Bariatric Surgery and Arthritis
Roughly 60 percent of people diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis are also anemic. About a third of gastric bypass patients will develop anemia following surgery. The link between anemia and rheumatoid arthritis is undeniable. To avoid developing this painful and debilitating form of arthritis, individuals who undergo gastric bypass surgery need to be cognizant of the proteins in the red blood cells, known as hemoglobin levels.
Take Vitamins to Prevent Arthritis
To keep hemoglobin at their proper levels, it's important that vitamin levels are in check following surgery. Vitamin B12, iron and folic acid are known to help regulate hemoglobin levels. The surgeon can test blood to see if you're deficient in any one of these vitamins, whether you need to supplement just one or if you require a combination vitamins. Though most vitamins are available over the counter, depending on the dose required for your treatment, you might need a doctor's prescription.
Get A Diagnosis For Your Arthritis
If your arthritis does not improve with dietary supplements and vitamins, you may not have rheumatoid arthritis. Another form of arthritis that commonly effects patients after gastric bypass surgery is arthritis-dermatitis. This conditions is caused by bacterial buildup in the body following surgery. Arthritis-dermatitis is a condition that inflames joints in the wrists, knees and elbows. Most often, it's treated with steroids.
Living With Arthritis After Gastric Bypass Surgery
Morbid obesity has been linked to accelerated arthritis of the spine--more commonly called a slipped disk--and degenerating cartilage in the joints. Following surgery, it's recommended that you maintain weight loss with a healthy diet and exercise. Living with arthritis, you will need to do specific exercises that target the muscles surrounding problem joints, while also avoiding tender pressure points and chronic inflamed tissues. Therefore, it’s important to see a physical therapist with experience treating both gastric bypass and arthritic patients.
Sources:
National Anemia Action Council *"Handouts: Anemia and Rheumatoid Arthritis" (accessed on January 22, 2010)
Dig Dis Sci 1990 May;35(5):656-60 *"Post Biliopancreatic Bypass Arthritis. Dermatitis Syndrome" (accessed on January 22, 2010)