Cramping and back pain at 3.5 months?

I had a TAH/BSO for removal of endo in March. I swear ever since my surgery I have been living off ibupofen after they stopped giving me Vicodin because they didn't feel I needed it. My cramps seem to come and go. Sometimes I get the back pain with the cramps. I usually get the heating pad out and lay down. I know that a hyst wasn't a total cure but I thought it would help. At least the cramps aren't nearly as bad before my hyst. Sometimes I get cramps after walking or cleaning but sometimes I get them after I shower. So I'm sure it's not exertion that's doing it. At my 6 wk check up I was still swollen and sore and my dr said "I'll see you back in a year." A year I thought! I've called a few times after that and they told me that the cramping was normal. I made an appt today to see my gyn and I'm afraid he's going to blow me off. I think I've been thru enough suffering and I"m sure alot of you are sick of it too. I've heard about endo coming back or that even if a small microscopic spot was left it can still cause pain.

I also have been suffering from migraines which they give me Vicodin for. Sometimes if my cramps are bad I'll take one of those. I guess I had it in my head that things would be better after the hyst. The good thing is no more period. That makes me so happy! I just need to get the rest of this stuff figured out.

Thanks for listening sisters!! I just had to get this off my chest.

aliz,

I am sorry you are still dealing with so much pain. I think you it is a good idea to get back in your DR's office to talk to him/her directly. It might also be good to document the type of pain, how often and any triggers that are bringing it on. You don't mention if you are on HRT or not. Discussing the effects of estrogen on your particular scenario might be warranted too.

Just a thought, but a second opinoin from a GYN/Specialist who has extensive experience in endo might be advantageous too.

For now, lots of s and prayers for a quick resolution

s,
lenee

I just got back from my appt and my dr thinks it's either bladder spasms or something with my bowels. I don't have any symptoms of a bladder infection. Why in the world would that give me cramps across my lower abdomen? My dr made me a referral to see a urologist to r/o something with my bladder. Then I guess I take it from there. He told me those are the only two things that could be causing my pain because he took everything out when I had my hyst. Needless to say it was a very brief appt and out the door I went. I just feel so frustrated!!

Dear Aliz,
Contrary to what your doctor said, bladder and bowel are not the only two things that could be causing your pain....

I have had pelvic pain for a long time (13 years). It started as endo, then adeno and pelvic congestion... now since my hyst it looks to be myofascial and nerve related. I developed the myofascial problems as a direct result of the pain from the endometriosis etc.... it is because severe/constant pain in the viscera (internal organs) can refer into the nearby tissue and muscles... the muscles contract due to the pain signals which then after time leads to trigger points in the muscles which are tight really painful knots of muscle tissue.... these myofascial trigger points then refer pain back into the pelvis and into other nearby muscles. I have trigger points in my pelvic floor muscles as well as all the muscles around my pelvis and the gluteal muscles and up into the muscles at the rib cage on the left. I am a mess from a myofascial standpoint..... The pelvic pain specialist I have been seeing said this is why pain from something like endo can start to seem like it is all the time.... when in fact the visceral pain may come and go with your cycle but the myofascial pain stays constant through the entire cycle.

Anyway, I think it would be helpful for you to read the document on the international pelvic pain website about chronic pelvic pain and what can cause it. The web page is www.pelvicpain.org

I do not have any bowel symptoms. I have developed bladder symptoms over the years but a recent urology exam (cysto etc.) indicated that it is probably secondary to whatever has been going on for all these years to perpetuate my problem.

My symptoms are a burning pain that is always there but is better some days than others. I have days when I also have stabbing pain in the bad areas. When i point to where it is coming from on the right side it is midway between the right end of my pubic bone and my c-section scar. A recent vaginal exam actually was able to pinpoint the spot internally as an area where the obturator fascia and the pudendal nerve come together above the pelvic floor. On the left it is the mirror image but that side also has a spot higher up too.

I always thought the spot on the right was from a very bad spot of adenomyosis on the front/right of my uterus. It was terribly painful during my period. Guess I was wrong, heh?

Anyway, just trying to give you some ideas on the wide variety of things that could still be causing you pain despite your doctor's assertion that it could only be two other things... Your doctor's opinion is why so many women continue to suffer from pelvic pain for years.

I feel for you with your doctor's attitude. I had the same problem after my TAH. I had a two week post-op appt and then was sent on my way. At 8 weeks and at 3 months I wrote letters describing that I was still having problems and the doctor very nicely told me that it was just healing... eventually at 5 months I went to a myofascial specialist (I had the trigger point problem several years previously).... he was unable to help but suggested the pelvic pain specialist who I have seen twice now. It wasn't until last week when I went to my regular Gyn to give him an update that he finally did another pelvic exam and found the really painful spot on the right that the pelvic pain specialist had found... my surgery was almost 11 months ago.

I have heard others mention recurring endo and adhesions as other possibilities. I have had problems with adhesions but removing them in my case never helped the pain .. I think in some it has.

I hope you find an answer. Pelvic pain can become extremely complicated when you have had it a while... the body is like a web... a problem in one spot radiates out to cause problems in other areas.

Sblumen

((aliz))

IMHO: I would seek out another opinion from a GYN/Specialist since you are not satisfied with the outcome of this last visit. OR maybe the URO DR you find could be a URO/GYN specialist in which case s/he could look a the whole realm of possibilities in your case. Hang in there, as in alot of my cases it has taken some work on my part to find the right DR to help me with my medical issues. It isn't easy to deal with this continued pain and I am sending you lots of s for strength dear. Lots of the ladies here on the road have experienced many different issues from adhesions to bladder issues etc. I personally have had to deal with adhesions for many years even prior to my hyst from other surgeries so I can relate to the frustration you sometimes feel from DRs and just dealing with the continued pain. Doing a search on this site for many of the topics you are looking into might give you some history of others experiences, like adhesions, endo, bladder issues, etc. There is also a thread at the beginning of this forum that has some great links to research here is the link http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/sho...threadid=29378

Again s, pls keep us posted,
lenee

((((aliz))))) So sorry that you're dealing with all this pain this far into your recovery I agree with ((((lenee)))) that it seems the time has come to seek a second opinion form another GYN.

While I agree that there are a number of things that could be causing this pain, I've found out that, in my case, a recurring pain in the lower right abs, that even tends to be cyclic (worse at times of PMS) leading me to believe that it was my ovary giving me grief turned out to be caused by a spastic colon. When the pain occurs, there is none of the bowel crampings associated with and no apparent constipation/diarrhea and I was very doubtful that my colon could be the culprit. In my case, it was. Therefore, it's a good to rule out every possibility, including bladder and bowel issues.

Sending lots of healing s your way and hoping that you find relief real soon. Please let us know how it goes.