Question:
I am 10 weeks post=op and have severe back pain for the last month
It feels like someone is putting knives in my lower back. M.D. thinks it is from weight loss- ive lost 50lbs. anyone experience back pain after surgery. thanks — carol M. (posted on September 28, 2003)
September 28, 2003
Yes, Carol...I had severe back pain for at least the first 8 months
post-op, every single day. Now (at 16 months post-op) it isn't every day,
but I still have back pain 3-4 days a week depending. I had a bad back
pre-op and scoliosis, which I still of course have. I think it was just
the constant shift of my center of gravity as my body lost weight. I
continue to use Salonpas patches, heat, a body roller for exercise, and
painkillers for the pain. Also having the redundant skin on my belly out
front hasn't helped either. I think I would feel a lot better if I could
have an abdominoplasty, but Kaiser most likely won't cover. Hope you feel
better soon. Hugs, Joy
— [Deactivated Member]
September 29, 2003
You did not say and your profile doesn't either - do you still have your
gall bladder? I'm still preop but had one major gall bladder attack about
5 - 6 years ago. For several weeks leading up to the actual attack my back
was killing me from the middle to lower part of the back.
— ssundlee
September 29, 2003
Several things this could be, so it's best to call your surgeon. I had
that kind of pain with gall bladder attacks. I also had similar types of
pains in my lower back and it was just arthritis kicking in as I no longer
had as much padding to protect bones. Call your surgeon and make sure.
— Cathy S.
September 29, 2003
First check with your surgeon for his/her input to make sure it is not
internal. Then march to a chiropractor, our bodies for years have had all
this extra weight and let's face it, the posture changes too. When we lose
all of this weight so fast, things shift and move and the bones can't keep
up, I'm over a year out now and my visits are very infrequent, but for a
while I went every week, what a difference it made, it got to the point
that when my husband hugged me, I could feel my ribs moving back into
place. Please, no matter what kind of feelings you have toward
chiropractors (some people still refer to them as quacker-practors as my
dad used to say), but between him, my surgeon and my dedication, I AM a
success!!!! And would not change one single thing in my journey. Please,
if the pain is there, get help, we no longer have to sit back and be in
pain! You are on your journey to become a 'normal' person again, and
normal people take care of themselves when there is pain.
— Dana B.
September 29, 2003
There are definitely issues with your back when you lose weight so rapidly,
especially if you were prone to back issues before your surgery, but at
only 10 weeks post-op and the onset of this pain starting at 6 weeks post,
I'm not so sure if the weight loss is the culprit. Did you have pain
pre-op? If not, have your doctor run some tests. Gallbladder is possible.
Sharp pain-like knives is not normal. Muscle aches and strain from weight
loss is.
— Cindy R.
September 29, 2003
HI CAROL I COULD HAVE WROTE YOUR QUESTION. I AM ALSO 10 WEEKS OUT AND DOWN
50 LBS.MY BACK IS KILLING ME.I SET WITH AN ICE BAG FOR AN HOUR IN THE
MORNING BEFORE I CAN GET READY FOR WORK I HAVE SPENT MORE IN THE LAST 6
WEEKS AT THE CHIROPRACTER AND MASSAGE THERIPIST THAN I DID FOR MY WLS
SURGERY,TRUTHFULLY THE MASSAGE WORKED THE BEST.DOC SAID ITS FROM ADJUSTING
TO THE WEIGHT CHANGE AND POSTURE CHANGE.I AM HAVING MY GALL BLADDER OUT
THIS FRIDAY GOING TO SEE IF THAT HELPS.I WAS ALSO HAVING ATTACKS BEFORE THE
BACK PAIN.I HAVE CRYED EVERYDAY WITH PAIN AFTER 3 WEEKS OUT.FIRST 3 WEEKS
WERE GREAT THAN BOOM ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER.BEFORE SURGERY I HAD NO ACHES
OR PAINS.I HAVE REALLY REGREATED THE WLS.HOPEFULLY GETTING MY GALLBLADDER
OUT WILL HELP.TRYING TO STAY VERY POSITIVE. EMAIL ME AND LET ME KNOW HOW
YOU ARE DOING.
— patty L.
September 29, 2003
I'm 4 months post-op and just started seeing a chiropractor for severe low
back pain. I had a "tricky" back pre-op, but it seems much worse
post-op. When I saw the chiropractor, he expained what was wrong with my
spine. The weight, wrecks, falls, etc, had twisted my lumbar spine.
So, in his words, I could lose all the weight and I was still going to have
back problems. He likened it to a car, if you wreck it and the frame is
bent and you take it to the body shop, the outside looks good, but it's not
going to run right because of the bent frame.
I've only been going for 2 weeks now, but I can already tell a difference.
Thankfully, the pain was really interfering with my life!
So, to summarize, if you've ruled out other causes, i.e. gallbaldder, then
give a chiropractor a try and get that fram straightened out.
— Sungurl B.
Click Here to Return