Shoulder pain after surgery

[stellasmommy 0]

Hello,

I was just sleeved on Monday 9/26 and everything went very well. I was up and walking around within hours post-op. I was discharged on Tuesday 9/27 and ever since I have been having extreme shoulder pain. Of all things!! LOL! I know it is more than likely from the gas that is used during surgery but I wanted to see if anyone else experienced anything similar and if so what is the solution? I've tried walking, been walking ALOT!! I was thinking about trying Gas X strips...anyone know if that might work??? Thanks in advance for your input!!

[emily_0192010 168]

I only had the shoulder pain while I was in the hospital (in for two nights) but for the gas pain I found that a hot shower really helped (but be careful you don't get dizzy). Also I used a rice sock (like a heat pad, i just threw it in the micro) and that helped a lot. Keep your chin up, it will get better! I was sleeved a week before you on the 19th and I swear everyday gets easier and easier!

[ravenjeh 16]

I was just sleeved the day after you, Stellasmommy, and the Gas-x strips didn't do anything for me. My dr. told me to lay off the Lortab and take liquid tylenol if I could, because the strong pain killers kinda make your bowels stop working. He said once all of your plumbing is working properly, you should be able to "pass" it . So far that has helped, but still have some pain/pressure left. Hope you get better!

[Rootman 1,101]

One common myth is that this is "gas pain", that is the gas is migrating up to (pick one) your back, shoulder, elbow, whatever. This is just not the case. Most of the gas that is injected into your belly (to pump it up and give the surgeon room to work) is expelled upon closure, it just passes right out the hole as they pull the final instruments. The rest that's left is adsorbed in a matter of hours.

The pain IS caused by the gas but is actually caused by the gas ballooning and compression of the body cavity, the organs and the nerve bundles in the abdomen. The gas can irritate nerve pathways that can cause direct pain or what's known as "referred" or "phantom" pain. Analgesics have no real effect on this type of pain since it is for all intents and purposes not "real" and being generated by the firing of irritated nerves.

Time is the only cure. Nearly everyone who has laproscopic surgery of this type has it. It will pass.

[dargar27 2]

I know this will sound odd, and it might be TMI, but when I had my C Section I had similar pain. It was awful, achy, and truly kept me awake at night. The nurse gave me some great advice that honestly helped. Lay down on your bed on your tummy and stick your booty up in the air sort of like a baby would sleep, you know? Rock back and forth and just stay there in that position for awhile. The nurse explained that the gas has no place to go, so by sticking your booty in the air, it helps give it another place to go and will relieve the pressure off your neck and shoulders. Sounds totally weird but it really did help me, at least I think so...lol Can't hurt to try, right? Good luck!

Hello,

I was just sleeved on Monday 9/26 and everything went very well. I was up and walking around within hours post-op. I was discharged on Tuesday 9/27 and ever since I have been having extreme shoulder pain. Of all things!! LOL! I know it is more than likely from the gas that is used during surgery but I wanted to see if anyone else experienced anything similar and if so what is the solution? I've tried walking, been walking ALOT!! I was thinking about trying Gas X strips...anyone know if that might work??? Thanks in advance for your input!!

[wareagle40 3]

Hello,

I was just sleeved on Monday 9/26 and everything went very well. I was up and walking around within hours post-op. I was discharged on Tuesday 9/27 and ever since I have been having extreme shoulder pain. Of all things!! LOL! I know it is more than likely from the gas that is used during surgery but I wanted to see if anyone else experienced anything similar and if so what is the solution? I've tried walking, been walking ALOT!! I was thinking about trying Gas X strips...anyone know if that might work??? Thanks in advance for your input!!

I only had it a couple of days with this surgery but when I had my gallbladder taken out 5 yrs ago. I had it for a week. I finally went to the emergency room because it was in my chest and shoulder. They are the ones that told me about the gas. Something my surgeon probably should have told me. If you haven't had a bowel movement that makes it worse. The emergency room sent me home and told me to take milk of magnesium and stay close to the bathroom. That solved that problem. I'm 8 months out and feel great. This to shall pass. No pun intended.

[meohmy 0]

My mom has had several various surgeries and had this shoulder pain from the gas. It's been really painful for her and she says that icing it helps. I'm having my surgery on 10/17 and am expecting to have this as well. Hopefully it won't be too bad. It generally passes in 1-3 days.

Good Luck!

Stacy

[savinggrace 6]

Hopefully you are feeling much better. However considering the time the surgery takes you may have been laying in a funky way, and maybe pinched a nerve or sleepened a muscle. I hope you feel better real soon.

[KELLIBEAR 0]

Hello,

I was just sleeved on Monday 9/26 and everything went very well. I was up and walking around within hours post-op. I was discharged on Tuesday 9/27 and ever since I have been having extreme shoulder pain. Of all things!! LOL! I know it is more than likely from the gas that is used during surgery but I wanted to see if anyone else experienced anything similar and if so what is the solution? I've tried walking, been walking ALOT!! I was thinking about trying Gas X strips...anyone know if that might work??? Thanks in advance for your input!!

DO YOU HAVE A PAIN PUMP? SURGEON TOOK MINE OUT AND SHOULDER PAIN STOPPED RIGHT THEN...I WAS SOO HAPPY... THOUGHT I HAD BROKEN MY LEFT SHOULDER IN SURGERY....GOOD LUCK

[stellasmommy 0]

Thank you for the words of encouragement and advise! My shoulder pain finally subsided!! Its so nice to hear from people who were sleeved around the same time as me. You are right, everyday does get easier and easier. I'm in the soft/mushy food phase now and I am so thankful!! I wish you luck in your weight loss journey!! Would be nice to keep in touch....

I only had the shoulder pain while I was in the hospital (in for two nights) but for the gas pain I found that a hot shower really helped (but be careful you don't get dizzy). Also I used a rice sock (like a heat pad, i just threw it in the micro) and that helped a lot. Keep your chin up, it will get better! I was sleeved a week before you on the 19th and I swear everyday gets easier and easier!

[stellasmommy 0]

While I was fully expecting to see a pain pump after waking up, I did not have one. Just left the hospital with plenty of meds which included pain meds. I'm glad that removing the pump did the trick for your pain. Thanks for the input and good luck to you as well!!

DO YOU HAVE A PAIN PUMP? SURGEON TOOK MINE OUT AND SHOULDER PAIN STOPPED RIGHT THEN...I WAS SOO HAPPY... THOUGHT I HAD BROKEN MY LEFT SHOULDER IN SURGERY....GOOD LUCK

[stellasmommy 0]

Yes, I am feeling much better now!!! Thanks for your input. It was probably a combination of things looking back now. The beds are definately NOT comfortable so that may have contributed.

Hopefully you are feeling much better. However considering the time the surgery takes you may have been laying in a funky way, and maybe pinched a nerve or sleepened a muscle. I hope you feel better real soon.

[stellasmommy 0]

Good luck!!! I hope you are doing well and that you dont experience the same shoulder pain. Thanks for your advise.

My mom has had several various surgeries and had this shoulder pain from the gas. It's been really painful for her and she says that icing it helps. I'm having my surgery on 10/17 and am expecting to have this as well. Hopefully it won't be too bad. It generally passes in 1-3 days.

Good Luck!

Stacy

[emily_0192010 168]

Thank you for the words of encouragement and advise! My shoulder pain finally subsided!! Its so nice to hear from people who were sleeved around the same time as me. You are right, everyday does get easier and easier. I'm in the soft/mushy food phase now and I am so thankful!! I wish you luck in your weight loss journey!! Would be nice to keep in touch....

I am glad to hear you are doing better! It is nice to keep in touch with people who were sleeved around the same time. There is actually a thread that kept track of all the people who were sleeved in september. I just got off of the soft/mushies and I am sooo glad! For the most part I'm doing great. I have this weird pain beneath my one incision and my surgeon doesn't really know what it is. If I am still dealing with it in a couple weeks he is going to order a ct scan so we'll see how that goes. I also can't get much in at all. It took me about 40 minutes to get down two ounces of chicken. I know we are supposed to stop eating after about 20 mins, but I have a really difficult time with the Protein shakes so i have to get my Protein in somehow. I would like to keep in touch as well!

[stellasmommy 0]

Thank you so much!! While the pain subsided it was still encouraging to hear that 8 months out and you feel great!! I feel good too, but still question everything I do or eat. I guess that is normal ,

I only had it a couple of days with this surgery but when I had my gallbladder taken out 5 yrs ago. I had it for a week. I finally went to the emergency room because it was in my chest and shoulder. They are the ones that told me about the gas. Something my surgeon probably should have told me. If you haven't had a bowel movement that makes it worse. The emergency room sent me home and told me to take milk of magnesium and stay close to the bathroom. That solved that problem. I'm 8 months out and feel great. This to shall pass. No pun intended.