Colon Resection for Diverticulitis , Yet Still Having Pain.

Posted by shelly6862 @shelly6862, Jun 17, 2023

I had colon resection for diverticulitis in December 2022. Four weeks after the surgery, I started having pain the very same area where the surgeon removed the diverticulitis. The pain has not stopped, and is getting worse. It hurts night and day, regardless if I'm laying down, sitting, or standing. It's now almost 7 months since I had the colon resection, and yet this pain has not stopped. CT scans, MRI, and Ultrasound all showed absolutely nothing. I do not know what to do, this pain is very REAL. Is anyone else going through this?

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@shelly6862

Hi @llcc8800, thank you so very much for your response, it is very informative! I will give this information to my doctors and hear what they say.

I don't want to go through life with constant pain from surgery adhesions. But, I also don't want to have another laparoscopic surgery to remove them if the end result will be more adhesions forming. Therefore, since your symptoms sound similar to mine, can you please share how you are coping or managing the pain?

Thank you much!

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I’ll be honest, I’m having a really hard time right now. I’m not working and I deal with 24/7 pain. Medical cannabis seems to helps the best, honestly. I use CBD too in combination and it helps a bit. My pain is generally between 7-8/10 on the pain scale.

I’ve tried multiple medications, I’m currently taking Lyrica 225mg twice per day (for fibromyalgia but my GI says it’s been shown to help with pain from adhesions). She might trial Amitriptyline and see if that helps. I’ve been on that before and didn’t see it helping. I also have an Alpha Stim, which is a machine that uses alpha waves to help break up the scar tissue (sort of like a TENS unit). I’ve used it and it doesn’t seem to do much for me. I looked into it and it seems like the scar tissue that it helps is more for extremities, like ankles and wrists. I might schedule an appt with the pain clinic and see if they can trial Ketamine but I’m not sure what they will say or even if they do it (I go through the VA). I use medical cannabis and that helps a lot and I also use Kratom, which helps a lot too. If not for both of those, I would be living in the ER.

You might end up having a much better quality of life if you decide to go ahead with surgery to remove the adhesions. They tend to do the surgery if they think that it will help. On the other hand, There’s no guarantee that it will help and it also might make your pain a lot worse. There’s just no guarantee, unfortunately.

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My husband had a part of his colon removed 3 yrs ago and the doctors cannot find why he is in constant pain everyday. He is now disable cause if pain. I feel like these doctors just gave up. We are still gonna try to find some doctor who is willing to go the extra mile to help him.

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@llcc8800

I’ll be honest, I’m having a really hard time right now. I’m not working and I deal with 24/7 pain. Medical cannabis seems to helps the best, honestly. I use CBD too in combination and it helps a bit. My pain is generally between 7-8/10 on the pain scale.

I’ve tried multiple medications, I’m currently taking Lyrica 225mg twice per day (for fibromyalgia but my GI says it’s been shown to help with pain from adhesions). She might trial Amitriptyline and see if that helps. I’ve been on that before and didn’t see it helping. I also have an Alpha Stim, which is a machine that uses alpha waves to help break up the scar tissue (sort of like a TENS unit). I’ve used it and it doesn’t seem to do much for me. I looked into it and it seems like the scar tissue that it helps is more for extremities, like ankles and wrists. I might schedule an appt with the pain clinic and see if they can trial Ketamine but I’m not sure what they will say or even if they do it (I go through the VA). I use medical cannabis and that helps a lot and I also use Kratom, which helps a lot too. If not for both of those, I would be living in the ER.

You might end up having a much better quality of life if you decide to go ahead with surgery to remove the adhesions. They tend to do the surgery if they think that it will help. On the other hand, There’s no guarantee that it will help and it also might make your pain a lot worse. There’s just no guarantee, unfortunately.

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WOW! You've really been through a lot. I'm glad the medical cannabis is giving you some relief with the pain.

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@annette6760

My husband had a part of his colon removed 3 yrs ago and the doctors cannot find why he is in constant pain everyday. He is now disable cause if pain. I feel like these doctors just gave up. We are still gonna try to find some doctor who is willing to go the extra mile to help him.

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I'm so sorry that it's been three years and your husband is still suffering in pain.
@llcc8800 (in this thread) said that medical cannabis was very helpful in relieving their constant pain after colon surgery. Perhaps, you can inquire of the doctors whether it could help your husband.

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@shelly6862

My doctor put me on Vancomycin for a month and a half because I had c-diff really bad. I was a full time graduate student at the time, and at my doctor's request, my school allowed me to complete the remaining of the semester as a fully remote student. Thank God!
There was no way I could attend classes having constant pain, diarrhea, and serious fatigue.

You will get better, it will take time, but you will definitely get better and regain your weight.

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I’m trying to stay positive but I’m so scared and I have another question I feel like i urine so much. I mean almost every hour

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Hey guys. Do u ever gain your weight back from cdiff

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