5 months since rectocele surgery and still have pain
Posted , 7 users are following.
It's been a while since I last posted and I'm still needing advice. I spend 8 hours a day sat at a desk and the last few weeks it is getting more uncomfortable. The worst position for me is sat on my bottom and again I need pain tablets to get me through the day! . To the extent that I nearly went home today. Last month I went away for 2 weeks and felt great. Is this pain to be expected at 5 months post op? Should I go back to the doctors?
0 likes, 14 replies
trizwizz jo_jo_c
Posted
Hello there, I don't have any medical answers but my feeling is that if you are worried then see your GP - if you are in the UK - as a first port of call.
?Practically is it possible for you to move around a bit at work? In our offices (a local authority) there are some desks that can be electrically moved up and down so people can work standing up if they wish. For me I find having abox underneath so I can raise my feet helps my arthritic knees as they are not at a 90 degree angle all the time.
?I had a rectocele repair in April. That has been great. Unfortunately there has been a further prolapse further down the vagina and into the perineum so I am back to the consultant in a couple of weeks. So I have the dragging feeling back as I had before and having to splint every bm which is a nuisance. I can't say I have or had any real pain though so I can't help you there. I do take pain killers for arthritis though and previous surgery on my knee has also now failed so I take them regularly so they may help with the pain if I have any for the prolapse. If I stand for long periods I suppose the dragging achy feeling does become more than that and goes towards pain.
?Not sure if I've been any help but thinking of you! In the last month I have felt as though I have finally recovered from the surgery and have the energy levels back I had before - able to do so much more in the day than before - it is certainly a surgery that takes time to recover from. Just need to sor tthe new prolapse out now!
Kegel8Stephanie jo_jo_c
Posted
As trizzwizz says you should go back to your GP.
What often happens is that following an operation or when suffering with pelvic pain we change our posture to protect our pelvic area, this can result in sitting on our tail bone, with our hips curved upwards (boobs on chest – in a sort of C shape). This is not good for your pelvic floor moving forward and the fact that are you are still taking pain killers indicates that there is pain and discomfort there. Get it checked out, and if possible, ask to be referred to a Physiotherapist. A physiotherapist will give posture pointers to help protect and strengthen your pelvic floor from a repeat prolapse, also find the area of pain and see if these are related with the surgery and have cause trigger points (knots that cause pain). If you do not change what you previously did, the same will happen again, your pelvic floor problem will reoccur.
I use a wedge cushion to help correct my posture at work and this helps me no end. It stops me crossing my legs, and sitting back on my tail bone and makes me sit up straight.
The pain/discomfort is an indication that your body needs help so please get help.
All the best
S
Jan999 jo_jo_c
Posted
jo jo what you describe is very common and I can identify with what you're experiencing. I returned to work, not on the wards but as a Nurse Manager so I spent so much time sat down. I spoke to one of the Urogynaecologists who said I was putting pressure on the repair. Just think how you would feel if you had an abdominal wound and laid on your tummy for 8 hours a day? I would expect this at 5 months, you need to try and get up and walk for about 5 minutes every hour however if you're concerned see your GP.
phyl_40063 jo_jo_c
Posted
Hi jo jo,
Know exactly what you are saying. I am 6month post op and although I am only covering my 2 x 5 hour contract shifts a week , one if them is 5 hours sitting at the checkout . I can feel the pressure sometimes, it all comes down to the actual seat I get some have better support than others. I can choose to stand for a while every now and again and that does help. But it's also the pushing and shifting items through that takes it toll. I don't even attempt to move any heavy cases of beer or soft drinks or anything I think is heavier than the 2 litres of milk. But the constant shifting of even lighter things takes it toll.
Are you back full time? Can you reduce hours or go part time for a little while longer to give you more time to build up more strength in your pelvic floor muscles?
It is so difficult to control environment at work even when our work is doing their best to support us it is not always possible to avoid some situations.
I think that advice from Stephanie the physiotherapist probably your best option and I'm sure they will be able to give you some great help.
Let us all know how you get on.
Take care,
Phyl x💖
Kegel8Stephanie phyl_40063
Posted
Hi there Phyl
Hope you have had a super summer and taken it easdy in parts. Look out for that Christmas rush won't you! x
phyl_40063 Kegel8Stephanie
Posted
Thank's for asking Stephanie,
Been resting as much as possible, reading my way through all the 'Game of Thrones' books.
Been a long summer, starting to feel frustrated now, expected to be much further on in recovery and back cycling by now, no chance of that yet for a while.
Dreading the run up to Xmas, work has been offering overtime had hoped to add extra day a week but having overdone things a few weeks ago still recovering.
It's easy to forget that we still need to be careful when feeling much better. I had a busy week in run up to school returning (a little earlier up here in Scotland), overdoing things and probably not taking enough time to do PF exercises properly or enough.
Anyway a reminder to not get complacent.
Will try to avoid too many extra shifts over Xmas, I do have to work bank holiday's, and some extra days around xmas/new year but hoping it will be no-more than my usual 5 hour shifts.
Hope you had a lovely summer and managed to get away somewhere nice!
Always like to read your replies as is a reminder of the importance of physio which of course is ongoing after any repair surgery.
Phyl x😊
Jan999 jo_jo_c
Posted
I think jo jo you need to be realistic here because it is only 5 months since you had surgery that is classed as major and I and I know others who work in urogynaecology would agree that it is still early in terms of your recovery. 5 months is roughly 20 weeks post op and most consultants agree that it takes 6 months (at least, it can be up to a year) to fully recover from a rectocele repair. I wasn't surprised in the least I felt discomfort and 6 years later if I sit in one position for a long time eg an airplane I'm in some discomfort. I don't think it goes completely. Give it time, use a cushion or a ring if you need to and walk around as much as possible x
VOWeaver jo_jo_c
Posted
Ow! Poor lady!
Get a gel cushion for your desk chair. If you can make the desk chair seat tilt back a little bit, it can take some of the pressure off your pelvis when you sit.
The only real solution is to get up frequently and walk walk walk. Pain/discomfort is caused by swelling, and it can take WEEKS for that to subside completely. Surgery makes the body very mad, and if you don't pamper yourself, the body wants to stay mad!
When you get home, go straight to bed. Elevate your feet if you can.
~VOW
Jan999 VOWeaver
Posted
VOWeaver we don't recommend gel cushions because it can put pressure on other areas of the pelvic floor and cause problems.
VOWeaver Jan999
Posted
But this poor lady is sitting on an office chair, which is certainly putting pressure on her surgical site(s).
Following my rectocele repair, I felt like I had a pineapple shoved up my rear end for at least two months. A gel cushion in the car, or carried with me for whenever I encountered a hard chair, enabled me to sit in somewhat comfort.
I defer to the medical advice.
~VOW
Jan999 VOWeaver
Posted
jo_jo_c Jan999
Posted
Hi Matron. 3kegel8stephanie in her earlier post did mention using a wedge cushion as this would give me correct pelvic posture and support. Would you agree with this advice? I do agree that standing every hour does give me some pain relief.
I've also read somewhere that scar tissue forming pulls everything up and it's this strong tissue which ultimately repairs the pelvic floor. I think my pain is due to this.
You do realise what a long road to recovery this is and your continued support and this forum really does give great comfort. Thanks again ladies and Matron! Xx
Jan999 jo_jo_c
Posted
Hello jo jo. The wedge cushion that stephanie mentioned is a good idea. It's different to the gel cushions that aren't usually recommended and I'm sure it will help you. Stephanie's advice is always good and I know like me she gives advice that's evidence based so I would trust her 100%.
You are right about the tissues repairing the pelvic floor. The sutures produce a scar which is very strong and this holds everything in place but in some cases it "overdoes" it and the tissues keep developing so you end up with very a very thick scar that can cause problems. It doesn't always and usually you don't know it's happened but if it is a nuisance then it can be easily dealt with by cauterisation.
phyl_40063 jo_jo_c
Posted
Hi jo jo,
That's exactly what my GP was saying, as I was worried about tearing nippy scar tissue.
It is healing tissue and is much tougher than normal tissue.
Phyl x???