I've had to stop taking methotrexate for a period before my hip replacement surgery. I've been frustrated with methotrexate because I've been taking it for several years and have to tolerate about 24 hours of nausea once a week after my sub-Q injection. I thought it was working and was worth the weekly misery until I discovered how much deterioration had taken place in my hips, knees, and shoulders. Then I began to wonder if maybe it wasn't working at all.

Until I had to stop! My pain levels are worsening daily since missing my injection. So obviously it is working just not as well as I had hoped! I dread to think what kind of state I would now be in if I hadn't been taking it.

I'm wondering how bad I'm going to be, pain-wise, by the date of my surgery. The pain is making it very hard to do my pre-op exercises.

So sorry you are having to go through the extra pain, in order to potentially get relief. Seems very unfair, and also horrible that the pain means that you can't do as much as you would like to prepare yourself for the op. Know what you mean about the MTX - I had the same when I had to stop NSAIDs. Although I didn't feel perfect with them, and knew I needed more to hit at the disease better, it became very obvious how much they were doing to keep me functioning once I had stopped.

Hang in there. Keep moving as best you can, and I do hope that you have a wonderful recovery and get back to feeling good as quickly as possible.

Sorry to read that coming off the MTX is causng you so much pain. Hopefully your body can acclimate to being off it and maybe give you some relief so you can do those exercises.

I've had phases in dealing with my AS where when I stopped a med tht I thought wasn't working, I found the same thing you are experiencing now. Many times I got a bounce back to less discomfort after the initial trauma of stopping. Hopefully the same happens for you quickly.

Wendy- we know the pain is real, and are sorry that it is worsening. It may help for you to keep chanting...at least I am not like Lonnie, I least I am not like Lonnie.

We sure wish you well in the days ahead.

Metho- gave me such a headache I was in tears.

Sorry you are feeling so bad Wendy. Yes, sometimes we don't know anything is helping until we go off of it. I wish your surgery was tomorrow so you don't have to suffer. Wishing you the best.

Thank you, Cemc. The day after my first missed dose was great - no nausea. After all this time, it was so pleasant! But a week later, I'm trying to decide whether pain or nausea is worse!

That's an interesting thought, Steve. I was assuming I would just get worse and worse but I will be interested to find out whether I might actually improve again as my body adjusts. Thanks for the good wishes.

I'm not sure whether this might be a better chant: "at least I'm a bit like Lonnie"

The chanting idea is quite effective, Lon! Hadn't thought of trying it before. Should be on the list of effective treatments.

Thanks Pea! I'm both dreading and looking forward to the surgery. Can't wait to begin to heal but I'm also nervous. I was trying to figure out what my primary anxiety is and I realize it's two things: I'm scared about having a spinal anesthesia and I'm worried about needing a blood transfusion. I'm carefully avoiding looking up either of them on the Internet to avoid scaring myself worse.

hi wendy when i had my surgery they let me give my own blood to store for surgery. there was three pints of my blood on hand. i only needed two. mike

Hi Mike. Do you know whether most people having a hip replacement need blood?

Good luck, Wendy. Hope your pain is controlled (talk to the docs about this) and you can do the exercises you need to do. I've had to stop MTX a couple of times, or 3, and always found it was working more than I thought it was. My husband had to stop his for a time and discovered the same thing. It's sneaky like that. Stay strong.

I only know one person who had a hip replacement and she didn't need blood. Hardly a huge population sample, though. You should be able to bank your own if your counts are high enough. Blood transfusion is very safe, though. More tests done on donated blood than 20 yrs ago. And the lab will do cross-match to make sure of no problems. Don't fret too much on that risk. But ask your doc about banking your own blood if it makes you calmer. Calmer before surgery is infinitely better for healing afterwards.

i don't know if your worried ask the dr. when i had a knee replacement i didn't need blood. the knee was a short surgery about 2 1/2hr my only regret was waiting so long to have it done. mike

Oh Wendy, I am so sorry. I hope it doesn't get too bad before you start getting help for the surgery pain. I think of you often. My husband had to go off his med for an upcoming surgery and he is really hurting also.

Praying for you.

Hugs.

I banked 2 units once for myself and didn't need them. Since then, I had 3 after heart surgery and 2 after spine surgery. I decided that I am very thankful to people who give blood and am going to believe all I was told about the safety. I haven't worried about it at all.

Hi Wendy

So sorry you are in more pain. I know all about something working and then not having it. I questioned Remicade's effectiveness till it stopped working. Miserable. Wish there was something else you could take for pain before your surgery. It's never simple, is it? Wishing you less pain and a speedy recovery after the surgery. Exercise??? Do as much as you can and don't kill yourself or feel guilty if you don't get them all in.

Glad you are here.

Hi Wendy: When is your hip surgery? When I had my hips done almost 20 years ago I banked my own blood but they might need 4 weeks notice for this procedure before your hip operation. Talk to your surgeon and let him know you would like to use your own for the transfusion. A couple of years ago when I had a hip revisions I needed donor transfusions for one of the revisions because they had to do a bone graft before they replaced the necessary parts. Maintain a positive outlook and continue to do the pre-op exercises. I admire the direction of your studies...Tom

Wendy, I hope you do bounce back as has happened for Steve before. Hate to see you in such pain. Hang in there.

Love and Warm Hugs,

Thinking of you Wendy!

Hugs.

Hi Rumble. Thanks for the support. It appears it is too late to bank my own blood, but they have done the cross-matching and will have blood products on hand. And you're right about the improved testing so I guess I should try not to worry about this point.

Joyce - please give my best wishes to your husband. I read your other post as well and have great sympathy for him, especially the increased pain he will have.

Thank you for your kindness and the hugs!

Thanks Jeff! I'm having to increase my opioid pain meds to compensate but I hate having to do that. Especially as I'm all too familiar with the physical unpleasantness of tapering off them again. I know the exercise is important - it's hard to balance pain management and the need to exercise enough to improve the rehab time.

Glad you are here, too! You are good at making me chuckle!

Hi Tom. My surgery is next Wednesday (26th). Too late to bank blood. I'm hoping I won't need it but they have cross-matched me and will have blood products on hand. I'm working on the positive outlook. My lovely grandchildren help me with that! I'm expecting a fourth at the end of March.

Thanks for the comment about the direction of my studies. The young people I'm hoping to help have had such tragic lives. Then they are criminalized for their brain injuries. Something needs to change.

Thanks Kat! KickAs members are good role models!

Hi Wendy: Wishing you all the best with your surgery on Wednesday and I wish you a full and speedy recovery...Tom

hi wendy: good luck in a few short weeks there will be a lot less pain mike