I am 3 years and 11 months post take down. During certain exercises (especially bent-over rows and shoulder raises) I get pain underneath the scar tissue of where my ilieoostomy (?sp) when I stand upright. It is a quite severe stabbing pain that lasts about a minute then goes away. I've asked the doctor about it and he didn't really give me an answer. Anybody else have this issue?
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I'd guess adhesions. They might relax over time.
It could also be a small herina behind the old stoma site, not uncommon at all...any protrusions? Does it hurt when you press on it?
You may want to ask him/her to check you out for a hernia and see what they have to say.
Sharon
You may want to ask him/her to check you out for a hernia and see what they have to say.
Sharon
There isn't any protrusions and no pain when I press on it. Just immediately after I stand up straight.
What are adhesions?
What are adhesions?
One of the common consequences of abdominal surgery of any sort is that parts that are supposed to slide past one another (e.g. intestine) can become attached in spots. These attachments are called adhesions. When the adhesions tug they can become uncomfortable. They're usually just a bit of a nuisance, but can become a bigger deal. Here's a link that discusses them a bit:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medline...y/article/001493.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medline...y/article/001493.htm
As the others have said, it could be an adhesion or a hernia. I had similar pain about a year or two after my j-pouch creation, in the same spot, and it turned out to be an incisional hernia that was repaired with mesh. I would have your surgeon look at it.
Another possibility is nerve inflammation. For the past 7 years or so, I've continued to have a pain in that area that comes and goes, but is worse with physical activity (especially situps). A different surgeon did exploratory surgery there and decided it was nerve inflammation. He used a steroid/anesthetic rinse, and it took care of the pain for a couple of months. I've also had trigger point shots, which help for a few weeks. Lately I've just put up with it or take Tramadol, which I have for other pain related to pouchitis. Unfortunately, the best thing for it is Advil, which we're not supposed to take.
I would think if you can eliminate hernia and adhesions, nerve inflammation/damage due to the surgery could be the culprit.
Good luck--Jeff
Another possibility is nerve inflammation. For the past 7 years or so, I've continued to have a pain in that area that comes and goes, but is worse with physical activity (especially situps). A different surgeon did exploratory surgery there and decided it was nerve inflammation. He used a steroid/anesthetic rinse, and it took care of the pain for a couple of months. I've also had trigger point shots, which help for a few weeks. Lately I've just put up with it or take Tramadol, which I have for other pain related to pouchitis. Unfortunately, the best thing for it is Advil, which we're not supposed to take.
I would think if you can eliminate hernia and adhesions, nerve inflammation/damage due to the surgery could be the culprit.
Good luck--Jeff
I'm not aware of any reason why "we" can't take Advil. If it upsets your stomach you should stop, of course...
I'm sorry Scott F, I was assuming you have a j-pouch if you are on this site, so I was referring to "we who have j-pouches." As my doctor has pointed out to me, taking Advil is not a good idea for us j-pouchers since there are numerous studies like this one: Differentiating risk factors for acute and chronic pouchitis.
that indicate NSAIDS can cause bleeding and contribute to pouchitis.
To save you some time, here's a quote:
"Postoperative use of NSAIDS is a risk factor for chronic pouchitis and possibly for acute pouchitis, and thus should be discouraged for patients who undergo ileal pouch anal anastomosis."
So, this is why I would not recommend Advil to Domenic even though it may help the pain.
Jeff
that indicate NSAIDS can cause bleeding and contribute to pouchitis.
To save you some time, here's a quote:
"Postoperative use of NSAIDS is a risk factor for chronic pouchitis and possibly for acute pouchitis, and thus should be discouraged for patients who undergo ileal pouch anal anastomosis."
So, this is why I would not recommend Advil to Domenic even though it may help the pain.
Jeff
Definitely, particularly if IBD is the reason for the j-pouch. However, it is not a never use sort of situation, and depends largely on individual tolerance. For some (I think it was about a third or so) NSAIDs were an IBD flare trigger, so those folks absolutely would need to be quite careful. NSAIDs were not a trigger for me, and I was able to tolerate continuous use for years before I eventually wound up with pouchitis (and liver inflammation too). But, at the time, it was better than not being able to walk due to my arthritis. Since then, biologics have become approved for my arthritis. But, I still use NSAIDs for a couple of weeks at time if necessary.
Basically, it is about risk vs. benefit. The good news is that if you do develop problems, they resolve when you withdraw the NSAIDs.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17410449
Jan
Basically, it is about risk vs. benefit. The good news is that if you do develop problems, they resolve when you withdraw the NSAIDs.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17410449
Jan
Thanks for sharing that reference, Jeff. I wasn't aware of it. And thanks for the additional context, Jan.
Thank you all for the information. I'll have to make an appointment with my surgeon. I haven't seen him since the take down. Just see my GI doctor every 6 months.
I have experienced a pain similar to what you are describing when I go from a curled up position to standing straight up. This only happens when I move too fast. The pain is sharp enough to take my breath away.I usually have to go back to my beginning position and stretch my muscles out slowly. I just assumed it was scar tissue pulling. And, yes, OUCH is the word for that because it does hurt.