Re: Extreme Left Shoulder Pain Months After Surgery

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group.

SunshineS wrote:

>

>

> I had my surgery on April 12th of this year, they did a Heller

> myotomy, fundoplication and they also removed my gal bladder (I was

> told it would just cause me problems later and it was best to just get

> it out now).

>

Was that the only reason to get rid of it? That does not seem typical to

just add that on.

> Immediately after waking up from surgery in the recovery room I

> noticed immense pain in my left shoulder. I asked what happened to it

> and had to repeatedly ask for ice as I was told repeatedly told " My

> surgery was on my abdomen, my shoulder it fine. " The pain did not go

> down at all while I was in the hospital. I did not sleep and had a

> terrible migraine. Nothing helped with the pain in my shoulder and arm.

>

Some of that pain may have been gas related but it does not fit the

description of gas pain. Sometimes while doing the surgery an arm is

placed back above the head. If you are not used to that it can stretch

the nerves that go to the arm. I had that happen to a nerve that goes to

may hand during the surgery. It hurt worse than the other surgery pain.

It quickly got better but I still had some neuropathy to the hand for

about three months. Felt like it had been asleep, tingling and numb.

> ... My left had will go numb from time to time, and it is becoming

> increasingly hard to do everyday tasks such as writing, typing, etc. I

> have never had any issues with my shoulder prior to surgery but I do

> have herniated discs in my neck and lower back from a car accident

> over 11 years ago.

>

The problem may also be relate to those discs. Either way, the going

numb is a sign that something is wrong with nerves. It could be a number

of things. Even things not related to the surgery. It may be a good idea

to consult a neurologist.

> Nothing helps and I am in constant pain every day. ...

>

Neuropathy pain can be hard to treat with pain medication not made for

it. Another reason to see a neurologist.

notan

[Guest guest]

I am currently seeing a neurosurgeon for my neck and back issues. I recently

had an EMG test done which came out normal. My surgeon that did my achalasia

surgery said my left shoulder pain is refered pain from the fundoplication, but

that was over a month ago and he said it would go away not get worse. My

shoulder never bothered me before I had surgery. My back was always my main

issue as far as my disc problems, now I barely have use of my left arm. Am I

the only one that has experienced this after surgery?

After going through all this I am wishing I never had the surgery. I would much

rather be not able to eat anything than to not have use of my left arm. This is

unbearable.

> >

> >

> > I had my surgery on April 12th of this year, they did a Heller

> > myotomy, fundoplication and they also removed my gal bladder (I was

> > told it would just cause me problems later and it was best to just get

> > it out now).

> >

>

> Was that the only reason to get rid of it? That does not seem typical to

> just add that on.

>

> > Immediately after waking up from surgery in the recovery room I

> > noticed immense pain in my left shoulder. I asked what happened to it

> > and had to repeatedly ask for ice as I was told repeatedly told " My

> > surgery was on my abdomen, my shoulder it fine. " The pain did not go

> > down at all while I was in the hospital. I did not sleep and had a

> > terrible migraine. Nothing helped with the pain in my shoulder and arm.

> >

>

> Some of that pain may have been gas related but it does not fit the

> description of gas pain. Sometimes while doing the surgery an arm is

> placed back above the head. If you are not used to that it can stretch

> the nerves that go to the arm. I had that happen to a nerve that goes to

> may hand during the surgery. It hurt worse than the other surgery pain.

> It quickly got better but I still had some neuropathy to the hand for

> about three months. Felt like it had been asleep, tingling and numb.

>

> > ... My left had will go numb from time to time, and it is becoming

> > increasingly hard to do everyday tasks such as writing, typing, etc. I

> > have never had any issues with my shoulder prior to surgery but I do

> > have herniated discs in my neck and lower back from a car accident

> > over 11 years ago.

> >

>

> The problem may also be relate to those discs. Either way, the going

> numb is a sign that something is wrong with nerves. It could be a number

> of things. Even things not related to the surgery. It may be a good idea

> to consult a neurologist.

>

> > Nothing helps and I am in constant pain every day. ...

> >

>

> Neuropathy pain can be hard to treat with pain medication not made for

> it. Another reason to see a neurologist.

>

> notan

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

(apologies if this shows up twice -- had technical difficulties during posting!)

I'm wondering if your phrenic nerve was damaged during surgery. Irritation of

the phrenic nerve is what causes the shoulder pain people often experience after

laparoscopic surgery (the pressure on the diaphragm by the gas is what irritates

the phrenic nerve).

You should talk to your surgeon about this possibility.

Debbi in Michigan