Possible nerve damage almost a year after surgery?
Posted , 3 users are following.
This is a long story... but I need help please!!! Here goes: Back in March 2019, I had my appendix removed laopscopic ... but not through my belly button. the surgeon did not want to go near that area due to a mesh so he asked if he could make an insertion on the right side. I agreed. I got through the surgery and was discharged the next day.
A few days after the surgery, I felt the worst possible pain ever: felt like a bunch of nerves being held together stabbed together. Using my stomach muscles was pure heck. I went back to him and he gave me neurotin. It helped and I thought things were going back to normal. 3 months after the surgery, I had to have my annual colonoscopy (unfortunately I get precancerous polyps and I am only 38). 2 days after the colonoscopy the pain returned at the incision site .....along with massive bloating now. I thought it was a GI issue but my GI Dr did every test, including an upper endoscopy, and l tried every IBS med he gave me. no difference. We then figured out that it must be nerve pain.
Neurology Dr said it was a GI issue and to go back to GI Dr (there was nothing left to do!). I went to ER 4 times over this - supposedly CT scan and stay showed nothing. My blood pressure got super high due to pain so now I am on bp meds.
I went to a pain clinic lately. They put pain shots about 1/8 inches up from the incision site. The pain and bloating stopped. It's been 30 days and shot worn off. Getting another pain shot tomorrow. Planning to have da vinci robotic surgery to figure out what's going on near Christmas. However this driving me crazy - what could this be?????? Thank you for reading and any help you can provide.
0 likes, 4 replies
jimkim002 Mjgentile
Posted
good luck, hope you heal up soon,
melissa91009 Mjgentile
Posted
Horrendous pain can be a normal part pf the nerves healing, particularly when large incisions are involved. Given the neurotin did some good, I suspect you are suffering neuropathy of those nerves. I have nerve damage, pain and every possible nerve damage related problem like swelling, colour issues of my sciatic nerve, left leg. Nerves control absolutely everything in our bodies. If nerves are damaged, the balance between fluids can be disrupted. This can cause swelling bloating, severe pain etc. Nerve damage is horrendous. I've had multiple ankle surgeries and adhesion surgeries of my sciatic nerve in my buttock and nerve pain of the incision was 10/10. Internally, the pai was causing me to faint and have high blood pressure post the S Nerve surgeries. My ankle nerve damage felt like live electrical wires being put on my foot. I'd scream and my foot would blow up like a balloon. My sciatic nerve has now got so bad, I am having surgery to cut the sciatic nerve from my spinal cord.... so, nerve issues can be severe but they generally improve over time without huge surgery like my spinal surgery. Even though with me, I wanted to rip my foot off at the time. I'm not saying don't have the surgery, I think that's important to check everything, but I do suspect neuropathy. Abdominal neuropathy is very different to peripheral nerve neuropathy as it is so close to the spinal cord. Have they suggested epidural local anesthetic/steroid injections in the nerve roots in the back to rule it or out, definite nerve involvement? If the surgery is ok diagnosis wise, I'd ask for the injections... this will confirm diagnosis. The injections go onto the abdomen nerve roots, so if that's the cause, your pain would improve. I tried a spinal cord stimulator as well which dulls the nerve pain. It failed on me as I had an undiagnosed condition but if all other tests are ok, and the injections confirm the nerves are injured, this might help.
Melissa
Mjgentile melissa91009
Posted
Thank you so much Melissa for sharing your story. I really appreciate your time. Presently I am no longer on neutron because it does not help anymore. You are correct; I am getting those pain shots. But do you know what? My pain is moving! the first time I got a pain shot, there was a large mass and the main pain was like 1/2 inch above the scar. This past week the pain is now to my left and the mass has moved as Well!! Did your nerve pain do this? The pain clinic doctor said it might be Gossypiboma, when a foreign object like a sponge is left behind after surgery. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks again!
Mjgentile
Posted
Thank you so much Melissa for sharing your story. I really appreciate your time. Presently I am no longer on neutron because it does not help anymore. You are correct; I am getting those pain shots. But do you know what? My pain is moving! the first time I got a pain shot, there was a large mass and the main pain was like 1/2 inch above the scar. This past week the pain is now to my left and the mass has moved as Well!! Did your nerve pain do this? The pain clinic doctor said it might be Gossypiboma, when a foreign object like a sponge is left behind after surgery. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks again!