Muscle relaxers?

Back when I had a lap, D&C and hysterotomy I noticed that following these procedures, when I concentrated on the tummy area that the pain wasn't bad at all. However, EVERY OTHER muscle in my body would not relax. This made for an incredible uncomfortable feeling, (sort of like the strain being on the edge of a ledge, bed or whatever and nearly falling off but every muscle straining to keep you from it. Has anyone else ever felt this way? Has anyone ever been given a muscle relaxer after surgery? I was wondering if this feeling happens again after my scheduled TAH/BSO if this may be an option? It seems like I may not need so much pain meds if I can "get comfortable".
10 days to go!
Love to all, LIW retta

Hi

I have often used a combination of Valium (a muscle relaxant) with acetamenophen for pain control since I am not able to use other pain meds. If I'm tensing in reaction to pain this works good. I was allowed that combination at home after my surgery but I found that I didn't need it. I didn't find this pain the kind that tenses me up. It's more sore than anything else, not like menstrual cramping, for example, which is a muscle contraction kind of pain.

Pain control is important and it seems most doctors and most hospitals are quick to help you not be in a lot of pain, so if you are having any difficulty with pain control, be sure to talk about it and have your own suggestions ready. Probably the pain meds in the hospital will also help you relax, but you never know, and it doesn't hurt to talk about these things. I found my anesthesiologist quite prepared to discuss post op meds with me before surgery.

Since you have had this experience more than once, I would definitely talk it over with both the doctor and the anesthesiologist. At my pre-op appt, the anesth.(geez that's a long word to type ) specifically asked about prior surgeries, reactions to pain and the anesthesia experiences.

Don't wait for them to bring it up....you can ask them about it, and about pain control. My experience with this surgery was that everyone was concerned with minimizing my pain; I was never made to feel like a wimp about it. I think it must be the new trend in patient care....good for us!!!!

Karen