My son was still in serious pain for weeks, if not longer. You are only a few weeks post-op. You can not be given refills on narcotics.  If it continues for much longer I would see the surgeon and perhaps have an MRI to see what's happening.  Good luck!

Thank you. When I wake up it's the worst. I'm so stiff and have sharp cramp like stabbing pain below my ribs near where my colitis always hurt... I guess I will ask for more meds Monday and hopefully get a higher mg.. I've told them I have to take two 5 mg's to help any pain so idk why they won't just give me 10's so the overall prescription will last longer than a week. But I guess that's why I'm not the surgeon haha. 

When I had my colon removed it was so  intense.  Omgoodness.  I was completely in the dark.  It was so painful.  I had a second emergency surgery to find a blockage and then a third to find a bleeder.  It was bad. 

They left me open to heal from the inside out with a wound pump.  I was OK in the hospital as for pain management.  But when I got out it was before the government forced you to go back for every refill.  I was lucky in that respect.   Because when I was sent home with my abdomen taped and a wound pump the pain was intense.  Taking the tape off took half an hour because of the pain.  Every 3 days and nothing I had at home prepared me for that.   Or could take the pain away. 

Nowadays all you can do is tell them how intense the pain is and ask them to increase the strength of your pain meds.  Explain the drive and time.  And rules.  They know the rules.  My wife is on heavy narcotics and has to go through it every month. It gets ridiculous.  And makes her feel like a criminal and she is not.  She is in pain.  Period. 

People in legitimate pain should not have to go through what they have to.  The pharmacy seems to have become the dealers but we are still patients.  But they make us feel like addicts when we are not.  They make us feel guilty. When we are not. It's stupid.  I'm glad I'm done with that part.  All the funny looks even though you have a script.  It degrading. 

Go in to your Dr and explain that.  Don't be afraid.  Your the one in pain.  Not them.  It friggin hurts.  I know. 

Richard. 

Also having very sharp pain under my rib cage where my colon was. If I breathe a deep breath it hurts tremendously like a stabbing pain , if I hiccup or have reflux it hurts etc. has anyone experience a problem like this or has an idea what it could be. The pain in that area has been going on for a wk non stop now.

 Hello, KC23. Do you have a temporary ostomy now?  And surgery in December to create the j pouch?  Could you ask for a scan to see if there is an obstruction or a kink somewhere that is causing the sharp pain?  See if your surgeon can figure out the cause of the pain before you take higher doses of meds. Sometimes pain is there to tell you something is wrong, and if you mask it with pain killers you won't know what it is. 

To be honest, 18 days post op you should be decreasing opiates, not increasing or maintaining them. If you are still having moderate to severe pain, it is abnormal and should be investigated. If there is no discernable pathology it could be withdrawal that you are feeling after 8-10 hours. It is also possible to have nerves trapped in scar tissue. But regardless, continued pain that is not improving more than two weeks post op is not normal.

chronic pain is different than post op pain, and is treated differently. You need to find the cause.

Jan

Jan. 

I only posted what I did cause my experience was not a good one.  Three back to back surgeries was not good.  I didn't want to exist.  The pain took months to subside.  

Just one man's experience.  Something I would have never expected.  It took me 9 months to get back to work and then I still was not ready but I was going broke and had to do it.  I was still on pain meds.   But it's done and I am past that.  I would never ever want to go through that night mare again.  I think about it now as I sit in the waiting room to be scoped.  Which is minor.  Walk in the park nowadays.  Lol.  But you are right.  If things are going according to plan pain meds should not be used long.  

My last surgery I didn't have to use them long.  Everything went the way it should have so I didn't need them after a certain point.  That was my fourth and hopefully last surgery. 

Richard. 

I know pain meds aren't for long term. And I know they will taper you off usually from roxicodone to narcotics like Percocet with Tylenol then wean you off with hydrocodone.. my pain has gotten better I just realized I needed to take it easy I had been to active. It is annoying I get like 60 5mg percocets for example and have to take 2 every 3 hours a day as needed and ends up being a 6 day worth of meds as prescribed although I conserve them and try to take just at nights. Jus annoying ha timing to call doctor and go pick up the RX as GA laws require paper copy's can't call it in. But yes I can actually somewhat cough now , before I couldn't it just hurts to sneeze so try to cover my nose when I feel one coming !! This last week I have improved a lot more. And YES , I am getting my rectum removed in December and the J pouch created, but not connected until 4 weeks after so it has time to heal along with my bottom. 3 surgeries altogether (God willing!) and the last I will have my temporary ileostomy removed. Luckily I will only have to pay for one if the surgeries because I'm at my out of pocket max with insurance so they are laying for both surgeries and the first was billed for 60,000!! And that's why I scheduled my second before the new year they pay for me 30 bags etc a month that I choose which is also great since they're so expensive. The left over ones I have I'll give to my grandmother, she had colitis as well but back then all they had was permanent ileosotomy. So glad medical procedures have advanced and sorry for the "essay"