Shoulder pain - ice or heat?

[eliminnowp 113]

I had surgery 8-11. The pain in my left shoulder is killing me! They sent me home with Oxy, which worked for about a day but now doesn't seem to help.

Would ice packs or heating pad be a better treatment? I just want to be able to sleep through the night tonight without pain.

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[kelliev2015 136]

I've heard heat although nothing worked for me. Mine was on 8/8 and the pain in my shoulder didn't go away until probably yesterday. I walked, sipped, took gas-x and it just had to work it's way out of my system. It will get better very soon!

[Susanslosin 12]

I've got the same pain in my left shoulder. It comes and goes but when it comes it stops me in my tracks! I will try heat. I had my daughter trying to massage it out and even though it felt good...The pain is still there.

[eliminnowp 113]

I have been trying ice but I think I'll switch today and see how heat compares.

Eyes on the prize!

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[cbonet 336]

Is this pain from the sleeve surgery?

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[chai20 14]

#eliiminnowp, is anything working? Is the pain slowing improving I hope? I'm going in this Wednesday.

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[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I had surgery 8-11. The pain in my left shoulder is killing me! They sent me home with Oxy, which worked for about a day but now doesn't seem to help.

Would ice packs or heating pad be a better treatment? I just want to be able to sleep through the night tonight without pain.

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I used a heating pad. Walking, moving, and a heating pad helped with my shoulder pain post-op.

[eliminnowp 113]

#eliiminnowp, is anything working? Is the pain slowing improving I hope? I'm going in this Wednesday.

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I ended up sticking with ice packs because we're having a heatwave in Seattle and I can't bear the thought of a heating pad right now!

It's slowly getting better day by day.

The first few days post-op I think I was letting too much time pass between doses of pain meds. I started doing them every 4 hrs as prescribed and they've been more effective.

I've been trying to walk more too.

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[Unbridled 152]

@eliminnowp... I do not mean to hijack your thread, but what causes shoulder pain? Is it both shoulders? Is it muscle pain? Bone pain? Where is the pain exactly. I haven't heard of this.

@innersurfergirl, since you are a rock star at this weight loss stuff... do you know what causes this?

@antichick is a nurse... maybe she knows.

[KristenLe 5,980]

@eliminnowp... I do not mean to hijack your thread, but what causes shoulder pain? Is it both shoulders? Is it muscle pain? Bone pain? Where is the pain exactly. I haven't heard of this.

@innersurfergirl, since you are a rock star at this weight loss stuff... do you know what causes this?

@antichick is a nurse... maybe she knows.

Usually, it's the gas they use to expand your abdomen. It can be a sign of a complication too - so if there's ever any doubt - call your surgeon.

Also - I encourage everyone to take their pain meds as prescribed - even if you don't think you need them. It's hard to catch up with pain once it starts.

Edited August 18, 2016 by KristenLe

[Valentina 2,642]

It's probably un-escaped gas from your WLS. It's saying, "out, out, out", and your body is saying, "nope, nope, nope. What you probably need to do it WALK, WALK, WALK and let the two of them argue it out!

When you are not walking, start with ice, then alternate with heat---ending up using whatever relieves the pain.

If your pain level is to the point where it is interfering with your ADLs (activities of daily life), give your team a call. They will be able to suggest other methods for getting rid of the gas. If it's not gas, they will be able to help with that too.

Keep posting and letting us know how you're doing.

[kittykatlover 50]

Try to get someone to really massage it hard. It will hurt but it really helps move it along. Hope you are feeling better soon.

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[Susanslosin 12]

Massaging it really helped! I am almost 7 days out and the pain in my shoulder is 95% gone..... Feeling good!

[Nikkinee 94]

I'm in a world of pain at the moment with this and someone suggested to me a yoga pose where you stand upright and lift each leg with your knee to your chest (like marching but standing still), and keep doing this back and forth for a few minutes. This apparently gets the gas moving.

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[mohairbears 37]

Shoulder pain is due to trapped wind. Try sucking mints and moving around as much as possible. It's common after this type of surgery . It can be very painful.

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