Back pain: Hello,had my op last October... - Oesophageal & Gas...

Oesophageal & Gastric Cancer

6,129 members3,299 posts

Back pain

blobby profile image
6 Replies

Hello,had my op last October,and now getting a lot of back pain,any help to sleep please

Written by
blobby profile image
blobby
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
6 Replies
chris_usa profile image
chris_usa

Would like to help, but need more information. Type of surgery (ie incision sites), major existing medical issues, and any other relevant information.

I have developed nerve damage in the thigh and bone pain from bone lesions in the hip that they cannot identify, all on one side and after my esophagectomy five years ago. Weird things happen after these super-major operations.

blobby profile image
blobby in reply to chris_usa

The right shoulder is the where the operation was ,right ribs still painful,but underarm and bust area feel like pins and needles,on the left it my shoulder and arm that is now very painful .pain relief is not working

chris_usa profile image
chris_usa in reply to blobby

I imagine you lay on your left side most if not all of the time at night due to the op. This constant pressure and changes in the way you move about in order to protect the right side can cause muscle or even bone problems, especially if you have osteoporosis.

Referral to pain management specialist is worth considering. As it has only been six months since the op (and six months is early for esophagectomy) the pain may still be temporary and resolve with some time. I know that's little comfort now.

The pins and needles near the op site are normal, as nerves are cut during the surgery. It may be that there is nerve or chest pain that is being referred to the left side but that the source of the pain is actually on the right and directly due to the surgery.

I would start with your surgeon to make sure there is nothing acutely wrong in the chest. If all checks out there, maybe request consult with pain management. Hope this helps a little.

haward profile image
haward in reply to chris_usa

Hi Chris. I had some nerve damage, some numbness , neuralgia sort of thing in my leg after the op , 23 months ago but it gradually disappeared. Maybe I was lucky

Haward

chris_usa profile image
chris_usa in reply to haward

I had nerve damage that appeared after the esophegectomy. It was determined to be axon disintegration on conduction studies, and I believe that this is permanent damage. Just had trigger point injections a few days ago to see if it would help hip pain that also started after surgery.

I don't know if I would call it luck in your case, but we all need to take solace in the bright spots. \wc

blobby profile image
blobby

Thank you