I had WLS in 2002. I have developed a lot of joint/muscle pain over the last few years. When I wake up in the morning, my muscles are ALL sore, even the ones in my fingers. My upper back often aches, too.

It gets worse, if I fail to take my calcium. I am supposed to take 3000mg/day. I sometimes take more, and that seems to help. I use the supplement that Vitalady sells, that also contains Mag. and Vit.D.

I quit drinking diet pop, which I read somewhere, that the nutrasweet can cause joint pain.

My sister has also had WLS, and developed a form of arthritis afterward. Her Dr. told her that he has seen a lot of connective tissue disease in WLS patients. He seems to think it is related to the surgery and not the fact that we carried around so much weight for so long. He doesn't have any research that backs up his hunch, so I am throwing this out there, for anyone who might have some insight.

Hi bndsmom!

I have Fibromyalgia as well as Lymph edema in the lower half of my body (pre wls diagnosis) so it would be hard to say if my pain (WHICH IS DAILY) is wls related or "other" disease related...both have improved to the point that I can do things now that I don not have 200+ extra lbs on my body, but the pain still persists...although I don't really like to take a lot of meds I have found that if I don't , my pain is all but unbearable most days...I also take a LOT of natural supplements for pain, general health, etc...

Have not heard your Md's theory...but it could be due to our mal-absorption issue, kinda makes sense to me....keep us informed...

Since arthritis runs in families, I wonder if anyone in the family has it.
Mine developed before WLS, so it can't be blamed on the surgery.
It would be a good question for all of us to ask our surgeons...if they see a lot of it.

No joint or muscle pain here, but I do take chewable glucosamine. It looks like a tootsie roll. Not the most tasty thing I've ever had, but not the worst either. Like a nappy old orange chewie candy....

I doubt that this is what you need, but it's working for me so far.

Good luck with your situation. I hope you get some good answers!

I have left knee pain from arthritis but that was pre-WLS. I had my knee scoped twice and had cartilage removed twice also so that is never gonna go away, since I have bone rubbing on bone. But I have NOT developed any other kind of pain in my body. To the contrary, all the small aches and pains that I used to have, like my chest muscles getting charlie horses constantly, have disappeared with the weight. My Dr also said that as long as I kept up with my calcium intake that I wouldn't have any bone issues. So I would go have your PCP check you out. Just to be safe.

I just pulled this up for another thread regarding calcium deficency:



This might be part of your issue. Also, are you at a healthy BMI? I know that after I gained back a mere 10 pounds, my feet began to hurt again. A wee bit of extra weight might be causing the discomfort.

Keep up with your doctor and push, push, PUSH for answers!

Like you I had my surgery in 02 and have in the past year developed alot of joint pain I thought it was from regaining most of my weigt back, it probably does not help. I had knee surgery and since have been diagnose with arthrits and am on arthrotec and it helps a lot but also causes my ulcer to kill me so also am on prevaced for stomach ulcer. My back kills me if I am on my feet to long to am trying to start walking again and soon will start the 5day pouch test to try to get back on track. What vitamin lady are you refering to? I just take an inexpensive multi vitamin and just recently started on calcium plus d it seems to be helping I think. I am also menopausal so do not know for sure what causes what anymore. I have never tken so many pills in my life!! Would be interested to hear from you again am hungry for info as well as cookies!! ha ha

I dont have any joint pains but i developed a wicked creaking in my knee, and has been a real pain when going up and down steps. The doctor said it was early onset of arthritis from carrying all the weight for so many years. I have my doubts though.

I was particularly interested in your post as I struggle every day with muscle/joint pain and have always attributed it to possible arthritis and/or fibromyalgia. I've never linked it to the surgery, (I'm 8 years out since my RNY) but I would be interested in exploring it further....I find it worse in the cold (typical or arthritis) and am very thankful for our hot tub/spa which is about the only thing that relieves my pains before going to bed. I also get confused and worry about what kinds of things I can take without hurting my stomach, knowing we have some limitation and acknowledging Tylenol doesn't help. I wish you well and will be open to any more info on the subject!

Judy

I had vertical banded gastroplasty in 1997 revised to RNY in 2000. I was just diagnosed with fibromyalgia last month after being in constant pain for at least a year. The pain is weird and different places hurt on different days. The upper back between the shoulder blades is the worst as it is even sore to the touch. I get burning sensations in my chest, upper and lower back and thighs. Feels like the skin is on fire. I have been telling my PCP about all of this for a while now and she would just kinda look at me. Finally I referred myself to a rheumatologist last month who gave me a preliminary diagnosis of fibro and started me on a low dose of Lyrica. While it hasn't completely eliminated the pain it has helped. I'm hurting pretty good right now and it's the first time it has been this bad in a little over a month. Fortunately I go back to the doctor on Wed.

In addition to the pain described above my knees are shot. They make horrible noises and hurt unbearably. She said that it is osteoarthritis and seems to be ok with me taking massive amounts of ibuprofen since all other nsaids kill my stomach.

I don't know if wls patients have a corner on the market on this type of issue but I do know that the message boards I am on have more than a few wls patients. Enough to where they formed their own Yahoo! Group.

Sorry I don't have any answers for you but you are definitely not alone!

Oh yeah, in addition to everything else I also have the most horrible case of restless legs syndrome ever. I've been taking 2mg Requip a day but it doesn't always take it away.

Take care,
Kellye

I've been gone for a week, so I am sorry that I did not respond to the calcium question sooner. I take a calcium citrate formula that has magnesium and vitamin D in it. It comes in capsule form, and the capsule can be opened, if you still need to take it in a powder form, (because of your pouch size). I order it online from vitalady.com. She apparently had a company formulate it for the WLS client, and I have never found it anywhere else. You could probably also take Citracal. I've read that calcium citrate absorbs better than calcium carbonate, so that's why I take it.

I also have wondered about fibomyalgia. I have an honest confession here, so please, nobody blast me. I am a nurse, and the fibromyalgia diagnosis carries some stigma. Even today, there are some MD's that believe it is one of those diagnoses that you give to patients who won't quit complaining about their aches and pains. To me it has always been one of those vague conditions that nobody could seem to prove. It's as if, after they have ruled everything else out, fibromyalgia is the diagnosis. I haven't practiced Nursing for about 4 years now, so I don't know any current info. Do they even know what causes it? I wonder if it has to do with inorganic matter and other contaminants that get into food. I'm not an organic only fanatic, but I've got to say, I don't remember 25 years ago, hearing about people having such ailments.

I also think drinking enough water may be part of the problem. We need to flush our systems out, and I know that when I'm busy, and forget to drink enough, my muscles are sorer the next few days.

I wish there was more research on the subject. As I said earlier, I'm giving an opinion and an observation, but I am in the dark as much as anyone on this problem.

I don't know if anyone is still interested (it has been a few weeks since anyone has said anything) but I would like to add that last week while walking around an amusement park with my family my muscles knotted up on me. From head to toe. I was one twitch from having the biggest charlie horse in my life over my entire body. I can't describe the amount of pain I was in. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 1995. I have refused any medication for the past 10 years and don't mention it to any of my current doctors. I believe the disease exists, and I believe that I have it, but it doesn't do me any good to bring it up as there are no cures or effective treatments. I try to take very good care of myself with appropriate exercise and the right foods but most of all the right vitamins and sleep make the most difference. Now back to my fiasco of last week. I realized that I had not taken my calcium in over 2 weeks and I had missed my B12 injection by 6 weeks. I immediately had my injection and took my liquid calcium replacement. I also had to spend 3 days on flexeril around the clock. I could barely move. I am now fine and am trying to remember this valuable lesson.

But all of this is only helpful if it is your muscles. I'm sorry I have no help for those with joint pain.

It's called Metabolic bone disease and is very common in RNY. No amount of calcium supplementation will reverse it in peri--menopausal and menopausal women.

I'd like to read up on the subject... do you have any further info I could search out? This is the first time I've ever heard it given a name.

one of the ladies in the yahoo group I belong to gave me the info--she is 44 and fractured a hip due to poor calcium, vitamin D deficiency, PTH abnormaliies related to her WLS---even though she was following doc orders on her calcium intake and vitamins---which is why vitamin supplementation and frequent labs are so important for the rest of your life....

here is a search for metabolic bone disease and gastric bypass surgery

I have mildly arthritic knees from carrying around so much excess weight for too many years on a very small frame! However, at age 58, it doesn't slow me down. Your condition sounds a lot more bothersome than mine!

I wonder if you do any type of regular exercise? You would, of course, need to be very careful so you don't further injure yourself, but your doctor could probably give you a program (or refer you to a physical therapist). If you aren't using those joints and muscles much, the arthritis is peskier -- at least in my experience! I would definitely recommend consulting with a doc to get a fitness program going. It can't hurt (under medical supervision) and it might be a real help!

As Kim said, you want to make sure your weight is well under control. Extra pounds add extra stress. If you need to drop some weight, there's plenty of help at this site!

Good luck to you!

Judy

Hi a friend of mine who has Fibromyalgia suggests this book.

From Fatigued to Fantastic (Paperback)
by Jacob Teitelbaum (Author)
(you can find at Amazon.com

She says it's has helped a lot.


Best!

Nancy