I've got a dumb question. I'll be having hip replacement soon and my rheumatologist told me that I'll have to be off my Enbrel for a while before and after the surgery. So, if you have to be really cautious to avoid infections with dental work etc, after a total hip, is it safe to continue enbrel after your incision wound has healed? Is there anyone here who has had a total hip that still uses enbrel? (boy that was a dumb one, I've forgotten where I am obviously!
Thanks
Bob
BOB, MY UNDERSTANDING IS BIOLOGICS REDUCE YOUR ABILITY TO FIGHT INFECTION SO COMING OFF THE ENBREL IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. THE LAST THING YOU WANT RIGHT NOW IS AN INFECTION TO DEAL WITH. I'M ASSUMING YOU HAVE RA. HAS YOUR RHEUMY SUGGESTED ANY MEDS THAT ARE SAFE FOR YOU TO TAKE DURING YOUR RECOVERY??Ask your doc about taking Arnica Montana in pill form before surgery and after, also Arnica salve is great for scar reduction. I have a girlfriend that works for a plastic md. and they recommend both. Good luck.
Peace
You are correct, I have RA. When I spoke to my rheumatologist she told me that I would need to be off my enbrel for a while. I'm also on 10mg of prednisone and when I asked her about that she told me that I really can't come off of that, and in fact said that I would most likely be given "stress doses" of prednisone after the surgery. I've had a few teeth pulled, a couple piercings, and three tattoos while on pred and all of this healed normally so should I worry about this?
Thanks
Bob
Haven't had a hip replacement, but I do have to joint replacements in my both of my feet. I was on Enbrel for the second foot. I had to stay off Enbrel for 4 weeks, before back on it again. That was two years ago. I have to take anitbiotics before seeing the Dentist and of course stay of of Enbrel with a cold.
Kieye
Dentist? I never thought of that! Do I have to go off my biologic before simple dental stuff like fillings or crowns? Or take antibiotics beforehand?
Good thing someone brought it up. I have a dental appointment soon...
Bob; I take Humira which is another biologics and even when I get a simple little cut or scratch it take two to three times longer for it to heal because of MTX & Humira. I'd bet this is one of the reasons...not just because of infections, but it might actually extend your recovery period. You think?
I've been off of my meds for two weeks now while I recover from a head and chest cold. It's the doctors opinion that while our immune system is surpressed our bodies can't heal and infact the infection can turn much more serious. I guess their right....but I have hated being without my meds while I recover from what seems like a normal little cold that really hasn't given me that much trouble. I've had a far worse time managing with the RA symptoms than I have the stupid cold symptoms.
Just one of the draw backs of being on these meds....and just one more reason for me to be what I now consider to be a "germ-a-phobic". I wash my hands constantly....and steer clear of those that appear to be the slightest bit ill. I hate being that way; but it does seem to matter now.
Best of luck with the surgery.
Lovie
Sara, from what I can get from all of the info I've found you do have to notify the dentist if you have a prosthetic joint, ie: hip,knee,shoulder,elbow,etc, before undergoing any type of work even a cleaning. Then you'll probably be prescribed an anitbiotic as a preventive measure before the appt.
I heal fine right now on enbrel and prednisone. An example: I don't like to have to pay to get my car fixed and a week ago I was changing the brakes on the front end. Well, I slipped up and took quite a bit of skin off my knuckles and some on my forearm. I can hardly tell where it was now and BOY did it look nasty at the time. The wife says it looked like I was trying to grate some cheese and, well, forgot the cheese before I started. Kids, can you say accident prone?
Thanks all
Bob
Thanks, Bob. I thought you meant without a prosthetic - just taking a biologic - you had to go off of it for any regular filling or whatever. I actually called my rheumy's office to check, and they said no. Only if, as you said, you're having surgery or you're under a more serious threat of infection in general.
Thanks!
I am on enbrel, arava and naprosyn. Last year I broke my ankle replacement and fibular and had 2 surgeries. I had an external fixator (gross cage thingie that had rods that went through my foot and leg) for about 8 weeks holding the whole thing rigid while it healed. Then I graduated to a non-weight bearing cast and eventually a walking cast. The second surgery was to remove the fixator.
My surgeon had me stop the enbrel. He wanted me to stop the arava too but I refused. Since I'd be laid up for a few months I knew the lack of movement, walking and exercise would turn me into a pretzel. I did go back on the enbrel once I was in the walking cast.
It took a good 6 weeks before I noticed the lack of enbrel. Once I started back on it it kicked right in.
When I saw my rheumy after the ordeal he told me it wasn't necessary to stop the enbrel at all and that the surgeon was misinformed.
So had I known that I'm not sure I would have stopped the enbrel for as long as I did. I would have stopped for maybe 2-3 weeks.
I take an antibiotic when I go to the dentist. There's so much bacteria in out mouths that can easily make their way into our bloodstream after the poking, prodding and scraping one encounters at the dentist.
Good luck with your hip surgery!