Back Pain

[carista]

How common is it to still have back pain one month after surgery? It's not so painful that I need pain killers anymore, but it's uncomfortable enough to the point that I'm thinking about it almost constantly all day and sometimes have some trouble sleeping because of it. I've been walking everyday, and I've tried over the counter drugs, and nothing seems to help. Is physical therapy my only option at this point or will it hopefully not last much longer?

Thank you so much for any help any of you can give me.

Carista

[Phyllis]

It's very common, Carista. Dick's back and shoulders ached well into the 10 week area and he had trouble sleeping with the pain too. Try massages and Tylenol PM and catch that sleep whenever you can get it.

[Granbonny]

I think it is common to be still hurting 1 month out..Be careful not to do anything that would hurt your back and shoulders. They need time to heal...Lifting wet clothes out of washer, bending over, opening heavy doors, ect.....Takes time..maybe another month and you will notice some relief.:) Bonnie

[rbl1999]

Hi, Carista, I still have back pain after 5 months but it has gotten better, I found that back stretches really helped me a lot, you should be able to get them on the internet.. Rose

[perkicar]

Massage REALLY helps. I went weekly for 30 minute massages for about 4 weeks after my surgery. I couldn't lie flat on my stomach (couldn't breathe!) so would sit in a chair next to the table and put my arms and face on a pillow on the table while Lydia worked on my neck, shoulders, and back. Made all the difference in the world. Get's alot of the tension and knots out.
I noticed that the floor I was on at CCF after surgery (and after ICU) just added a "relaxation and massage" center that can be used by both patients and family members. Pretty slick!
Hope you can fiind something that helps!

[carista]

Rose - Thank you for the stretching idea, that might actually help. Don't know why I didn't think about that.

Perkicar - I guess I could try massage by a professional. My husband will help out and massage a little here and there but it doesn't really seem to help. It feels better while he's doing it, but back to norm right after.

Thanks for the advice guys, all I know is I don't think I can deal with it like this much longer...maybe I'm just a wussy, I don't know :p .

Carista

[perkicar]

Rose - Thank you for the stretching idea, that might actually help. Don't know why I didn't think about that.

Perkicar - I guess I could try massage by a professional. My husband will help out and massage a little here and there but it doesn't really seem to help. It feels better while he's doing it, but back to norm right after.

Thanks for the advice guys, all I know is I don't think I can deal with it like this much longer...maybe I'm just a wussy, I don't know :p .

Carista

I'll bet he helps some, but the massage therapist knows how to get in there and really work out those knots. Plus I'll bet you can't get your husband to massage your neck and back for 30 minutes!! My brothers were pretty good to me but always seemed to stop massaging about the time I started to feel better, sigh......
Don't feel bad about being "wussy" (You're not!), it's a real pain, literally!

[ALCapshaw2]

After my AVR surgery, the long muscles than run from my
neck down to my lower back could develop INTENSE PAIN very quickly if irritatated by position or pressure in the 'wrong' place.

Stretching helped a 'little' but my S.O. could make it all go away with a vibrating disk massager run up and down the full length of the muscle.

In Cardiac Rehab, I used the 'arm cycles' to really loosen up my tight shoulders / upper arm / back muscles. They worked wonders for the long term recovery.

Forget pain pills. MASSAGE is MUCH FASTER and MUCH BETTER.

'AL Capshaw'

[KAJ]

Carista,

My back pain lasted for about 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. When it did flair up after that, my wife massaged it and the pain went away.

Karl

[joanne6]

I also had back pain but mostly over the right scapula. I love using a heating pad when I am uncomfortable. Don't know if it really helped but it made me more comfortable. Also the over the counter arthritis creams might help. Try to find one that doesn't smell too badly. I am now 5 months post op and have been feeling much better for the past month.

[BDMc]

Carista, Sorry your husbands backrubs aren't doing the trick. I suspect a pro giving Deep Muscle Massage would be a big help. That's what my X was trained in, and boy was it different from the nice backrubs I got from the nurse at the hospital. I think without it my back pain would've lasted months. I really hope you find a solution soon. You've been suffering that pain too long! All the best, Brian

[Ross]

Your going to hear it from me too! Massage. It's the only thing that ever helped me. There wasn't a pain pill on the planet that could touch it, but massage brought relief.lBesides, you need to put that spouse of yours to work anyhow! :D

[PamO]

Carista: Mike's over a year post OHS and he still occasionally has the "back pain from hell." Massage really helps him. But, I can remember one month post, he was a hurting unit. Our surgeon explained what exactly they do to your body during this surgery - enough said!

Get your husband working...some massage oil perhaps :cool: ?

[Mama2Rylan]

I remember the back pain, it was terrible. It does last for quite awhile, but there are things you can do to help. Massages (like others have said) I also took tylenol, and if your incisions have completely healed, you can take a baths. Also, I don't know if anyone has mentioned, I used Icy Hot. I just had someone rub that on my back, and that helped ALOT:) Hope all that helps, and good luck with your recovery.

[Glenda]

As you can see from all the other posts, back pain is normal after this kind of surgery. The position that they have you in is unreal. Like Ross said, a massage is the only way to go. If I were you I would go to a massage therapist that does deep tissue massage, they are the best! My chiropractor's sister is a massage therapist and she is located in his office so after she gives me an hour massage I then go to him and he adjusts my back and anything else that needs adjusted. I go once a month and it has worked wonderfully. It is well worth the money. Good luck.

[perkicar]

As you can see from all the other posts, back pain is normal after this kind of surgery. The position that they have you in is unreal. Like Ross said, a massage is the only way to go. If I were you I would go to a massage therapist that does deep tissue massage, they are the best! My chiropractor's sister is a massage therapist and she is located in his office so after she gives me an hour massage I then go to him and he adjusts my back and anything else that needs adjusted. I go once a month and it has worked wonderfully. It is well worth the money. Good luck.

LOL. Glenda, great minds think alike. I was just going to add to my post and say be sure you ask for deep tissue massage because that is the one that will do the most good. None of that sissy stroking stuff, get in there and dig on those knots!
I agree 100%, it is WELL worth the money!

[carista]

I'm glad you guys mentioned deep tissue because I was wondering if that would be bad or good. I took all of your guy's advice and am getting hooked up with a massage therapist in a couple of days hopefully, I got a connection through my gym from one of their personal trainers so hopefully I can get in soon and get some relief! The back pain does seem to be getting a little better now finally, maybe because I've been walking everyday.

Thank You all so much for all the good advice...what would I do without all of you?

Carista