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Back pain after acute pancreatitis

Posted , 6 users are following.

Giu71122
Giu71122

Hi, a few weeks ago I was diagnosed with gallstone acute pancreatitis.  I have since had my gallbladder removed and been told that this should mean the pancreatitis problems stop. But I still have a burning pain on the left side of my back and am so worried that it will never go away.  Has anyone else experienced this and if so does it get better? The doctors tell me it's early days and that it can take a while for the pancreas to settle but I can't help worrying. Any advice or shared experiences would be very much appreciated. Thanks. 

1 like, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • renee60304
    renee60304 Giu71122

    Posted

    It took about 6 to 8 months for me to feel better after my GB removal and bouts of pancreatitis. After the GB came out I had terrible, very painful stomachaches not related to Pancreatitis. I also had another minor bout of pancreatitis after removal. It takes time for things to settle. Your docs are right. Been 2 years for me now and I’m fine. No more trips to the ER or hospital stays!
    • Giu71122
      Giu71122 renee60304

      Posted

      Glad your problems have all resolved and thanks for sharing your experience. Hopefully things will settle for me too.
  • Firestar
    Firestar Giu71122

    Posted

    Hi,

    Until you have an MRI scan the drs cannot know for certain whether you will continue to have back pain.

    I have chronic pancreatitis with acute flare ups every now and again but I’ve lived with the for 13years - based on first hospitalisation.

    I suffered and unfortunately still do suffer from the same pain it has never gone away and I’m actually prescribed morphine at home now .

    My pain is due to scaring on the pancreas from all the times I had had actute pancreatitis for 2 or 3 years before my first Hospital stay.... I was told by gps everything from water infection to food poisoning and everything in between.

    There is a good chance that as yours is an acute flare up due to gallstones that your pain will eventually go.

    But I had been a victim of falling through our hospital cracks so for another 2 years I was left hanging and not under any specialist even though I was in Hospital more than out of it during 2007!!

    Eventually then a good team was on call the next time I was admitted and they went through my file with a fine tooth comb. If it wasn’t for them I would probably still be told I had a water infection or stomach bug!!

    I would ask your consultant or your gp to refer you to your hospitals pain clinic and do this straight away. Because it takes that long to get an appointment! And if by then it’s gone great, go ahead and cancel.  if not keep the appointment They will look after you until (if it does continue ) they get you to a manageable pain level. And if after a month no change just demand an MRI scan. There could be minute grains of gall stones blocking one of your ducts or perhaps even scaring like me.....

    I know all the ins and outs and have been hospitalised more times than I’ve had got dinners..... so if you ever need advice let me know I’d be happy to help..... because I certainly didn’t get any!!

    Hope you go on ok and have a full recovery. X

    • Giu71122
      Giu71122 Firestar

      Posted

      Sorry to hear about what you have gone through and thanks so much for the advice. I'll give it another week then ask for the MRI.  Take care. X

    • katherine92334
      katherine92334 Firestar

      Posted

      Hi a little over a month ago I went to the ER in an incredible amount of pain. They told me I had alcohol induced acute pancreatitis. Being that I am only 22 I was shocked. But I guess it was caused from a couple nights out binge drinking. Now I was told the pain should be gone by now. They didn’t even admit me to the hospital I was sent home the same night and told to just not eat solid food for a couple of days and the pain should be gone in a week. The majority of pain went away, I’m able to sleep at night. But I’m still experiencing some cramping and it is pretty tender. I also feel pains In my hip area. And lower abdominal area. Nothing I can’t handle but it’s freaking me out and making me wonder if it could have become chronic. Or if the healing is actually a lot longer, and they meant the bad pain would be gone in a week but I could continue too feel light pain for the months it continues to heal. I know you’re not a doctor but reading your reply made me think you had a little knowledge being how often you have been hospitalized, which sucks and I hope you are doing better now. Anyways just trying to get a little clarity so my mind doesn’t keep going crazy. 
  • Meg53847
    Meg53847 Giu71122

    Posted

    Hi Giu, 

    Just wondering if your back pain has started to subside yet? I also had my gallbladder removed (a week and a half ago) as I had gallbladder sludge giving me pancreatitis. I also still have the same mid left back pain but to a lesser extent than when I had pancreatitis. Just wondering if yours has started to get better?

    • Giu71122
      Giu71122 Meg53847

      Posted

      Hi, I do still have it but it is definitely better than when I started this post. It was pretty constant but now I am having periods of time without any pain at all. Also it is milder now. Hopefully this is the start of the recovery and I hope that things settle for you too. X
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