hinders the bone fusing. I know from reading posts that some of you do take arthritis medicine.
Just curious because I'm 3 months out and my arthritis is getting really.....bad. Thanks,
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********, I was put back on Celebrex (200mg twice a day) at 8 weeks post fusion. I had my 12 week xray done the other day.. and we saw fusion beginning to happen inside the cage. Yippee!!!!
So, maybe you can take it.. I dont know. If you are really hurtining.. I would have a discussion with your doctor about it.
Tammy,
That is totally awesome, that you are fusing!! I had.. asked my doctor a couple of weeks ago because I am having trouble walking, my feet hurt so bad. He said I could not take any arthritis medicine for 6 months. That means I have 3 more months to go. OUCH!!
I go back on August 2, I'll bring it up again. Thanks, have a greattttt...weekend!
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Hi ********-
If you do a search on this board for NSAIDs and Fusion or anti-inflammatories and fusions you'll get an education. Long story short - MANY, MANY surgeons prohibit a fusion patient from taking ANY form of NSAID (including non-Rx like just Advil) for various lengths of time up to a whole year post-op. Other surgeons say there is little credible evidence to support the validity and think it is wrong to withhold needed meds from suffering patients.
My first surgeon had me on 2400 mg/day of ibuprofen. My fusion failed. But when I questioned him about this (after learning about the 'controversy' here on this board), he defended it with citations to basic research and seemed supremely confident that it was not a factor to my problems which he never did agree were conclusive of a failed fusion.
I eventually sought a new surgeon who was equally certain that my problem was a failed fusion. This new Surgeon prohibits the use of NSAIDs for 9 months minimum and perhaps longer for me since I am a revision patient.
A pretty tricky problem and a very serious one for you if you are suffering. Could you speak to your doc directly on this issue. Perhaps she.he may have something else to offer that may help - some? I don't know. Pretty rotten choices though. Suzy-Q
Thanks SuzyQ,
I will ask the dr., I really need some meds, but I definetly do not want to hinder the fusion. I would rather try to deal with the pain than mess it up after all that I have been thru already. Thanks for the info.
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