Question:
Does anyone know about back pain post op

due to bone structure changing after dramatic weight loss. I am just about eight months post op and having horrible lower back pain. I recently read that some people experience back pain due to bone structure change. Wondering if anyone can elaborate on this for me. Thanks    — C. Burns (posted on September 24, 2003)

September 24, 2003
I was told that I was having back pain because of my hanging apron. I was told to wear a girdle. which helped my back so much. as I have been losing more weight it seems to get heavier to me. I guess because it's hanging. It's so weird because before I loss wt. I never had back pain, it just never bothered me. anyhow I will seek TT when I have loss enough weight.
   — Naes Wls J.

September 24, 2003
I am having back pain right now and am only 5 weeks out. But I also read somewhere it has a lot to do with the fact that open or lap, your muscles are messed with and you don't have what little stomach mucsles to keep you up, so all the weight has to go onto the back! I am not sure about that far post op now, but I do know that it makes sense for me right now!
   — Michawn

September 24, 2003
From you post I didn't catch if you were OPEN or LAP however My personel experience is this, I have been to the Chiropractor every 1-2 weeks for the last 3 months trying to keep my lower back from making me feel crippled. Never had a problem till I got to 9 months post op and went from 248 to 171 (77lbs) THE CAUSE no doubt the fact that I had Open rny cut right through my abdomanal muscles and 80% of the way I performed my lifting requirements at work were done with my muscles in my upper and lower abdomen, so with the integrity change and long duration needed for muscles to heal my spine is taking the workload and it doesn't like it so it gets swollen and tender then tight and only a chiropractor is the right person to deal with that. It is so much better since I started getting it treated but is is a long road when your body is still loosing and adjusting. Good luck
   — Rebecca B.

September 25, 2003
Just think how the center of balance for your body has changed since you lost weight. Most obese individuals lean back to keep up their abdominal girth. As they lose weight, they tend to straighten up. Now they are using a different set of muscles to stand/sit/walk. Those muscles aren't used to being used constantly. Also, think how inactive we all were. There are all sorts of weak muscles that haven't been used for a while and now we want to use them!! If you haven't ever had physical therapy, ask your md to order some for you. They can not only give you exercises to strengthen the right muscles, they can teach you to walk/sit/stand properly. It may also be an abundance of abdominal weight from an apron that has you disproportioned. Don't ever suffer, see your md and ask for help in finding the cause and taking care of it. Now that you're looking so good, you should feel good too!! Oh, and weak muscles may also make you more likely to herniate a disk or other type of dysfunction of the spine, so you may need meds/therapy, etc. Always be sure to talk over your concerns with your md. An orthopedic md would specialize in bone type issues, or a neurologist often takes care of specific spine issues. Good Luck!
   — Karen M.

September 26, 2003
Hi, I just experienced this myself. Last month, at 4 months post-op, my back 'went out' like never before--it was excruciating and immobilizing for over a week. In the past, I've had periods of back pain, but this was the worst! And of course, when I would go to the Dr for back pain the response I got was along the lines of "You're fat, of course you have back pain. Here are some pain pills, and a diet for 800 cals a day." Well, this time I went for an MRI and saw an orthopedist, and learned that I already had damage to the disks in my lumbar (lower) spine. Combined with the shift in gravity from weight loss, increased activity, and weak abdominal muscles, my discks herniated, causing my pain. I just finished up 4 weeks of physical therapy, and I'm feeling very good. Please don't wait, get to a doctor, specialist, physical therapist, etc, who can tell you what is causing YOUR pain so it can be treated effectively.
   — Judy M.

September 26, 2003
Hi, I just experienced this myself. Last month, at 4 months post-op, my back 'went out' like never before--it was excruciating and immobilizing for over a week. In the past, I've had periods of back pain, but this was the worst! And of course, when I would go to the Dr for back pain the response I got was along the lines of "You're fat, of course you have back pain. Here are some pain pills, and a diet for 800 cals a day." Well, this time I went for an MRI and saw an orthopedist, and learned that I already had damage to the disks in my lumbar (lower) spine. Combined with the shift in gravity from weight loss, increased activity, and weak abdominal muscles, my discks herniated, causing my pain. I just finished up 4 weeks of physical therapy, and I'm feeling very good. Please don't wait, get to a doctor, specialist, physical therapist, etc, who can tell you what is causing YOUR pain so it can be treated effectively.
   — Judy M.