Post surgery

9 hours on a surgical table will cause you issues afterwards. The move you all around and incline you, as needed, during surgery. Hopefully that gets better soon. I had shoulder pain - both from the inclination during surgery, and from the CO2 they used for the laparoscopy (as you are vertical, some of the CO2 bubbles migrate up and can cause shoulder pain). It was weeks before the pain resolved, but his pain should resolve. No prostate issues, but it does take a bit for the nerves down there to get back to normal. J-pouch surgery takes a toll on them - they get bumped into frequently while the surgeon is working.

Steve

It is a big surgery to recover from. Glad to hear he is improving!

I had hip pain for many months and was told it was likely due to positioning during surgery. One day the hip pain was just gone and never returned.

Glad to hear you made it through the first step!  Congratulations!  I had the three step so I wasn't on the table as long, and I didn't have back pain.  It takes a while to recover from such a major surgery.  Was the surgery done open or laparoscopic?  That also makes a big difference in recovery.  Hope things continue to go well for you both!

CTB23 posted:

Glad to hear you made it through the first step!  Congratulations!  I had the three step so I wasn't on the table as long, and I didn't have back pain.  It takes a while to recover from such a major surgery.  Was the surgery done open or laparoscopic?  That also makes a big difference in recovery.  Hope things continue to go well for you both!

Hi CTB23.  Yes very glad one of two is over.  Surgery was done laparoscopically.  

First off, congratulations to him for coming through it so well.

Next, back pain and shoulder pain (feels like you are having a heart attack) like Elmerfudd, was normal for me for nearly every surgery...takes days to weeks to dissipate.

That said, it does not mean that you cannot do anything or have to drug yourself into oblivion to get some relief.

I have found 3 things that help. My top lifesaver is a cherry-pit-beanbag that someone gave me as a gift...it is like a thick, quilted tube as long as my spine. I heat it up in the microwave for 3-4 minutes tops...then I lay it on my mattress under where my spine is (not on a naked back...Wear a t-shirt or p.js.) and allow the heat to penetrate the length of my spine...it relaxes the whole nervous system within minutes, the muscle spasms relase and I can fall asleep within seconds...a real miracle.

You can move it around to any spot that hurts like shoulders or hips but I always start with the spine.

Next, a pillow under the knees to relieve the tension put onto the lower back when on the bed. 

1/4 squats. I do squats while brushing my teeth...no all the way down but just enough. I suck in the abs (might be a bit too soon for him post open surgery) and hang-out down there for a couple of seconds then come back up...repeat as often as I can...it helps to build the core muscles that support the spine.

Tennis balls or handball balls are bonuses. Laying flat on the carpet or a yoga mat, I place then strategically under the painful spots on my back and lay there inhaling deeply. With each breath, I feel the release.

Sharon

skn69 posted:

First off, congratulations to him for coming through it so well.

Next, back pain and shoulder pain (feels like you are having a heart attack) like Elmerfudd, was normal for me for nearly every surgery...takes days to weeks to dissipate.

That said, it does not mean that you cannot do anything or have to drug yourself into oblivion to get some relief.

I have found 3 things that help. My top lifesaver is a cherry-pit-beanbag that someone gave me as a gift...it is like a thick, quilted tube as long as my spine. I heat it up in the microwave for 3-4 minutes tops...then I lay it on my mattress under where my spine is (not on a naked back...Wear a t-shirt or p.js.) and allow the heat to penetrate the length of my spine...it relaxes the whole nervous system within minutes, the muscle spasms relase and I can fall asleep within seconds...a real miracle.

You can move it around to any spot that hurts like shoulders or hips but I always start with the spine.

Next, a pillow under the knees to relieve the tension put onto the lower back when on the bed. 

1/4 squats. I do squats while brushing my teeth...no all the way down but just enough. I suck in the abs (might be a bit too soon for him post open surgery) and hang-out down there for a couple of seconds then come back up...repeat as often as I can...it helps to build the core muscles that support the spine.

Tennis balls or handball balls are bonuses. Laying flat on the carpet or a yoga mat, I place then strategically under the painful spots on my back and lay there inhaling deeply. With each breath, I feel the release.

Sharon

Hi Sharon,

Thanks so much for your reply.  We don't have a cherry-pit-beanbag  but he uses a heating pad and it really does help with his back pain but  It's only just temporary relief.  For him laying flat on his back in bed seems to give him some relief too.  

He keeps himself in shape by going to the gym.  He feels certain that if  he could get to the gym he would feel better.  He'd like to get back to his gym routine Just as soon as able.  For now perhaps he can do the squats you mentioned.

I'll mention the tennis/hand balls to him.

Thanks again

Karen

You can make the beanbags yourself for under $2.

Just take a pair of clean cotton sweat socks. Fill each one with either raw rice or chickpeas (I prefer the shape of the chickpeas. Sew up the end of each sock and then sew them together end to end...about the right length...just avoid getting them wet! A couple of minutes in the microwave and you have a hot-bean-bag.

Sharon

ps...too soon for the gym...wait...hernias are easy to get in the begining when things are fragile inside.