Question:
Lower Back Pain
I am currently two and half weeks post op from gastric bypass surgery. I have not been sleeping well at night due to lower back pain and hip pain. I am almost certain that this is from surgery. I only had lower back pain during the night only during my cycle months. The hip pain I never had, but is slowly getting better. I know everyone heals differently but my question to you all is, Is this something that you all experienced? If so how long did it take for it to go away and what are some of the things you did to help alleviate the pain during the night? I will be going back to work soon and I need a good nights sleep. I currently use several different things. One I went and bought a feather cover for my bed, I use a pillow to help support me and I sleep alot on my back with my knees up to help with the stress on my back. I am anxiously awaiting approval to get into the bathtub. Hopefully today when I go to the Docs he will let me do just that. — iwilllose (posted on January 7, 2008)
January 6, 2008
Normal recovery from lap. RNY does not include hip or back pain. If you
gallbladder was removed also, that may account for some of the pain. Back
and joint pain is something that most overweight people incur. I know I had
some lower back pain, knee joint pain, ankle and foot pain with sever
swelling in these last areas. I had surgery at 59, I'm a male, and these
back and joint pains have 99% disappeared. I'm 18 month post op, with a
loss of 135 pounds.
— Dave Chambers
January 7, 2008
I feel your pain, literally. I had LAP RNY on 2/15/07 - coming up on a year
and here is what happened to me. I had HORRIBLE lower back pain starting
with my pre-op liquid diet. Mainly due to the overstimulation of my bladder
and the hi-protein diet. Both of these things contributed to the lower back
pain. Bladder/Kidney's working OT to get things done and processed. It did
go away - but it took some time. I would say, if memory serves me correct
about 1.5-2 months. Once I started to eat regular food and wasn't drinking
everything (for liquids and food). If you are worried, go and see your PCP.
I had my gallbladder taken out years and years ago, so I know they didn't
miss anything. But better safe than sorry I would see your PCP and tell
him/her what's going on. That's my rule of thumb. I might seem paranoid,
but I would rather be paranoid then have something really wrong, you know?
Good luck
— jammerz
January 7, 2008
I am 9 weeks out and OMG! my back and lower back were killing me the pain
only started 1 week after surgery i had major pain in my abdomen cause i
had a open revision done and they cut thru the first incision i had done
10 years ago the doc said my pain was from having hardened tissu that he
had to cut thru but anyways i came home in literally sat and slept in a
lazy boy chair cuz my stomach pain was so intense so i started getting
pains in my back and lower back i was finally able to start moving and
walking around and in no time the pain went away i think i had lazy boy
sores lol i can't call it bed sores !are you moving around alot? going for
walks? or just try sleeping somewhere different your body might be sick of
sleeping in the same position i know mine was good luck to ya Lyne
— lyne R.
January 7, 2008
I had mine 9-6-07. i experienced all the above. the hip pain was the
worst. That was because of the weight loss and the change in my gait. my
Doc gave me ambien and that has been a life saver. it is non narcotic and
not addicting. Tell you Dr. to give you a script. A good nights sleep is
so important and once you are resting well you will ache less too. the
aching does pass, even now I still experience those same aches and pains
but not as bad or as often. hang in there, this too shall pass. Deb
— dessary316
January 7, 2008
I am having the same problem, but mine is in my mid-back. I told my
surgeon about it right after the surgery and he said it was because of the
positioning of my body during surgery. Apparently, we are put in a pike
kind of postion, with the lower back at an unusual arch. If you can, try
sleeping on your side with one pillow between your knees to keep your hips
and back even. Hope this helps!! I am 3 weeks out, by the way:)
— boleszc1
January 7, 2008
I had similar issues. I slept on two very fluffy pillows and another large
one under my knees. I couldn't sleep on my side for weeks (and I'm a side
sleeper).
— Shirley D.
January 7, 2008
Sleeping on an air mattress really has helped my back pain.
— JStangel
January 8, 2008
Is there any possibility that you could have a kidney infection or UTI?
— tazthewiz23
January 8, 2008
You might want to try heat. Moist heat works best (get a wash cloth or
small towel and soak it with the hot water, squeeze out the excess water
and place on sore painful areas). A heating pad or hot water might be
helpful as well.
If you do use a heating pad, make sure you turn it off before you go to
bed. I fell asleep with mine on and woke up with 2nd degree burns on my
bum... huge blisters and I couldn't sit down for a week. It was sooooo
embarrassing having to tell the nurse and doctor what had happened.
Ambien or other sleep meds might be helpful. Ambien is unlikely to cause
problems when taken properly but is addictive for some people (esp. those
with a history of drug or alcohol abuse). You might want to try taking
some Tylenol or Tylenol PM before bed. Benadryl is sometimes used as a
sleep aid. It's cheap and available over the counter.
Good sleep is important, especially if you are still healing from surgery.
If you are still having difficulty, get in touch with your surgeon or
doctor. S/he will most likely be able to recommend or prescribe something
that will help you.
Best wishes.
— mrsidknee
January 8, 2008
Wow! I had the back pain! I thought I threw my back out because I was
gagging on tuna. It started the week after RNY. It lasted in the lower
back for 3 days. Lots of trouble getting up. Then it moved up to mid back
area. It felt like I couldn't stand up straight. It last one week total
and is now completely better. When it was hurting, I slept in a lazy boy
type chair. Good luck. I really think this is normal for us all!
— KritterK
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