PHYSICAL THERAPY Helped take the pain away!!!!! READ ME!!!!

HELLO DEAR SISTERS! Made it to NINE months! Although, my vaginal hyst went well..it did take MONTHS before I began to feel anywhere close to normal again. About three months ago I had to have another (minor) surgery to remove a "stitch" in my right side that didn't disolve. But the Doc never did find a stitch..so he just removed some "scar tissue". As I began to recoup from the second surgery..I noticed the pain in my right side was still there..not as bad..but still there. Also, I was expierencing lower back pain. EVERYTIME I tried to pick up anything much over ten pounds I'd get that darn pain and a pulling feeling in my vagina. WELL, I thought, I wont have this! So I called my GYN and TOLD him I wanted to go to Physical Therapy to strengthen my lower back and abodimal muscles. The PT worked like a charm!!!! No more right side pain..no more pulling feeling in my vagina..no more lower back pain! I found a wonderful female therapist who I could talk to and explain the way my belly had felt since my uterus was removed. She started me off slow and easy..showing me exercises that would strengthen my back and tummy..and my vagina. NOW, two months later, I am a different person.
EVEN better than before the hyst. I can pick up more weight than I have been able to in years with no Pain.
Everything in my abdomin that rearranged itself after surgery seems to have found itself a home! AND..my tummy is flatter! SOOOO, although I know this is not an answer to all of your problems...I say TRY IT!!!! You'll be suprised at how a few exercises will help a lot of those odd aches and pains go away. REMEMBER, the docs say it can take up to a year to feel normal again. So be patient with yourselves..and good to your bodies!!!! Just wanted to share my expierence.. LOVE TO YOU ALL! Babs

Dear Babs,
It was great reading your posting. I had my TAH one month ago and it is only this past week that I have encounted shooting pain on my left and right shoulders,back and right down to my arms. It takes about 15 minutes before the pain subsides. I have got the usual pinching pain at the abdominal area but Iguess that is quite normal. It is just this excruciating pain I get on my shoulders that worries me. Maybe I should try physical therapy as you have suggested. Do you think it is too soon for me to start?
love to you, jean29.

Hello Jean! Yes..I do think it is to early for you to start Physical Therapy for your lower body. But, if your Doc is willing to perscribe it for you go ahead with the upper part. My therapist worked on my upper body too. She said that sometime following surgery..muscles tense up due to the stress and trauma of the surgery..causing the the type of pain you described. She couldnt beleive the knotted muscles in my shoulders. Being it has only been four weeks for you..maybe you should call your Doctors office and tell them about this pain. Does the pain go down your arms? If it does you should be checked to make sure its not a cardiac thing. The pinching pain you described in your abdomin is SOOOO normal! It does last a good while..but gets better with time. AND WHEN YOU ARE HEALED..go for it! Do the therapy for your lower body! It works wonders! HUGS..let us know how it's going. Gentle hugs, Babs

Babs,

It has been 6 1/2 months since my abdominal and then vaginal surgery to remove everything. And I do feel like my insides need to find a home. I have started working out, actually a very light workout at the 4 month mark. (I was recovering from the surgeries for 2 mos.) It was scarry at first because it felt so strange. Now I feel pretty normal. There is still a definate tightness in my incision area, I am still numb from the belly button down, and sometimes it really itches, in a way that I cant itch. (must be an inside thing). But, I think for me the emotional thing is so much better that the physical isn't as much of a nuisance. I definatly am larger in my clothing now. Went from a size 6 to a 10. My stomach is still swollen, and it still hurts if the kids bump into my stomach. But I can tell it is getting better. It just takes so long to heal. You think that you should be healed by now but, man it really is taking a long time.

I don't care how long it is taking me to heal, I am still so glad I had it done. This pain is nothing like it was before the surgeries. Of course I am not having major complications anymore.

I just have to say I AM SOOO GLAD I DID THIS!

Sherri, ISN'T it great!!!! I feel so much better than before the hyst too!!!! Other woman who had the hyst told me "You'll feel so much better"..or "You'll be so glad you did it". I had trouble believing them..but found it is true!!! I was doing yard work the other day and just smiled to myself when I though back to last year this time and how bad I was feeling then..and compared it to how I feel today. God bless you..hugs, Babs