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Celebrex after decompression/fusion surgery?
I had spinal decompression/fusion surgery 4 weeks ago. My leg pain is mostly resolved. I have returned to most of my non-strenuous daily activities and am walking an average of 2500-3000 steps per day. However, I also have hip and neck pain that was previously controlled by Celebrex, which I haven't been taking since a week before surgery. My surgeon's PA says it's OK to start the Celebrex again, but I read on many reputable medical websites (NOT SOCIAL MEDIA) that Celebrex shouldn't be taken for 3 months after this type of surgery because it can hamper bone fusion. Does anyone have insight into this issue?
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I'm a dear friend of Celebrex due to my degenerative disc disease and arthritis. My surgeon and NP kept me off of it for six weeks post L-S fusion.
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1 ReactionMy doctor wants me to take Celebrex for the pain. I used to take it many years ago but when the Cancer scare by using Celebrex came out, I stopped taking it and have not since then. I wonder if I should take it for pain now. Is it safe? Cancer causing? Any thoughts?
Medications are always about pros & cons. I recommend a conversation with your physician.
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1 ReactionCelebrex is a life saver for inflammation... however if it is bone on bone... i have Palexia 50mg twice a day. Hope that helps.
@jwoaks I'm actually surprised the PA said you could take Celebrex 4 weeks after spine fusion surgery. Healing a fusion depends on inflammation which starts to build a framework to create bone. Later, the minerals will be deposited into this framework to complete the fusion. This takes months. For my cervical fusion, it took 3 months and that was confirmed by X-rays and X-rays with flexion and extension, and they measure to make sure there was no movement between the fused levels. It may take longer to fuse a lumbar spine, but I haven't had that experience. I don't have much experience with Arthritis drugs either, but the question to ask about Celebrex would be to ask about anti inflammatory effects? There may be studies that have been done regarding spine fusion. From what I found online, there doesn't seem to be a clear conclusion at this time. I know when I had my spine surgery, I was advised to avoid all anti inflammatories and even supplements like turmeric that have anti inflammatory properties.
I was able to find this literature which describes some conflicting studies published on a trusted source, the National Library of Medicine.
"Do Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Affect Bone Healing? A Critical Analysis"
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3259713/
This is from
TECHNOLOGY, COMPUTING, AND SIMULATION: (Society for Technology in Anesthesia): Letters & Announcements
Considerations in the Use of COX-2 Inhibitors in Spinal Fusion Surgery
https://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/Fulltext/2001/09000/Considerations_in_the_Use_of_COX_2_Inhibitors_in.56.aspx
Perhaps you might ask your surgeon for further clarification. Don't be afraid to ask post operative questions. I think surgeons would want you to ask for instructions.
Jennifer -- Thanks so much for your input. I will definitely check out these studies. I have a six-week follow-up with my surgeon next week and will discuss the Celebrex/anti-inflammatory issue with him. I appreciate your time in responding.
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1 Reaction@jwoaks Thanks for your kind words. I hope you get an answer and continue with healing and that soon, you won't need pain drugs.
Jennifer
My internist is the one who told me to take Celebrex. He said it's safe even if the U.S. said it's off the market. Totally confused. I could use it for my knee pain, but would it cause me to get cancer? So confused!!
Celebrex is not off the market. It does not cause cancer.