Re: Adhesions & Lower Back Pain

From: Teresa (williams3@area-net.com)
Sat Jul 12 02:17:05 2003


At Thu, 14 Mar 2002, Karyn wrote: >
>Hi...I am new to this message board and was so thankful to find such a
>group and learn that I am not alone with this.
>
>A brief background of my situation: I am 33 and have had roughly
>(honestly, I've lost count) 9-10 surgeries due to ovarian tumors
>(benign) and adhesions. I've had 4 laporoscopies, 1 oophorectomy (1/4
>of one ovary remains), 1 ovarian cystectomy, & 3-4 laparotomies. Some
>were removal of cysts and several due to removal of adhesions. Currently
>I see a gynecological oncologist since the surgeries have become
>complicated with the adhesions. My last surgery was in 1996 which was
>to remove horrific adhesions. The surgeon explained that a resident
>physician there to view the surgery had to leave the operating room
>temporarily due to the horrific site when she opened me up...not what I
>wanted to hear but I had a close relationship with my doctor.
>
>For about the past 2 years I have been experiencing lower back pain of
>which has become increasingly more painful over the past 6 months. When
>I asked my current doctor if my surgeries could be causing the lower
>back pain since it is directly behind (in the very lower back) where my
>surgeries have been, he said "no" and suggested I see an orthopedic
>doctor. I saw an orthopedic doctor and after an x-ray, he feels my
>stomach muscles have been badly damaged from the multiple surgeries and
>are not supporting my pelvis properly. He recommended physical therapy
>to strengthen those muscles. I am skeptical of his diagnosis after
>further research on my own, and wonder if adhesions could be causing
>this lower back pain rather than what he suggested.
>
>Does anyone have a similar situation from multiple abdominal surgery and
>causing lower back pain due to adhesions? I almost feel as if I have to
>do a self diagnosis rather than trusting what a doctor is suggesting.
>
>Any opinions or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so
>much.
>
>--
>Karyn
>

Karyn, I can sympathize with you. I also have forgotten how many surgeries I have had. After having a partial hysterectomy and then a complete hysterectomy, my gall bladder removed, my appendix removed, and other surgeries in between, and also a surgery to remove adhesions, I am having severe lower back pain. Because the pain is getting so bad that I can't stand up for very long at a time, and I am hurting in my right side, I have sought medical advice. I have had kidney tests, an MRI of my back, and several back x-rays and none of these tests have shown a cause for my pain. I am almost positive that my problem is adhesions. I can't deal with the pain much longer because I am unable to do hardly anything because of the pain. I am not glad that you are having lower back pain and suspect that it is from adhesions, but I was glad to find that I am not the only person who thinks that her back pain is from adhesions. Let me know if you find out for sure that your pain is from adhesions, and what treatment if any helps you. I can understand why you feel that you need to do a self-diagnosis because I feel the same way. I don't think that doctors realize how much pain I am in. Teresa


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