Has anyone had severe nerve pain after gallbladder removal?

Posted by wisewoman10 @wisewoman10, Apr 21 3:22pm

I had my gallbladder removed laparascopically three weeks ago on 3/29/25. It was semi-emergent, having been planned for a Monday, but my pain became so bad that an on-call surgeon did it on the preceding Saturday. The surgery went smoothly, and the first week and a half or so were what felt like normal recovery. I did develop a case of bronchitis from the airway (my lungs are vulnerable to everything) and a case of oral thrush from all the antibiotics and drying agents they gave me during surgery. However, about 10 days ago, I developed severe pain in my right upper quadrant that felt just like a gallbladder attack, only worse. My doctors are stumped, but my GI doc suggested on Thursday that this could be a case of neuropathic pain, or visceral hypersensistivity. The pain is so extreme I can't find a comfortable sleeping position and ended up trying to get some sleep in the recliner last night (not very successfully). I have an EGD scheduled for 4/29 to rule out gastritis, pancreatitis, peptic ulcer, etc., but those are doubtful as my labs are fine. Has anyone else had severe pain stemming from neural pathways or severed nerves following this surgery? I did not see this coming and am completely overwhelmed by it. The doctor just prescribed me gabapentin, along with copious warnings about what to look out for while taking it in "someone my age" (I'm 73 and in otherwise average health). I'm OK with diet modifications, changes in bowel functions, etc., but this level of pain has me virtually paralyzed.

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@wisewoman10

I’ll be 6 weeks post surgery on Saturday. The first 5 days or so felt like a “normalish” surgical recovery. Then I got body slammed with phantom gallbladder pain that I can best describe as second only to childbirth level pain. Couldn’t sleep or really function at all for most of four weeks. None of the tests - labs, EGD, ultrasounds, CT scans showed anything structural wrong. The conclusion was that it was nerve pain. I was prescribed 200 mg gabapentin at bedtime two weeks ago and am finally feeling human again. And I can lie down in bed again. That’s a game changer! This doesn’t apply to everyone, but if you have IBS, like I do, recovering normal digestion function is harder and takes longer. Getting your bowels back online really helps with the abdominal pain, I’ve discovered. Still on the journey, but moving in the right direction.

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You very well may have Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. It is common after gallbladder removal and explains the “phantom pain” I am currently living with this same condition of chronic pain where my gallbladder was. Waiting for a referral to a doctor who specializes in this condition. Look into it.

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You may have sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. It can cause continued pain after gallbladder removal.

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