Question:
Back pain as a pre-op...

I had a car wreck Nov. of '01 - hit a deer, :( - and ever since have had exaggerated pains in my right shoulder, neck, and left hip. (I've always had back trouble and have always sought chiropractic adjustments.) My question is: Should I try to get an adjustment early next week or wait until a couple of weeks after my Sept. 12 surgery? My back should have been adjusted several weeks ago, but we just couldn't afford it. Will the pain meds make me forget about my back pain while in the hospital?    — Kathy B. (posted on September 6, 2002)

September 5, 2002
Well, I would go to your chiro now. One of the unfortunate side effects of surgery is that darned operating table and those awful hospital beds, which cause many of us with chronic back pain to feel even worse. My open RNY was virtually painless, just uncomfortable, but OH, MY ACHING BACK!
   — Leslie F.

September 5, 2002
I had an auto accident in 1999, which left me with L4-5 misalinment, two blown disks and 1/2 disk blown, two crushed knees, and a jaw that won't allow my mouth to open more than 1 1/2". In May of this year I had an open revision to RNY from VBG of 1983. Whereas there was abdominal pain when I tried to get up and down, the pain in my back was excruciating. No pain killers or position would relieve the pain and it continued until I was finally able to lie on my side at about 6 weeks out. My best advice to you would be to exercise as much as you can and even try to lie on your back for extended periods of time to see if you can get used to it. Since the accident I cannot lie on my back for more than a minute or two so six weeks on it nearly killed me. Until I was able to get relief in my back I never felt my incision pain and by then it was really nothing more than annoyance. Good luck!
   — Vicki H.

September 5, 2002
Another back pain sufferer here. Ask your surgeon to put a pillow under your knees during the surgery. My surgeon had no problem doing this and it helps relieve the pressure on your hips and lower back. Do what you can to fix your back before the surgery, cause the other posters are right, your back will definatley be worse after the surgery. Good luck!
   — cjabates

September 6, 2002
As someone that was injured in a car accident myself, I say GO NOW! I'm not sure what surgery your having but there is NO WAY I would have wanted to endure a chiropractor right after my surgery (Open RNY) I didn't want to do anything for about 4 weeks must less have someone pushing and popping around on me :) Like the other posters said, the surgey is rough and the beds are terrible so don't put anymore hardship on your body than what it will already be enduring :) And yes the pain meds will help some or with mine they did, or maybe I was just too worried about recovering from surgery to notice :) Good Luck!
   — Lynda T.