Feel at my wit's end with pain

[NuttyMeg]

I had a sub total abdominal hysterectomy 11 months ago and since then have had awful left side pelvic pain.I am on gabapentin but it makes no difference.I don't know what to do any more-the pain is so bad-Is there any hope?

[jenmal]

Sorry to hear you are differing.. perhaps nerves were distorted during surgery. Sometimes you need to add amitriptyline for a full effect on pain, please ask your dr for other meds combinations that work for nerve pain. I take pregabalin and nortriptyline

[NuttyMeg in reply to jenmal]

Thanks- I will ask my dr.

[jenmal]

Also you may look into pelvic physio, if you haven’t tried it yet, you may have muscle tension post surgery that’s causing this pain, pelvis PTs can work on it internally with great results

[Alaine1 Administrator in reply to jenmal]

Great idea! Women’s health physiotherapists are fantastic and should be used more in pelvic pain for both men and women

[Kootsie in reply to Alaine1]

Definitely! That has been my only true relief.

[NuttyMeg in reply to jenmal]

I was semt to a pt who said she does pelvic floor exercises normally for women after a hysterectomy but she felt that she had nothing to offer me.

[Konagirl60 in reply to NuttyMeg]

I would get another physiotherapist’s opinion.

[pizon]

I am sorry to hear of your suffering...I to have had nerve damage after pelvic floor repair surgery they tell me it is p/n try to find a dr that deals with the pundeal nerve (sorry for the spelling)...I am not able to take any drugs thay all left me with horrible side effects I've been taking valerian root and hops they seem to help me ...there is a Dr. Richard Marvel in Annapolis MD that I have seen and dose work with the pelvic floor nerves

[Konagirl60]

Have you been back to the gyneacologist who did sub total (?) abdominal hysterectomy? What did he or she say?

Have you had an x-ray, CT-scan or MRI? Is the pain 24/7 or only when you sit, or lie down or when you move about? Can you sleep through the night?

Can you describe the pain? Does it throb? Does it tingle? Does it cut? Does it BURN?🔥🔥🔥

Have you been tested for an infection?

You need to get medical attention stat!

Does Gabapentin cause you any side effects? After two weeks taking three 400mg doses a day......I was a zombie! I felt unsafe driving. I stopped on my own accord. My mind and body said no way. It is actually an anti seizure medication.

You need a good nerve pain modulator like amytriptyline or Nortriptyline.

I am so sorry this happened to you.

Are you married? Is this affecting your marriage and intimacy? You may need emotional support.

Keep us posted. Good luck.

[NuttyMeg in reply to Konagirl60]

Thanks for your reply.

I have been back to the operating gynae-he told me that at least I didn't have periods anymore.He referred me to a general surgeon-who looked at me like I was mad-"I don't know why you're here" -were his exact words.

In short I've been bounced around from one to another without any solution.

Had an MRI and scan- nothing to see- so they say that I have to get on with it.

The pain has always been when I walk or sit, like having someone tugging hard at my insides but these last week or so it keeps me awake all night and during the daytime it is agony,whether I sit,lay or stand. I take 3x 500mg gabepentin but it makes NO difference at all.I find myself self medicating with co-codomol and ibuprufen but the pain is still there.

My husband has been great but constant pain has turned me into a different person-I don't know what to do.

[Konagirl60 in reply to NuttyMeg]

You and he need to go back to another compassionate gynaecologist and/or general surgeon. Mistakes happen during surgery. You need to be checked out possibly laparoscopically? ( was a surgical sponge or something else left inside of you? ....it happens! ).

Have you had an x-ray? Could metal have migrated in your body? Has any metal ever been used in a prior surgery?

There are pain patches to apply that have cooling ingredients like menthol or camphor AND heating patches like capsicum. Does ice help? Does a heating pad help?

Has anyone sent you to a Pain specialist yet? Where do you live?

[NuttyMeg]

It has been a nightmare trying to get my gp to take this seriously.He has now referred me back to the same general surgeon, the one who said he couldn't do anything for me.The appointment is tomorrow.I'm dreading the same outcome. They just say that scar tissue is normal and that there's nothing they can do.

My boss is at the point of having me dismissed on health grounds.

I feel like I have woken up inside a somebody else's nightmare.

[bantam12 in reply to NuttyMeg]

If you have adhesions they can be divided but they just come back again, once you've had abdo surgery it can be an ongoing problem.

[Sjlund]

Hi I have a similar problem, and like you have been sent to different consultants who don’t seem that interested. I know you must be feeling pretty rubbish,but to everyone else you look ok. Mine is pretty much an invisible disability now. I’ve lost my career, relationship, social life, and can do very little with my teenagers. I’ve had CT, MRI and ultrasound and nothing showing. When I’m laid down, as you are for these scans, the pain & pressure goes, so I’m guessing that it’s not going to be obvious on a scan.Ive an appointment now in Dec with the surgeon who originally did my hysterectomy, so fingers crossed he has an idea. The only relief I have found, by trial and error, is sitting on a gym ball regularly and using a Sitfit cushion, and Voltarol gel in my lower back weirdly. I’m still hopeful that I can get this sorted

[NuttyMeg in reply to Sjlund]

That's it in a nutshell.I am too young to become housebound.I asked the surgeon if he would be satisfied if this were his wife or sister.He had no reply.I hope your surgeon helps you.It's crazy that we have to fight just to be believed. I am sorry that you have had to go through such terrible times.I really feel for you.x

[pizon]

hello nutty meg....if you can go to a gyn that deals with pelvic nerves again I have seen a dr. Richard marvel in Annapolis MD I like you was sent to many different dr.'s by the orginal uro gyn that did the surgery I will never go back to him again he left me in this pain for over a yr. when I went out of state to see a new uro/gyn he knew the first time he saw me what the problem was and sent me to MD....