I had my 1st step on June 6th (had illeus and finally came home on June 21st). I have terrible pain on my back and buttocks. I am also very weak (lost tons of weight). When is my back pain going to get better? What can I do about it? When does the energy come back? I am scheduled to go back to work in 2 weeks because I gave myself 5 wks from the surgery (not thinking about complications). Is that going to be too soon? Thanks.
Patricia

I had a lot of mid and lower back pain after step one-not sure what caused it but it did eventually go away. Mine would get worse when I was standing or walking and improve when I was sitting-I used the heating pad a lot which helped. I didn't go back to work until about 7 1/2 weeks after step one and I wasn't working full time initially. You have to gauge it on how you feel-everyone is different and has gone through different things. It sounds too early to me though especially as you are dealing with this pain and weakness. Do you return full time or part time-if possible it is best to gradually return to full time and give your self time to adjust. Good luck! Elizabeth R.

Back pain can be caused by different things. This close to surgery, I would say you have pain either because:
1. When you are on the operating table, they really can pull you around into some strange positions - causing you pain for days after surgery. Sitting and laying down a lot doesn't help
2. Weakness from surgery and losing weight can also contribute to your sore back. Your muscles are WAY out of shape right now
3. If you notice a fever at all, you probably need to get checked out. There is a possibility that back pain is being caused by infection (an abcess). With an abcess you will have severe pain at times and almost always a fever

As for work - can you work from home? Maybe work 1/2 days at first? I don't know your work arrangements but I did both before returning full time.

Steve

I had the exact thing you described: back pain that was only relieved by sitting or laying down. The doc said it was from hours on a surgery table in contorted positions. It did go away around 6 weeks. I took pain pills for it until then and also tried to stretch before I ever got out of bed in the morning. My husband even took me to get a massage on 2 different occasions and the therapist just kept saying how "tight" my back was. As for going back to work, I am fortunate in that I just keep books for our business and was able to go in just a few hours a week beginning the third week post surgery.

I was also in the hospital for three weeks due to complications. My back hurt sooo bad - sometimes worse than the gaping wound in my gut! I would have muscle spasms in it. I begged for muscle relaxers but because I was on so many other drugs they wouldn't risk it.

I wsa able to get a script for Flexeril once I got out of the hospital and it did wonders for my back. Even with the meds it took a couple of week after I got out of the hospital for it to go away. Between all the hours on the surgery table lying on my back in ICU in a coma for 21 days probably contributed to my pain.

thanks for all the responses. It seems like it is worse the past couple of days (taking advil and tylenol). It is so hard to stay positive. I am 3 weeks post surgery and 1 week at home so I guess it is still early. I am also having some pressure on the front pevic area and I get so worried about other complications. Do you think it is simply from my nerve endings coming back at surgical site? I will try some flexeril and some heat.