Re: Back/Leg Pain
From: Jauna (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sun Mar 9 11:02:07 2003
Ladies-Good afternoon and I hope this helps someone. When I had endo (I
have had a hysterectomy and my endo has ALMOST gone completely) I
suffered from severe back and joint pain in my knees and shoulders. I
learned that most of the back pain was from a scar tissue "adhesion"
that was attaching my ovary to my abdominal wall. Every time I moved
the ovary would "torque" and it was like someone was stabbing me with an
ice pick (sorry to be so graphic). They found this in an ultra sound.
My doctor suspected something wrong when I had the intravaginal ultra
sound done and my ovary wouldn't move ( ovaries are supposed to be free
floating). When the adhesion was cut it helped the pain greatly. I
will not tell you that since I have had a hysterectomy that I am
completely pain free as I have had 6 laps and the Hyst. and they have
caused their own damage as well as the endo. My pain is now manageable.
Most of the joint pain was cause from the surgery also. During a lap
the surgeon usually fills your body with air in order to move your
internal organs and a rotating table is usually used (they actually turn
you upside down sometimes) this air along with the pressure on your
joints from the rotating table caused my pain and I still deal with some
of it but I can say that it has gotten better with time. I hope this
helped at least a little. If you need anything else please e-mail me at
eagleiz0117@aol.com As Always, Take Care, Jauna
At Sun, 9 Mar 2003, Amy wrote:
>
>Thank you all so much. I have been trying to "think" my pain away-
>sounds crazy- but sometimes, I too, worry if it is all in my head. I
>swear, if I am not complaining about one pain, then it is another and
>another and another! I started on Toradol this evening -again- just to
>give myself a break from the Vicodin. I think the Vicodin was adding to
>my depression and possibly counteracting my anti-depressants. I will be
>seeing a pain therapist in 2 weeks. I hope they can help me as much as
>your pain therapist has helped you. I have tried bextra, ultram,
>percocet {sp?} vicodin es, you name it...
>Thank you all for your support- and while I do not wish this pain on
>anyone- it helps to know that I am not the only one.
>
>At Sun, 9 Mar 2003, Michele wrote:
>>
>>Hello, I stage 4 endo and was diagnosed by lap 9/2001. Shortly after my
>>diagnosis I developed severe daily mid-lower back pain without a history
>>of a bad back and I did not injure myself. I have been going through
>>tests per the endo specialist that I see for about 1 year to determine
>>if this back pain is something other than endo. To this date nothing
>>abnormal has been found. Last week I saw a spine specialist. He took
>>X-rays which were normal and I am going to have an MRI soon. If nothing
>>is found I am to have another lap to see if the back pain is from endo,
>>adhesions or both.
>>
>>In addition I was referred to a pain management specialist. I am so
>>glad I went because before seeing him the quality of my life was very
>>poor. I do worry though about having to take narcotics just to live
>>some kind of a normal life. I felt at the time and still do that I
>>have/had no other choice.
>>
>>I also have spent a great deal of time wondering if I am going nuts. I
>>constantly second guess myself, wondering if any of this back pain is in
>>my head. I know it is not.
>>
>>I had to respond to this post to let you know that you are not the only
>>ones going through this and are not alone. I hoped this helped you in
>>some small way.
>>
>>Please Take Care
>>
>>At Fri, 7 Mar 2003, Pam wrote:
>>>
>>>Thur March 7,
>>>
>>>Amy, I have spent the last 3 years with back/hip pain. I was diagnosed with
>>>endometriosis in my twenties. I've had a D&C, three or four
>>>laparoscope's(I've lost count) and many years of infertility treatments,
>>>including, three articificial inseminations., GIFT and two Invitro
>>>Fertilizations. I am now 43years old. When my pain started it felt like
>>>bruises on my hips. I can't even sleep on my sides at night anymore. I
>>>have been sent to Physical therapists, who couldn't figure out why I had
>>>pain in hip/back area. Yet they still had me doing six months worth of
>>>therapy which left me in more pain than I started out with. Next I was seen
>>>by a round of Orthopedic surgeons, one of which was at Bethesda in Maryland.
>>>The President is seen there for goodness sake!! Not one of these doctors
>>>could find anything other than a little degenerative disc problem. Finally
>>>I went to my gyn and asked him if my back /hip pain could be associated with
>>>my Endo? He said it was a possibility, that perhaps the endo had attached
>>>itself to the some nerve endings in my back. He did another laparoscopy and
>>>removed what he could of my endo. We were hoping this surgery would help
>>>with the back /hip pain. I was hopeful after the surgery because I wasn't
>>>in pain anymore. Unfortunately the pain slowly came back after several
>>>weeks. After that he suggested I go to a Pain Clinic, which I did. The
>>>doctor there put me on narcotics my body cannot tolerate. Because my
>>>husband is in the Navy, I am seeing Navy doctors here at Balboa in San
>>>Diego. We moved here this past July,2002. Since then I have been sent to
>>>another orthopedic surgeon who, by some miracle was a woman.She is convinced
>>>the endo and back pain are related. She then sent me to see a Gyn who
>>>promptly did an endo biopsy and tried to put me on Lupron injections. By the
>>>time I left his office I was drained and felt as if he thought this
>>>medication would make it all go away. Unfortunately for me I've been down
>>>the Lupron road before (hotflashes, night sweats, mood swings). I refuse to
>>>put myself into medically induced menopause. Also, I know this will not
>>>help with my back/hip pain. As an aside to this I have been seeing a pain
>>>specialist who has done three Epidural back injections and they have done
>>>nothing to ease my agony. I have lived in pain far too long. I want my
>>>life back. I am at the point where I am willing to undergo a complete
>>>hysterectomy if it will relieve my suffering. I know this doesn't help your
>>>pain, but I wanted you to know that you are not alone. You are not crazy
>>>and there are other woman out there who will listen. To me that is a
>>>comfort. Today I have this letter with me in hopes my new doctor, a woman,
>>>who will understand what I've gone through and help me.
>>>
>>>--
>>>Pam Waters
>>>
>>>>>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: <anonymous@obgyn.net>
>>>To: "Multiple recipients of list ENDO" <anonymous@obgyn.net>
>>>Sent: Friday, March 07, 2003 5:39 AM
>>>Subject: Re: Back/Leg Pain
>>>
>>>> At Thu, 6 Mar 2003, Amy wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> >I have spent the past half hour reading through the archives about
>>>> >shooting pains in the legs and lower back pain. This is what I am
>>>> >experiencing 2 weeks after my Luna/Lap. I never had these type of pains
>>>> >before my last surgery.
>>>> >I had to pay someone to come to my house today and help me with my
>>>> >children and housework- because I am in to much pain to do hardly
>>>> >anything. And I cannot financially afford to be hiring people to fill
>>>> >in the blanks for me. The back pain is so intense and shoots clear down
>>>> >to my ankles. I am waiting for my doctor to call me back as I am
>>>> >seriously considering a trip to the ER tonight. I read that these pains
>>>> >are common with endo and also can be common after a Lap. My question
>>>> >is- does it ever go away? Is it just a temporary side effect of the
>>>> >surgery itself? Once you are plagued with the back and leg pains is
>>>> >there truly a remedy? I do not wish to stay on all these medicines that
>>>> >do very little for my pain. I am sure that my liver and kidneys could
>>>> >use a break. I have tried hot showers, icy hot, heating pad, everything
>>>> >that I can think of. My kitchen cabinet is a miniature pharmacy! Dozens
>>>> >of pill bottles- and I cannot say that a single one of them works. If
>>>> >any of you have found a way to remedy these pains- could you please let
>>>> >me know what worked for you? Did you have to have another surgery? Maybe
>>>> >you know of something herbal I could try? I am very frustrated. Thank
>>>> >you.
>>>>
>>>> Amy- I too dealt with the leg and back pain all day yesterday! OMG, I
>>>> thought I was going to die! It's a normal occurance for me and NOTHING
>>>> helps. I considered a trip to the ER but I think the only thing they
>>>> would do is give us some more narcotics that don't work in the first
>>>> place. I turn on my heating pad and let it get as hot as it can, lay
>>>> down and just die. I asked around and everyone said to give the doctor
>>>> a call! You might want to try that. Being that you just had surgery I'm
>>>> sure he/she will be understanding and maybe give you something a little
>>>> stronger! Good luck and I certainly hope today is better for you. :)
>>>>
>>>> -K
>>>>
>>--
>>Sick Near Seattle
>>
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