Question:
Is anyone experiencing severe back aches post op?

I am almost 4 mo post op and I have never had problems with back aches prior to surgery, but in the last 3 months it has been severe, not in the spine but more in the muscle on both sides of the spine. I have it everyday soon as I get tired, it doesn't take much to get me tired.    — Diana A. (posted on September 16, 2001)

September 16, 2001
Gosh - I am glad to hear this is happening to some else...(I don't mean that bad!). But I have had back pains for the last 3 weeks ( I am one month Post op). I seems worse whenever I have to sit at a desk or like doing dishes or out walking around for a while. Then as soon as I sit and rest, it seems to go away. Doc said that it was fairly common. Keep an eye on it and report to your doc if it's unbearable.
   — [Deactivated Member]

September 16, 2001
I am three weeks post op and a nurse friend of mine told me that it takes 4-6 weeks for anestethesia and drugs to work their way out of our bodies. I believe that and have found relief with chewable phazyme and laying on a heating pad for about an hour a day.
   — Kathy S.

September 16, 2001
Diana, I am glad to read that I am not the only one to have this problem. I am 3 1/2 weeks post-op and it seems that I notice my back hurting me more than before. I never associated it with being tired, but now that I think about it, it is normally towards the end of a busy day and I literally have to stop everything and just sit for 15 minutes or so. I plan to wear my binder for the entire time I need to. The support makes my stomach and back feel good.
   — Betty M.

September 17, 2001
Me too. I was at a picnic yesterday and had to lay down for awhile, my back is so bad. My surgeons office said it would go away in time, but right now I dont walk any distance since walking, makes it worse. This is why I havent been around here to answer questions, sitting at desk is a killer.
   — bob-haller

September 17, 2001
I had a lot of back pain early post-op too. I think it's partly caused by the actual surgery, laying for a long time on a very flat surface. Plus, the sitting in the hospital bed and not being able to use the stomach muscles. I will say that it was all pretty gone by 6 weeks and at 3 months I have less back pain than in years.
   — kcanges

September 17, 2001
With any major weight loss there is a shift in the center of gravity which causes different muscles to be used. As your weight loss increases you will probably experience a shift in the location of the back ache. It will go away as the new muscles become adjusted to the work they must perform.
   — [Anonymous]

September 18, 2001
It could be muscle pain, but it could also be gallbladder pain. Some people experience it in their backs (the gallbladder is closer to your back than your front) - almost like labor pains. Also, rapid weight loss can cause gallbladder problems really quickly. Just another thought.
   — Cindy H.