post op - back ache

Hello everyone, I am knew to this forum, but have been reading all the post and they are most imformative and seems like everyone knows everyone here already. I am 9 days post op now and for several days have been suffering with an awful back ache and of course cannot take anything for it. Getting through to Dr. Duncan's office with a question is virtually impossible (as some of you may have already encountered). I feel wonderful except for this. Anyone ideas as to what is causing this, I do not think it is how I am sleeping because I am sleeping the same as before surgery. Have been back at work since day 5 working only 6 hours a day but now the back ache is making the 6 hours hard to get though. je

I am not a Doctor...but will tell you that I was sent home with pain killers and was told that I could take tylenol products. (no more than 1 at a time though) I hope you can get through to your doctor soon....I know you're going to feel better when you do! Dee Dee

I have not taken any of the pain killers they prescribed for me not even the morphine in the hospital - they just do not seem to work for me. I am a little afraid to take even tylenol for fear it will upset my stomach. I have only been queazy one time since the surgery and that was when I crushed up my birth control pill and added it to some juice and took it - the next morning I was queazy but kept it down. I guess I just need confirmation that this is due to the surgery and I will just live with it until it is gone. I do not have any fever or any other problems so I feel it must be from the surgery, all other soreness is gone now. Thanks so much for the info.

Welcome to the boards I have read a few posts just like yours. They all said it was because of the operation itself (lying in one position on a flat hard surface for hours). Now I did not have a backache after surgery, but can't you take Tylenol? I would keep trying to reach Dr. Duncan or one of his staff for advice! (Psst - do you have any leftover pain killer the hospital sent you home with? that might help lol) Kia 5'9" 284/188/155

Kia, thanks so much for the info, I feel much better about this now. Wonder if it is okay for me to get back on my treadmil, I am 9 days post of and feeling so good other than the back pain. je

Hey, Judy...I'm having some back pain and hip pain, but I do think it is from how I'm sleeping. I'm able to sleep on my sides, but I realized I'm not shifting my weight onto my belly like before. So, it is putting pressure on my hips. Some advice about calling Dr. Duncan's office...Call the main number and ask for Shannon...leave her a voicemail. If she doesn't call you back within a few hours...call her back. She will return your call. You just need to leave it straight with her. I have called them with a few questions since I got home, and they have called me back...now it wasn't what I would call timely, but they did call me back. I don't think those hospital beds helped us too much either. Let me know if I can help my surgery sister and neighbor. I didn't know you were my neighbor when we were in the hospital together.

Hi Stephanie, I left a msg with Shannon yesterday at 2:30 still have not heard from her. I have had a problem with communication with this office from the very beginning!! I really would have gone to another Dr. if Dr. Duncan did not have such a good rep. My butt bone was sore for several days after surgery from that or metal bed, and I did not spend much time in that hospital bed I kept switching between the chair and the bed - my poor husband would just get sleeping good when I would decide it was time to move again! That man is a saint!! Were you the one having all the pain in the upper part of your chest? je

Shannon finally returned my call (almost 24 hours later) and said she thinks it is still some gas left ove from the surgery - not sure if I agree but in any case I guess I should not be concerned and maybe it will subside over this long weekend. thanks je

I had a terrible backache and nothing seemed to ease the pain. UNTIL, I got out the heating pad. That made all the difference! I also took tylenol, which has never helped me too much. My doctor said the heating pad was okay, so if you have one, give it a try!

OH THANKS SO MUCH!! I am gettin a heating pad on the way home from work today!!! Don't know why I had not thought of that myself. je