I have to get a knee replacement - surgeon's worried about Pred.

Posted , 9 users are following.

I've been hobbling around for more than a year and the xrays show "bone on bone" in my left knee, so I need a replacement.  I have already had a replacement some 12 years ago on the other knee, so I know how hard the operation/recovery is!  But this time I also have PMR and take 20mg of prednisone.  When I saw the dr, he said try to cut down on the pred and lose some weight.  I am very heavy, like 250 (or so).  So all summer I've tried to cut down on the pred using the slow method, but I get to hurting so badly I give in.  I've only gotten down 1 mg.  My weight loss went the same way, lost 5 pounds, gained it back and more.  I feel so helpless with myself.  I try and try!  Would you have an operation if your were on 19mg of pred?

0 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

  • Posted

    Debbie, I hate to say this but I think this is only a question a doctor can answer.
  • Posted

    Cut out most of your carbs and processed sugars and procesed foods in general.  I have been able to drop almost 30 lbs. in the past (very) few months.  And, no, I don't exercise!

     

  • Posted

    Doctors normally seem to be happy to operate if your pred is 7.5 mg or less. You may find someone who will operate at 20mg but you will have to hunt round. 
  • Posted

    I'm no expert but I believe there are people on here who have had major surgery whilst on reasonably high doses of pred. Hopefully one of them will answer you!

  • Posted

    Debbie I just want you to know that I also weigh a lot 272# this morning.

    I've put on 10# since I've started on the pred which of course makes it worse

    And I have a bad back so I know it would help my back if I lost weight

    But I also know how damn hard it is to lose weight. So you have me on your

    Corner. Diets are just not right and are impossible to follow. Just take things

    Easy. You already know what to do. Don't go for those fad diets. Just

    Count the calories. It sucks especially since you won't be able to walk but

    If you ever want to talk I here. Joining a group is another way. Weight watchers

    Is not the only one around. If you are in the US or Canada try a group called

    TOPS. They are a lot cheaper and a good club. I was a member for many years

    But recently quit because I was just not motivated to lose weight any more

    An saw no reason to keep paying the annual fee.

    Remember message me if you want or find me on face book. I'm Kathleen Kaiser

    And it says I'm with kaiser pest control. Look for that because there's a lot of others

    With my same name.

  • Posted

    Hi, I'm so sorry you are feeling so bad. 

    Just a little on my experience, I was on 32.5 Pred and foud I had breast pre cancer, my Dr was not worried and I had it done on the 5 October this year, ( Lumpectomy ) and all went well. When you are on Pred they give you a boost dose anyway while you are under so your body can handle it better, I believe I had 80mg boost with my operation, and antibiotics at the same time while under. 

    It all went well, I healed well and start radiation therapy next week, at last.

    Try not to worry to much, stress is worse than the Preds; I wish you the best, keep us informed :

  • Posted

    Wish I could offer advice about the prednisone...I am sure others with more knowledge will respond. However, I did want to offer that knee replacement has come a long way in recent years....maybe this time will be easier for tou😊 Hope all goes well.

  • Posted

    Debbie, I definitely know what you are going through. I need a hip replaced and my doctor WILL NOT consider it until I lose 20 lbs.  It may as well be 60, as I am going nowhere fast. I lost 6 and then gained it all back. I am very discouraged.

    I wish I had a good anwere for you. If one comes along, I will be sure to share it with you,

    Best to you, Judy

    • Posted

      Cut the majority of your carbs, cut out refined sugar, and processed foods.  I have lost over 30 lbs doing this in a fairly small amount of time.  I have fought my weight all my life and when I started on prednisone, I looked like a whale.  Didn't think this would work, but it did.  And, I don't exercise, either.  Not bragging, just saying I don't like being on my feet very long.  Give it a try.  A supportive husband helps, too, who will eat "fresh" like I do.

       

  • Posted

    In the face of weight gain and prednisones, there is a really only one antidote, and is the one nobody wants to hear: discipline.

    You will hear people talk about the auto immune protocol . You will hear people talk about terminating salt and sugar and carbs. You will hear people talk about eliminating nightshade vegetables. You'll hear people talk about eliminating legumes. As a man and one who knows nothing about cooking, I had no idea what these things meant. Thankfully, my wife saw me suffering and put me on a very strict diet. And so today I am gluten-free. I followed the autoimmune diet. I do not eat nightshade vegetables or legumes. I love my beer, but I don't drink it anymore. I love peanut butter but I don't eat it anymore

  • Posted

    Continuing, these of the things that simply had to do in order to maintain and even reduce weight in the face of prednisone. It is difficult but it is what I have had to do, and is required enormous discipline which is what I've had to do. So I don't mean to wag my finger or play holier than thou. But if you want to lose weight and you want to keep your physical being under some level of control in the face of PMR and in the face of pregnant zone, it is simply what you have to do. And if you don't, then the consequences I rather predictable… Aren't they?

    • Posted

      You talk a big fight Daniel but most of us don't have someone else creating our meals for us

      And some of us, like myself, have other issues other than PMR. I started this out 100 pounds

      overweight. But I didn't get overweight because I wasn't disciplined I got overweight because I was depressed

      about the pain that was racking my body at the time that my back went out. So since that time

      I struggled for years to get that hundred pounds off and finally just gave up. At this point in time

      I have so much on my plate including PMR that I consider it lucky if I can maintain my weight.

      But I can tell with your attitude that you have never had to struggle with your weight.

    • Posted

      amkoffee, I understand your struggle.  I didn't use to.  I was thin most of my life, and I'd look at my heavy friends and wonder why they didn't just stop eating so much.  Then fibromyalgia, depression, and arthritis hit me and I gained weight, not just from eating too much but the meds that made me hungrier.  I tried to be disciplined as I'd thought one should be, but it isn't easy, I found out!  Now with polymyalgia and its meds I've gained even more.  It isn't as simple as it looks to eat right.  I think depression is the biggest hurdle.

    • Posted

      Hi amhoffee, I'm hearing you loud and clear. I'm seriously overweight now after 2 years of PMR - and struggled with my weight nearly all my adult life. It's very easy for others to say 'just do x, y, z' but we all know that the struggle is in the head as much as the body. Fat people know more about dieting than anyone else lol

      I don't know what I'm going to do about my weight. I am very unhappy about it, but feel almost powerless. It's so depressing knowing that you have to 'diet' for the rest of your life, while seemingly everyone else eats what they like, any time. I often wonder why *I* am being punished.

      Pred and depression have helped me gain 30kg in two years. And I was already 10kg overweight when I started (but very fit - doing triathlons!). Those days are long gone. I haven't been even able to walk more than 50m and doing anything was a struggle. It's turned me into a fat, lazy and unmotivated lump.

      BUT, I have not lost hope. I'm feeling better now than I have in two years - I'm thinking of moving more, and I'm able to walk further than I could only a couple of months ago. Maybe I'm turning the corner into remission, who knows?

      Message me if you want to talk more about weight/PMR/depression. Been there, done that. I couldn't have lived without this forum.

       

    • Posted

      It's also easier for a man when he does not have to cook, but has his meals prepared for him. I know if I had that I would have more discipline for sure. But living alone, always tired etc, I just do not have the incentive most days to cook, so OP out on quick meals. 

      I know this is wrong, and I need to change my lifestyle :

      The more I learn, the more incentive I hope to get smile

    • Posted

      oh dog, I hear you Dea! even having to cook for someone else is hard as they don't want to eat the stuff you know you should eat. I find myself giving in and cooking what Mr Flip wants, not what I should have. If I do, I still have to cook him a seperate meal (and then he blames me because he's overweight!).

      I wish someone would cook for me. No option but to eat what was put in front of me, and no need to go shopping and plan and cook and clean up. It's a full time job just taking care of yourself - and I still work full time, and have a life!

    • Posted

      Ever since my back got so bad I've been unable to cook anything but the simplest of meals. So I rely heavily on my husband to do the cooking and he loves to use better. So I don't eat very well for dinner but my biggest problem is desserts. I have the worst sweet tooth ever.

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