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Fibro and knee replacement
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stillcansmile posted:
I have fibro on Lyrica and Cymbalta, and there is 80% improvement. My pain was most noticeable in the muscles above my knees. I had knee replacements in 2005 and revisions in 2008. My fibro started after my original knee replacements. Is it possible that the pain is triggered by the titanium in the prostheses?

Thanks Di
7 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Fibro and knee replacementI have fibro on Lyrica and Cymbalta, and there is 80% improvement. My pain was most noticeable in the muscles above my knees. I had knee replacements in 2005 and revisions in 2008. My fibro started after my original knee replacements. Is it possible that the pain is triggered by the titanium in the prostheses?<br /><br />Thanks Di
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WindowView responded:
That's quite a theory. But I'm no Dr. I would think the surgery itself might be the trigger. Any trama will birth FM. Good question. KMF
Report This| Share this:Fibro and knee replacementThat's quite a theory. But I'm no Dr. I would think the surgery itself might be the trigger. Any trama will birth FM. Good question. KMF
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Dollbug responded:
Hello Di and welcome....MiMi in NC...I do not think I have talked to you before...anyway....I do not think anyone even knows what might trigger the wrath of the dragonm aka FM....but I also have read that any kind of trauma might be the cause....I think that my left hand carpal tunnel triggered mine....as I know exactly when it surfaced...and never left....I had just had the surgery, got laid off of my job, was going through the change and had a ton of family stress....so I think that with it all bundled together....the dragon decided to show its ugly face to me...and decided it would hang on...

I also had other health issues....and I got really very sick...I ended up and had quite a few surgeries also before I started to get better...I have had 7 hand surgeries...(2 of them due to me falling and breaking my wrist...both incidents were outside)...the other 5 were carpal tunnel..elbow surgery, parathyroid surgery and cervical surgery...and all of these were since 2004...I also had my 4th knee surgery....

I had to get to the root of each of my problems though to get better....I also found out that I had almost no Vitamin D...

I now have learned how to "control my FM pain" by taking vitamins and supplements and doing other things as well...it took me a very long time to figure out what my body needed....but I did....it took a trial and error process...and I will also say...there is nothing easy about dealing with the wrath of the dragon...

I know that I will eventually have to have knee replacements also...if I live long enough...and I do dread this also...

I have to ask....your revisions was due to something not right with the original surgery? Just wondering...

Take care and good luck...


MiMi
IN GOD WE TRUST....MAY GOD BLESS AND GUIDE AMERICA....

My personal exchanges are Vitamin D and Pain and Wrath of the Dragon....if you care to visit..
Report This| Share this:Fibro and knee replacement<b>Hello Di and welcome....MiMi in NC...I do not think I have talked to you before...anyway....I do not think anyone even knows what might trigger the wrath of the dragonm aka FM....but I also have read that any kind of trauma might be the cause....I think that my left hand carpal tunnel triggered mine....as I know exactly when it surfaced...and never left....I had just had the surgery, got laid off of my job, was going through the change and had a ton of family stress....so I think that with it all bundled together....the dragon decided to show its ugly face to me...and decided it would hang on...</b><br /><b></b> <br /><b>I also had other health issues....and I got really very sick...I ended up and had quite a few surgeries also before I started to get better...I have had 7 hand surgeries...(2 of them due to me falling and breaking my wrist...both incidents were outside)...the other 5 were carpal tunnel..elbow surgery, parathyroid surgery and cervical surgery...and all of these were since 2004...I also had my 4th knee surgery....</b><br /><b></b> <br /><b>I had to get to the root of each of my problems though to get better....I also found out that I had almost no Vitamin D...</b><br /><b></b> <br /><b>I now have learned how to "control my FM pain" by taking vitamins and supplements and doing other things as well...it took me a very long time to figure out what my body needed....but I did....it took a trial and error process...and I will also say...there is nothing easy about dealing with the wrath of the dragon...</b><br /><b></b> <br /><b>I know that I will eventually have to have knee replacements also...if I live long enough...and I do dread this also...</b><br /><b></b> <br /><b>I have to ask....your revisions was due to something not right with the original surgery? Just wondering...</b><br /><b></b> <br /><b>Take care and good luck...</b><br /><b></b> <br /><b></b> <br /><b>MiMi </b>
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stillcansmile replied to Dollbug's response:
Hi MiMi - I believe the original surgery was not quite right and my knee replacements were loose. The revision involved putting larger spacers in to try and take up the slack, but the Dr. did not guarantee. They are loose again, and I actually will have to them replaced at some point. However, unfortunately it is my understanding the more surgery there is, the more risk of infection.
Report This| Share this:Fibro and knee replacementHi MiMi - I believe the original surgery was not quite right and my knee replacements were loose. The revision involved putting larger spacers in to try and take up the slack, but the Dr. did not guarantee. They are loose again, and I actually will have to them replaced at some point. However, unfortunately it is my understanding the more surgery there is, the more risk of infection.
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georgia888 replied to stillcansmile's response:
Hi stillcansmile,
Have you gotten a second opinion on this?
Take care,
georgia
Report This| Share this:Fibro and knee replacementHi stillcansmile,<br />Have you gotten a second opinion on this? <br />Take care, <br />georgia
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Mark Pellegrino, MD responded:
Hi Di,

You've gotten some great responses, I want to add my own (great response, that is )

Titanium is not felt to be a cause of pain or a trigger for Fibro. People with knee replacements commonly have chronic knee and thigh pain regardless of whether or not they have Fibro.

Here are some possible causes of knee pain in someone with both Fibro and knee replacements: 1. Chronic knee arthritis and degeneration 2. Altered biomechanics from knee hardware and subtle asymmetries leading to strain and imbalances of soft tissues in the knees. 3. Chronic flare-up of Fibro in knee area, esp in the designated tender points located inside the knees. 4. Referred pain to knee from hip or back problems 5. A combination of the above

I'm glad you're getting nice benefits from your meds! Hope this info helps.

Dr P
Report This| Share this:Fibro and knee replacementHi Di,<br><br>You've gotten some great responses, I want to add my own (great response, that is <img src="http://img.webmd.com/community/images/smile.gif" align="top" border="0"> ) <br><br>Titanium is not felt to be a cause of pain or a trigger for Fibro. People with knee replacements commonly have chronic knee and thigh pain regardless of whether or not they have Fibro.<br><br>Here are some possible causes of knee pain in someone with both Fibro and knee replacements: 1. Chronic knee arthritis and degeneration 2. Altered biomechanics from knee hardware and subtle asymmetries leading to strain and imbalances of soft tissues in the knees. 3. Chronic flare-up of Fibro in knee area, esp in the designated tender points located inside the knees. 4. Referred pain to knee from hip or back problems 5. A combination of the above<br><br>I'm glad you're getting nice benefits from your meds! Hope this info helps.<br><br>Dr P
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stillcansmile replied to Mark Pellegrino, MD's response:
Thanks for the info Dr P, Interestingly enough, I had and (still have) flare ups of fibro around my knee area and (after years of pain) is what eventually led me to my wonderful pain specialist, who diagnosed my fibro. He has also helped me with my neck and back pain (from degenerative arthritis) with radio-frequency ablation.
Report This| Share this:Fibro and knee replacementThanks for the info Dr P, Interestingly enough, I had and (still have) flare ups of fibro around my knee area and (after years of pain) is what eventually led me to my wonderful pain specialist, who diagnosed my fibro. He has also helped me with my neck and back pain (from degenerative arthritis) with radio-frequency ablation.
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msm40 replied to Mark Pellegrino, MD's response:
I have noticed since my knee replacement 2 years ago, that the tender points on the inside of the knees are about 5 times as tender as they were before surgery, but the lack of pain in the knee more than makes up for it. I am always forgetting that I shouldn't rub or bump those spots!!! My knee is tender all around where the bone was cut below the knee, but the ability to walk is wonderful. I am sure there is no reaction from the titanium in the knee. I am planning to have the other knee done next fall or sooner. I won't let that one get to the point of deterioration that I did with the first knee. Should have had that one replaced 5 years sooner instead of waiting until I could hardly walk even with a cane.
Report This| Share this:Fibro and knee replacementI have noticed since my knee replacement 2 years ago, that the tender points on the inside of the knees are about 5 times as tender as they were before surgery, but the lack of pain in the knee more than makes up for it. I am always forgetting that I shouldn't rub or bump those spots!!! My knee is tender all around where the bone was cut below the knee, but the ability to walk is wonderful. I am sure there is no reaction from the titanium in the knee. I am planning to have the other knee done next fall or sooner. I won't let that one get to the point of deterioration that I did with the first knee. Should have had that one replaced 5 years sooner instead of waiting until I could hardly walk even with a cane.
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