3 years post TVH, severe lower back and leg pain

Anyone else dealing with severe lower back and leg pain years following their hysterectomy? What worked for you?

I also had nerve issues after my procedure, my inner thighs were numb for 6-8 weeks following surgery.

Don't get me wrong, life after my TVH is much better than life before, but I have found post operative care to be severely lacking.

Depending on your insurance and whether or not you've followed up during the years with the surgeon that did your TVH:

see your PCP
or
see the surgeon that did the TVH
or
call the nurse for the surgeon that did the TVH.


In general, I've tried heat and cold for anything that hurt/was annoying and whichever worked the best, I kept using (sometime alternating). Also, walking and/or elevating the legs (knees bent or straight, depending on what worked/was most comfortable). Sometimes an acetaminophen before bed helps with the sleep simply because I may be in pain and not realize it. A nice shower with a moisturizing soap that smells like orange or lemon (Everyone Kid's Orange is very nice; available at Whole Foods). Tight clothing or underwear, or ill-fitting shoes can make any pain/annoyance worse. Ditto for too warm/too cold/too dry house, or too hard/wrong sized/wrong angled chair. A Himalayan salt lamp near the bed can be helpful for some kinds of pain. Check with your doc first, but soaking feet in epsom salts or aromatherapy may be beneficial.

God's blessings and perfect peace.

I've been dealing with chronic lower back pain for many years, and one thing I've found that really helps is sleeping on my side in the fetal position, with my knees bent towards my chest, a pillow between them to support proper alignment, and a firm pillow to support my head and neck; recently, I strained my back muscles shoveling snow, and after less than a week of sleeping in this position, the pain was gone! Strength training exercise that target your back muscles, along with Pilates exercises like the bird-dog or dry-land swimming, can help by strengthening these muscles. For applying heat, I suggest capsaicin, the chemical compound that puts the heat in hot peppers; just add a pinch of cayenne pepper to your favourite moisturizer, and rub it in where it hurts. Best wishes for finding fast pain relief!

I think you're onto something there. I have been paying more attention to my body the last few days since I posted this question. The first thing I noticed is that most of the pain seems to be originating in my lower left back. The second thing I realized two nights ago was that although I usually start sleeping on my side, I roll onto my stomach and crossing my top leg. I had a "eureka" moment because it caused my lower left back muscle to stretch/pull. Hours in that position must be causing my pain.

I slept on my back last night with a pillow under my knees, which I read was supposed to help with lower back pulling. Amazingly, it does. I also ordered a wedge for between my legs for side sleeping in case I go back to that position - to avoid rolling onto my stomach and exacerbating the problem.

I hope this is it!

Hi, just wanted to say hello, I have had severe lower back pain since my op, I am also post 3 years. Tiger Balm with capsaicin in as tiger eye suggests does help but as yet no one has been able to give me a cause. Post op care is seriously lacking, so as I said, just wanted to say hi, and that I feel your pain, literally!! xx

I suffered lower back pain and pinched nerves thought-out whole body too. It is worst on the time suppose to be the “pms” time. Insomnia is also my best friend now as I can’t sleep well at night. I get hormone test done recently and yes our hormones goes hire wire after hysterectomy. I used to be able to maintain my weight but now am gaining. I suspect it may be partly due to hormones too. I started on alternate medicine (chinese herbs) now to see whether it helps to adjust hormones. It help me sleep better at time being. All the best and do update us if you find any good remedies