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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Pain In The Arms After Knee Replacement Surgery?

Hi, I have been suffering on and off for a year with pain in my arms. Last year I had my knees replaced and I began exercising a lot to get them working properly. At first when I noticed my arms hurting I figured I was finding muscles I hadn't been using, no pain no gain, and I used that excuse all summer while swimming etc. By fall while doing yard clean up chores like pulling plants etc I really started to hurt. Then the horrible night time pain began. For months now I haven't slept, and this pain is incredible, it actually hurts worse at rest than any other time, although it hurts plenty. I can barely get dressed. My primary care physician kind of blew me off last fall but today I told him I need help. I believe it is bursitis/tendinitis both arms are swollen, the left is way worse. it has affected the rest of me as well, lack of sleep means raging fibromayalgia pain, my back, which has its own issues, and from not sleeping is having spasms, and the muscles are painful from the tightness. He prescribed a mild muscle relaxer which will hopefully calm my back down and Lyrica, because I have always chosen not to treat my fibromayagia and just live with it because the side effects of these meds make me sleepy, tired, blurred vision and that is no life for me, so I chose pain. Now, I may not be the smartest person but neither of these drugs are going to address the inflammation in my arms which are completely on fire. I am overwhelmed and frustrated. Everything I've tried at home has failed, ice, stretches, rest. I am to go back to primary care Dr. in a month but that is another month of no sleep and this pain which gets a little worse each day. I can't carry anything and suffer just pulling wet laundry from the washer, not to mention I cant use my left arm to even pull up the covers at night, I use my feet. Now that's normal right? I can't take Ibuprofen because it causes me to swell, so I have been taking lots of aspirin which doesn't touch the pain but I keep hoping it will lessen the inflammation. So I guess my next issue will be a massive hole in my stomach from the aspirin. Is there anything else I can do or should do?? Laurie
Thu, 16 Mar 2017
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Ayurveda Specialist,  's  Response
**
Thanks for contacting HCM with your health concern and after reviewing your history I'm of the following opinion:

1. Since there is history of Fibromyalgia thus consult with a Rheumatologist who will be in a better position to exactly let you know what is wrong, till then:

i. Avoid phenylalanine derived food which may trigger/mimic fibromyalgia symptoms: meat,eggs,fish,cheese, products containing aspartame, almonds, beef,legumes, nuts,peanuts, pork, pumpkin/sesame seeds, soyabean/flour.

ii. Fibromyalgia is not an inflammatory condition [thus turmeric is beneficial], and because there is no identifiable cause thus treatment is symptomatic, as a result both pharmacological and non pharmacological measures are used as adjuvant to get a good control of pain and extended symptom free period, such as:

. Relaxation and stress management [stress is trigger response to fibromyalgia symptoms], thus yoga & Pranayama are helpful

. Physiotherapy: wax massage, ultrasound/infra red technique to minimize pain.

. Diet rich in omega 3 is considered helpful in alleviating fibromyalgia symptoms.

PS. you may opt for DLPA (D-L-phenylalanine) which is not habit forming, and has no known side effects, and is available in health food stores.

. Lyrica [pregabalin], duloxetine both are used to relieve nerve pain [peripheral neuropathy] in conditions like diabetes, fibromyalgia, arthritis, chronic back pain.
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What Causes Pain In The Arms After Knee Replacement Surgery?

** Thanks for contacting HCM with your health concern and after reviewing your history I m of the following opinion: 1. Since there is history of Fibromyalgia thus consult with a Rheumatologist who will be in a better position to exactly let you know what is wrong, till then: i. Avoid phenylalanine derived food which may trigger/mimic fibromyalgia symptoms: meat,eggs,fish,cheese, products containing aspartame, almonds, beef,legumes, nuts,peanuts, pork, pumpkin/sesame seeds, soyabean/flour. ii. Fibromyalgia is not an inflammatory condition [thus turmeric is beneficial], and because there is no identifiable cause thus treatment is symptomatic, as a result both pharmacological and non pharmacological measures are used as adjuvant to get a good control of pain and extended symptom free period, such as: . Relaxation and stress management [stress is trigger response to fibromyalgia symptoms], thus yoga & Pranayama are helpful . Physiotherapy: wax massage, ultrasound/infra red technique to minimize pain. . Diet rich in omega 3 is considered helpful in alleviating fibromyalgia symptoms. PS. you may opt for DLPA (D-L-phenylalanine) which is not habit forming, and has no known side effects, and is available in health food stores. . Lyrica [pregabalin], duloxetine both are used to relieve nerve pain [peripheral neuropathy] in conditions like diabetes, fibromyalgia, arthritis, chronic back pain.