Anyone Have Post Op Back Problems?

I started to develop some really bad lower back pain this weekend.  No changes in my routine or anything.  You'd think that since I've lost about 57 lbs in two months that I would be feeling great.  I do, other than my back. The chiropractor said that it is common for people who lose weight quickly to develop lower back pain because of the major adjustment in your weight.  It sounds strange.  But I do have to secretly admit that it felt good having hot pads on my back while lying on a massage table.  Has anyone else experienced this?

Yep!  I'm nearly 5 years out and still have lower back and tailbone pain.  I've tried a chiropractor, massage therapy, heating pads...nothing has done much.  My next step is a rehab Dr. appt coming up next month.  I lost 150 lbs, but you'd think I'd have adjusted by now!  I also don't believe the "no padding in the butt anymore" story.  My always have been thin friends don't have tailbone pain.

So it's still a mystery and a pain in the butt for me!

Hi Kelly, I had back pain soon after surgery. I agree that it seems to be from the rapid weight loss. I also had butt pain when I sat.......too little padding. I brought a donut pillow along to movies and other events for awhile. It was literally a pain in the bu**!!!! LOL Good luck! pat

Yup, I'm famous for my Butt Pillow that I brought along everywhere I went. I had a lot of tailbone and lower back pain from about 9 months out for about 6 months or so. Go to a chiropractor and a physical therapist. Good luck, it really really hurts and sitting is extremely painful.

I "second" the butt pillow--a neck pillow turned backwards to make room for the tailbone. It worked wonders.  I'm better now, but used that thing for over a year!  Thanks Farrah! 

Yep!  And I go to the Chiropractor also and mine said the same thing.  I had low back pain pre op also tho.  I also treat myself (once in awhile) to a 1/2 hour massage and they focus on my back and let me tell you  AAHHHHHHH!!!  Hang in there hon, it does get better!

I had back problems about 6 months out from surgery.  I found physical therapy to be more beneficial to me than chiropractic care.  I worked with a PT a few days a week for about three weeks.  And when I finished, I felt a world of difference.  I also walked away with a stability ball to strengthen my core muscles which I use at least 3 x's per week now.  It is great for stretching as well as strengthing.. Losing 57  lbs in two months is a great accomplishment, but likely some muscle lost in that, so it is important to remember to work on those muscles that support your core, or injury is pretty much inevitable... Good Luck! :)

I brought this up at support group meeting a couple of months ago.  I couldn't figure out why I hurt more now than when I was 111 pounds heavier!  Dave, (the nurse at PNC) said that it's very normal since first of all you can now do more activity than you could before and therefore you're using parts of your body in ways that they couldn't be used before.  Also he said that the fat that used to cushion areas of your body and joints is gone or severely lessened so there's not as much there cusioning those areas causing more pain. And lastly, like your chiro said - your weight is also shifting throughout your body and as it settles in new areas it can cause you to move differently than you did before. Hopefully it will get better for you - just remember that you shouldn't take anything with Ibuprofen in it such as Advil or Aleve - instead use something with Acetaminophen so you don't hurt your new pouch. Good luck!

My lower back pain is from a car accident 11+ years ago, but it's really not a lot better yet since I've lost a mess of weight.  Because of the "cushion" being gone, because I/we move a lot more since all the weight is gone, all that good stuff.  I do work on stretching more, and trying to strengthen my core, and hope to see some positive results from that someday sooner than later.   As for the butt bone pain when sitting on hard surfaces (like - oh, church pews?)  I actually kind of enjoy it, because it's just one of those signs that there isn't as much BUTT there to pad my body!  As long as I don't end up with dimples where those contact points are....