Anyone else have shoulder pain?

[susieca 0]

Hi I was just banded on Sept 9. My stiches are ok but my shoulders have been killing me! I have been using hot pads and cold presses. Anyone have any other ideas? How long does this last?

Susan

[rhondalou117 1]

Here is a little known fact about your Lap Band. The port can certainly be causing your shoulder pain. Per my surgeon it can irritate a/the nerve and cause referred pain to your shoulder. I had it really bad for the first week or so and it has gotten better. Absolutely walk, walk, walk, and breathe, breathe, breathe on your IS. Gas pain should only last the first 3 days and if the shoulder pain persists it is most likely the port issue. I took only tylenol for my pain and for me it worked well. Good luck! Hope this helps, there is an end in sight.

[audreym 0]

Hello - I had my surgery on 09-03-08 - 9 days ago - and the shoulder pain is worse now than a week ago!!!! I call it the Gas Monster because it feels like it is pouring hot acid in my left shoulder and between my shoulder blades. Anyone watching would probably think I suffer from a combination of Turretts and Epilepsy. These sudden seizures of pain followed by a large number of unlady like expletives (I think I outcuss a sailor when they happen)!!!

I returned to work yesterday - Thank goodness I own my own business and did not have to be in a large group of employees or public " Hey did you see that fat middle-aged crazy lady over there flapping her arms and cursing at the world?"

I have tried every suggestion I could find on here - lots of walking, breathing exercises, hot pads, Gas-X, etc.... I have also invented a few new ones - flapping arms, chicken dance, etc...

They say all you can do is walk and wait for it to go away!!

[Elizabethdb 0]

I had severe shoulder pain until about 6 weeks out. I talked to my doctor a couple times about it. First he suggested going to the chiropractor maybe something was out. That did ease the severity of it but then I would have it REALLY bad after I ate or drank something. He then told me I was eating too much, so when I cut my portions down even more, that is when the pain finally went away.. Even now, I am 7 1/2 weeks out there will be times,not often, that I eat too much and the pain will come back. Anyway, just a little food for thought there.

[Jodi_620 37]

It is trapped air and your body will eventually absorb it. How long it lasts depends on the individual--mine lasted on and off for a couple weeks.

This was just discussed yesterday here is a link to the thread. Maybe some ideas here will help.

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/surgery-yesterday-solutions-needed-4-should-pain-few-more-questions-75577/

[ShrinkyDink 0]

Hmmm, I'm gonna try that chicken dance technique

I'm 4 weeks out and I still get shoulder pain after I eat, maybe I'm eating too much at a time too.

[claire 72 0]

i was told that the air that is still trapped tries to go to the highest point in ur body - therefore , lie down flat with ur legs up against a wall ie. ur head te wrong way round on ur bed with ur legs straight up the wall :redface:it takes a bit of time but the pain really does subside

[flishi 0]

Hi there, I'm posting this before viewing all other posts. The pain you feel is most likely Gas. There is, belive it or not different kinds of gas. You can try gas-x like pleanty of other people have already told you, but it realy dosen't work on this type of gas. It just helps your mind be happy because you took a pill, so when it comes back you think it could have been worse if you didn't take the med. Get it? The best thing's to try, (because all our bodys react diff) Is useing the breathing aperatice the respitory therapist gave you. If you didn't get one then just take deep, deep breathes about 5x or so every 45min. (this will hurt you shoulder, but it is moving the gas in your syatem). Burp as mush as you can. Drink any kind of non caffine Ginger tea. Walk as much as you can, just up and down the hall will help. I'm not going to lie it will be painfull for awhile. But it will lesson as time go's on. Good luck! Sorry I am a terrible speller

[bandfun4me 0]

My drs book that I received prior to the band had the shoulder pain listed somewhere in there. My pain was tough as well, never took any Gax-x. The drs suggested the gax -x. Seems like it lasted for a month or so. It was mainly in the evening. and whenI layed down for bed is when it was felt the most. Just dealt with it. Finally went away.

[JoanieP 2]

Not trying to discourage anyone, but I still get that shoulder pain after nearly 2 1/2yrs. post banding. I've gotten it when I haven't eaten as well as when I eat, so I give up trying to second guess why I get it. I've learned to deal with it, but that's just me! Good luck!!!

[speck 1]

Susan I had surgery Wednesday and started a thread about the same thing.

My shoulders were killing me. Now it has gone to my back. It's more tolerable today.

I made sure to take my pain medicine. And of course, walk, walk, walk.

The day I came home I used the heating pad and it helped. Yesterday the heating pad made it worse. Today I went back to the heating pad(put it on lowest setting) and it has helped my back.

My Dr's office called and checked on me and I mentioned it. I was told it was air. She said the gas x helps the stomach gas and not really the air gas but it wouldn't help to keep taking xstrength gas x.

She also mentioned that it could be from drinking to much Water in a small time. I've been drinking 2 to 4 oz of Water every hour. (I have a timer)

I've only slept 6 hours since Wednesday after surgery but it is getting better. Just take pain meds, try heating pad, and walk.

Best wishes.

Sandra