OT: Not a happy camper

I went back today for a check up on my bone spurs (and I am sure some of you know how painful they are) and I had a student doctor come in and tell me that they where sending me to do physical therapy on my foot. I wouldn't be so mad but this is like that fourth time and it doesn't help at all and they tried to give me NSAID's which in my chart states I can not take. I told the nurse that I would not be seen by him again because he knows nothing as of what is going on and doesn't want to help the problem.

Check with your doc but most of us can take Nsaids, for chronic pain or for an injury with swelling. You may need them for a little while till the pain and swelling go down. The physcal theapy may hurt at first but if done right it may make it better in the long run. I've had heel spurs before and it's a long recouperation period. Find a brace hat works for you and keep the injured area rested. No strenuous activity on it - it will get worse and take that much longer to heal. Try alternating heat and cold on the effected area when you have it up and hopefully it will get better soon. Mine took quite a while to get better but haven't bothered me since. Good luck.

Jen 12 yrs post op RNY

Wait - WHAT THE WHAT? We can take NSAIDS??? I have never ever heard this - my doctor is vehemently adamant about it, and it seems to be a wide-held belief. Is this not so? Where are you getting that information please? I would LOVE to take NSAIDS when needed for my headaches! This is one of the only things that made me a little 'iffy' about RNY vs VG. If you have info supporting that please, oh please share! :0D

The only thing that makes us different is that if we get an ulcer in the remnant stomach, it can't be scoped without invasive surgery.  MOST diagnoses of ulcers are implied and not definitively diagnosed so for "most of us" it doesn't make any difference.

We, RNY'ers, are no more likely to get ulcers if we don't have a history, than any other person with or without WLS ...   Having a pouch is no more "likely to get an ulcer" than having a VSG or DS sleeve!

I have never had GERD, or an ulcer, so I would take an NSAID if necessary and for safety's sake would take a PPI - with a different history, maybe a different decision?

For the sake of truth - I would be wary of taking Tylenol (because of the liver damage) on a regular basis as much as I would be wary of taking any form of NSAID!

Ok - I have always thought that! But when the doc says "NO" you think, well, he knows of which he speaketh, right? Well hot damn - this just made my night! I, too, have never had ulcers, GERD, etc. When I was pregnant with my son I did get heartburn for the first time (thought I was having a fricken heart attack - ugh!), but other than an occasional bout because of this stupid stupid lap band, I'm fine. And it doesn't run in our family. WOW - thank you SO much for bringing some common sense to this issue... I am feeling WAY better! Yay!!!

Thank you so much! I was researching all the different types of  the physical therapy for it and found that they can do a ultrasound treatment and some type of massage that helps as well. I will check with my surgeon to make sure because I know that in the orientation they told us no NSAID's but hopefully they will let me take a small dose. Once I am home for the day I do keep ice on it a lot and that helps for a bit but not long. I also was told that eating spinach will help as it is a natural anit-inflammatory so I have been trying that as well. I will be taken my workout back quite a bit as now I am doing cardio for an hour and a half a day.

Have you considered surgery? A woman I see at PT a good bit had hers removed and is making great progress!

My pcp said they aren't to the point of surgery yet but let me tell you they are the most painful thing I have ever experienced ( and I had my daughter natural at the age of 17)!! Mine isn't in the heel of my foot like most they are in the side and the arch which makes stepping very painful. I think I am going to ask the physical therapist and see what they think would be my next step as to the therapy not working. I was told that I am not to be doing things like the treadmill or strenuous things that involve my foot. I am a volunteer at our local YMCA and am going to ask the certified trainer to put together a workout that I can do without putting a strain on my foot. 

I also read that you can get NSAID's in a cream form that you rub over the swollen area. Would this be better than a pill form?

No, the effects are the same.