>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
>