4th week after surgery - stomach muscle pain - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

LAUDERDALE · 07-27-2003, 03:02 PM

I had 360 degree fusion done on July 2nd, on my L5, I was cut across my lower stomach, and then two vertical incisions on my back. I still have pain in the back, not as bad as pre surgery. I have severe pain in my stomach at the incision, was on the left side two weeks ago, now it is on the right side. This is with pain meds, I could not function without the pain meds. The NS says it is just post op pain that will go away, with the numbness & pain in my legs. Has anyone experienced post op pain in stomach?

DebbieMc · 07-27-2003, 07:26 PM

Hi Lauderdale,

I'm no expert on lumbar stuff (or anything else for that matter) because I'm a cervie. But, I can tell you that when they went in through your stomach, they used retractors to get all the guts out of the way to get to your spine. They did that with me when they slit my throat to get to my cervical spine and that was the worst pain of the whole ordeal...the swelling resulting from the retraction of the guts. It hurt way down below my throat. So, I don't think it's anything unusual to be in pain especially if your doctor isn't concerned.

Now I'm sure someone else will come along that has more experience in this area than me, but I'm not sure if they will word things quite as eloquently as I do

DebbieMc