Pain meds-back aches at 3 weeks?

My surgery date was the 25th of April. I have a back ache at least part of everyday. The surgeon didn't seem overly concerned. I still use my pain meds 1 time or 2 times a day mostly for the back ache, but also for tummy ache. Anyone else out there having these issues? Kim M.

nope but it might not be surgery related. the back anyway have you asked your surgeon about a chiropractor?

I had pain in my back for a few days, but it went away. Im sure the back ache will go away. I am still taking my pain meds pretty regularly. For surgery pain, but from what I have read from my previous posts about pain meds and such I am the biggest wimp here. I guess the big thing here is to get off of the pain meds as soon as possible. Forget that... I will just keep being the biggest wimp here and take my pain meds regularly. I mean the cut on my stomach is only about a foot long. Sorry, now see I am going off here when I should be supporting you. But I guess what I am saying is if you still need pain meds then take them. If you arent in pain your body has an easier time healing. Sorry for the ***** session, but I get so tired of hearing people say, "You should talk to your surgeon about the pain meds." or, "I was off of pain meds two days out." or, "blah blah blah". Thats great, but some of us need a little more help. The back pain should get better tho. Try sitting and standing a little straighter. It worked for me. And keep taking the pain meds as you feel you need them... My Dr. has told me more than once that it helps the body heal. Jenn

Jenn every surgery and every surgeon is different. I don't need my pain meds anymore but that certainly doesn't mean that you are not still in pain and you don't need them. Your incision also sounds bigger than mine. Mine is only about 5 inches. Each person is different and each persons pain will be different. Whether you need to stop your pain meds is between you and your Doctor. If they didn't want you to take them past three days..... .they would have only given you three days worth of pain meds. Hang in there, it will get easier. I had back pain at first, but now no more than usual. I have some back problems though so back pain is normal for me. Lizzie

Hi Jenn, Don't feel like a wimp cause you are still taking pain meds. Most of the people who are off pain meds quickly are patients who a LAP RNY and you had Open RNY which takes longer to heal. I agree with your doctor, if I am in pain that is all I can concentrate on and it does make it worse. The nurses told me that in the hospital too, they gave me pain meds whenever I asked because they did not want the pain to get out of control. I had LAP RNY and even I still have some pain now and again I've actually almost finished off the bottle of Lortab. I didn't think I would but I did. Zoe

I had a pretty bad aching back up until this weekend, and now its just mildly achy, but still sore nonetheless. My surgery was the day before yours. My back actually hurt worse than my stomach! I only took my pain meds for a day after coming home from my 3 day hospital stay, because they didnt seem to help my back at all, and my stomach was painful. The Dr said its normal, just your back overcompensating for your sore tummy muscles. It is also worse if your dehydrated so I just try to be careful and rest when needed and keep up on my water intake.

I had mine on the 24 th , the day b4 yours. I still have pain in my upper abdomen area, where they put the camera in. But I do not have any back pain, unless I sleep on my back too long. Have you tried changing position of sleep during the night? Maybe that will help.

I had surgery on the 19th of April. I am still on pain meds for abdominal pain. It was so bad that I could not get a breath in. I went back into the hospital and they ran every test known to god and came up with my muscles are having a hard time healing. So all I can say is if you are still having pain then by all means take the meds. I hope that you begin to feel better soon....take care of you. Jen

If you are still on the narcotic pain meds you may want to try switching to Tylenol, or your PCP may have anothor Pain Med or a muscle relaxant that he can prescribe for the back pain. I did not have much back pain, and I don't have any now (except when I wake up in the morning), but I did have some discomfort for the first couple of weeks. I am a quick healer. When I went in for my 3 week check-up last week, the nurse was surprised how well the healing in my incisions was progressing. So I would expect others to still have these issues, and since your bodies shape and weight will be changing, you may have the back pain recur at times during your journey as your body changes, then readjusts. Heidi L-S

I also had my surgery on the 25th. After almost 2 weeks I started having really bad back pain and I couldn't move. I had to go to the ER twice. They only thing that helped for a few hours were shots. The first time a Morphine shot and the second time 2 shots of Diludid(spelling?) Both times they gave me the same meds in liquid form to take at home and they didn't do anything for me. I think I was not absorbing them due to the surgery. They said it was part my surgery and part my sciatica. I still have some pain but not nearly as bad. Good luck to you. Ana