Increased back pain???

I am so sorry for complaining what seems like all the time. First it was the upper back now this. I was wondering if anyone had increased lower back pain after surgery. I have to assume I'm tight from not being at the gym warming it up, but it hurts to stretch--catch 22. It is affecting my sleep and just really makes doing much of anything a chore. I have a pre-existing herniated disc that I'm sure doesn't help things. Contemplating asking for an order for physical therapy, but not sure the surgeon will write it. I'm just so bummed because I thought not having that big belly hanging would help my back.

Thanks!

Denise

Get a script for a TENS unit from your regular doctor. I have suffered from upper back pain and now some lower. I have had great success with this. I've done everything in the book, pills, pills and more pills. Injections, PT, PM&R, you name it, I've done it. I've gone to a chiropractor, was going to try acupuncture, have had ultrasound therapy, needless to say, nothing worked. Because of my TENS unit, I'm off EVERYTHING for back pain. I have an Empi unit, it costs around $700 but my insurance paid for it, all but $67. I have never felt better. Could not sleep on my left side for 10 years and now I don't feel any pain. When I work, I wear my unit all day on low and it's fantastic. I too have herniated discs. Hope this helps, I feel for you. Whenever I have pain and where ever I have pain, I place the sticky pads on that area and it helps greatly. My insurance also pays for sticky pads.

I forgot all about the TENS unit. My mom had one and swore by it. She passed several years ago and it had seen much better days, so I'll talk to my doc about it. I'm sure they'll make me do some PT first, but it will be well worth it if I can get the TENS covered and finally get some relief. It's weird, I keep feeling like I need to lift up my stomach, which is what I'd do back before my lower body lift to take the pressure off my back, but everytime I reach for it, it's not there!! Wonder if the weakness of the stomach muscles from the surgery is hurting too.

THanks for the suggestion!!

Denise

I went to PT (had done that way back when too, but it didn't help), but this time, the PT, that's affiliated with my surgeon, told me to try their TENS unit out. Because I got great relief from it, she asked me to get a script from my GP and she faxed off all the paperwork for me and that's how I got my fab unit. I hope this helps. Let me know if you get relief from it. Nothing worse than being in constant pain, it wears you down. BTW. OH is a great resource for people. I'll be asking a lot of questions after my RNY on Nov. 16. Send me good Karma

Denise:

It seems my back has been kiling me since surgery.  I thought it would start getting better since I am not walking bent over so much anymore.  Just sitting at my desk, leaning a litle bit to type is killing my back.  I do have scoliosis, so I am sure that does help the matter either.

Hope it gets better!
Tina

Whenever someone gives me grief about spending too much time on OH, these are the very stories I will relate to them. It makes such a difference to know I am not the only one dealing with this. I mentioned to the other poster that maybe having our stomach muscles interefered with is affecting their ability to hold us up and keep the back strong. Having had the lower body lift, they are also messing around with the back (lipo, separating skin from fascia) so I imagine that isn't helping anything. My husband got me this awesome Brookstone back massager (little spinning balls with heat). It feels AWESOME. Helps my upper back a lot too. I think a really deep professional massage will be of some help too. I see my doc tomorrow and if he gives me the clear to start massage based on how my incisions look (and if this damn drain comes out) that will be first on my list of things to do!!


Do you have a regular treatment regimen for your scoliosis or do you just sort of deal with it?

Hope you get to feeling better too!

Oh I will have to try one of those.  I would love a massage too!!!

I just deal with my scoliosis.  They found it when I was just in kindergarten.  I had to wear a back brace but my mom was not strict with it.  So in the 6th grade I had to wear one that came had bars that came up to my *****front and back) that I had to wear 23-1/2 hours a day.  It was hot and horrible - but hey...it was better than having surgery right?

My back this week has really been bothering me and not sure why because i'm not walking all bent over any more.  I hope it gets better.

Tina