Since my surgery on December 7, 2010 (I’m almost 12 weeks post-op.), I have had pain in my upper abdomen. While on painkillers in the hospital, I didn’t realize I had the pain. However, I have been keeping a journal and it shows that on December 14, the day I came home, I had bad pain in my upper abdomen. I did NOT have the pain before entering the hospital.
The history of checking this out includes an ultrasound and an endoscopy. Both were negative. I have agreement from a gastroenterologist, pain management doctor, and my surgeon that this is referred nerve pain or a compressed nerve.
I have been on Neurontin (Gabapentin) since January 17. I take two 300 mg three times a day. It helps a bit with the intensity. On February 16, I had bilateral facet joint shots at T9-T10 and they did nothing for the pain.
The pain is under the left ribs and/or in the middle of the upper abdomen between the lowest rib. It feels like you ran and got out of breath, or you were stabbed in your side. It can also feel like a gnawing pain. Nerves from T9 or T10 come around to this area.
I get the pain after an hour or so of activity like showering and washing my hair, shopping, and so on. I need to lie down to get relief. It takes about 15 minutes, or more, of lying down to get this relief.
I am fused from T10 – S1 and had vertebroplasty at T9 and T10. I have cement at T9 but instrumentation to and including T10.
In a CT scan taken Feb. 7, the neuroradiologist found the following:
"There is slight anterior wedge-shaped chronic compression deformity of T10 vertebra."
I never had any problems with my thoracic area, only my lumbar area. I have always had this deformity. No one is saying it is the cause of my pain. I am pointing it out because of its location.
Other than that, I am recovering quite well from the surgery.
Has anyone had nerve pain in this area? What did you do to handle it? How long did it take to go away?
What suggestions do you have for dealing with this pain?
Thanks for your support.
Irene
The history of checking this out includes an ultrasound and an endoscopy. Both were negative. I have agreement from a gastroenterologist, pain management doctor, and my surgeon that this is referred nerve pain or a compressed nerve.
I have been on Neurontin (Gabapentin) since January 17. I take two 300 mg three times a day. It helps a bit with the intensity. On February 16, I had bilateral facet joint shots at T9-T10 and they did nothing for the pain.
The pain is under the left ribs and/or in the middle of the upper abdomen between the lowest rib. It feels like you ran and got out of breath, or you were stabbed in your side. It can also feel like a gnawing pain. Nerves from T9 or T10 come around to this area.
I get the pain after an hour or so of activity like showering and washing my hair, shopping, and so on. I need to lie down to get relief. It takes about 15 minutes, or more, of lying down to get this relief.
I am fused from T10 – S1 and had vertebroplasty at T9 and T10. I have cement at T9 but instrumentation to and including T10.
In a CT scan taken Feb. 7, the neuroradiologist found the following:
"There is slight anterior wedge-shaped chronic compression deformity of T10 vertebra."
I never had any problems with my thoracic area, only my lumbar area. I have always had this deformity. No one is saying it is the cause of my pain. I am pointing it out because of its location.
Other than that, I am recovering quite well from the surgery.
Has anyone had nerve pain in this area? What did you do to handle it? How long did it take to go away?
What suggestions do you have for dealing with this pain?
Thanks for your support.
Irene
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