Pain after Salpingectomy

[Salpy1]

I’ve had pelvic pain in my LHS since the birth of my son in Oct 2021, and passed it off for a long time believing it to be a normal sort of pain that just happens when you have a baby. It got worse in spring 2023 and I was cyclically uncomfortable at night leaving me sore in the mornings. I had a terrible pain in the same area in February of this year and took myself to a&e where I was discharged after 8 hours with a codeine tablet, which didn’t touch the sides of the pain, which lasted in this severity for 48 hours. Over the next few weeks I managed to get an ultrasound that immediately diagnosed a unilateral hydrosalpinx and then after an MRI to seemingly confirm this come May, I was left to wait for a plan. After much chasing and months of naproxen popping, I had a call in September that pushed me through for an urgent laparoscopic salpingectomy which took place approx 8 weeks later. They found that my fallopian tube was twisted and necrotic and so absolutely had to come out.

I am not sure why but a 4th incision was made for this operation and it was a painful recovery for a couple of weeks. Now 6 weeks later I am healed on the outside but very uncomfortable on the inside, possibly more so than I was pre-op. I was given some antibiotics just in case which made no difference and have been told to manage my pain with over the counter drugs for the time being. The GP did not want me to have any more naproxen and they also told me that I did not need a blood test nor did I need a pelvic health physio referral as it is not related (not sure about this one…)

It’s obviously very unhelpful and I feel more than ever the need to advocate for myself to get to the root of the problem with this residual pain.

Has anyone ever experienced the same?

Does anyone have any advice on pain management? Or next moves?

Thank you

[Midori83]

Hi, I am sorry to hear about your ordeal. I had a salpingo-oophorectomy and a total hysterectomy. I have been in terrible pain since the first surgery, which had a 4th 4cm incision very close to the pelvic nerves. It affected the iliohypogastric, genitofemoral and ilioinguinal nerves. I got the official diagnoses 2 years later. I am an a very long waiting list for nerve block and pulsed radiofrequency. In the meantime, I take nortriptyline, gabapentin, I have pelvic physio and osteopathy massage.Have you had another mri since? If nothing can be found, I suggest you see a urogynaecologist and a neurologist.

[Salpy1 in reply to Midori83]

I’m so sorry to hear you are in so much pain also, I really hope they can push you up the list and it is resolved quickly. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and the tips, this will be very useful at my next appointment! Take care and all the best

[Midori83 in reply to Salpy1]

Best of luck! I hope you get a diagnosis soon! After that, it gets easier because you will know the next steps.

[endoTHENmesh]

So sorry to hear of your pain, and the fact that surgery did not help the pain. Sadly, I do not think that is unusual.

Surgery is the last possible option. It is likely that having necrotic tissue and having had a surgery to remove same - has left adhesions and/or possibly nerve damage. In either case I would seek treatment for possible adhesions in the form of (myo)fascial manipulation.

I was left with terrible pain for nearly 7 years, before I found out that both the incisions can be treated (see dolphinmps.com) and the internal adhesions can be treated with myofascial release therapy. I tried many other things, but literally the break down of the scar tissue from the adhesions by both therapies have left me with only a mild burning sensation.

I wish you all the best!

[Salpy1 in reply to endoTHENmesh]

Oh wow! I have never heard of myofascial manipulation, that sounds like it could really help as well and I have already found someone nearby that might be able to help with this treatment, thank you so much. Oh my goodness, feel so lucky to have found this group! Very grateful