Back and arm pain 3 weeks post op

[billystuart92]

I didn't want to make another thread but I'd appreciate some feedback on a little issue I'm having with pain.

I was told on here that at about two weeks post op most of my pain should have pretty much subsided, but I'm having pretty severe pain in my arms and back still at almost three weeks.

I have a pic that I doodled on to show where the pain is centred:

http://pho.to/9j7AD

The red is where the worst of my pain is. Like to the point where laying down hurts and I'm having trouble sleeping.
Pain killers don't seem to work well but I'm also not taking anything particularly strong.
There's no visible bruising or swelling, but it hurts to touch.

The blue is less pain, my right arm gets a shooting pain if I try to stretch it too far and physio exercises are very uncomfortable. Using this arm hurts a fair bit...
On the left arm it's kinda just a big section near my shoulder that's constantly hurting, this MIGHT be overuse? It wasn't hurting before but after avoiding using the right arm too much this one has developed...

Now I can barely use my left arm and the right one still has twinges of pain that shoots downwards.

My mother doesn't seem worried but I'm kinda nervous. I have an appointment with my surgeon in three days but my surgeon hasn't been at my last two consultations (she's had her nurse there but I'd really like to see her...)

I was just wondering if anyone else experienced pain this long or pain in these particular areas and if anyone knows what it is or if I should be worried

A few things come to mind like internal bruising, nerve damage or overuse, maybe there's more options idk
Please help


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[Obfuskatie]

I'm guessing it's strained muscle tissue and ligaments. If you look at muscle anatomy, there are pretty significant tendons and ligaments as well as muscle tissue that attach the  pectoral muscles to your ribs, shoulders, abdomen and back. It's likely that the trauma of the surgery caused the tissues to contract, in a very uncomfortable way.
I'd advise asking your doctor, stretching and eventually deep tissue massage when it won't cause you to blackout from the pain.


     Hugs,
- Katie
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[Alexthecat]

I had extreme pain in my back due to what I was sleeping on. I had to take pain killers for my back when I could have went off of them after my surgery. Try sleeping and laying in a new position.

[billystuart92]

Thanks guys, I've started taking slightly stronger painkillers and the deep tissue massaging that Katie suggested have been amazing!

I'm also kinda alternating between ice packs and heat packs to see which works best but atm I'm not sure, they feel pretty much the same?

If it is strained muscle tissue/ligaments, does anyone have any idea how long until the pain starts fading?


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[FTMax]

How are you sleeping? I slept upright in a recliner for a week and then transitioned back to a bed. After I moved back to the bed, the pain in my arms/shoulders/back went away.

[RaptorChops]

I always slept on my back with a heating pad it's pretty amazing. Don't put heating pads on your chest.

I would avoid the exercises until the pain has gone away.

[billystuart92]

I've been sleeping on my back, I might try reclining with a soft pillow and see if that helps too


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[palexander]

you definitely need to be sleeping upright.
four weeks post op here and i'm still in the recliner. i can now comfortably lounge in bed with some pillows to prop me up, but i just prefer this. you may be using too much of your upper body to stand up, as well, so be careful. when you're getting up, move your butt to the edge of the seat and stand using just your legs; no arms to push up.

[anibioman]

I had a similar issue but with my right delts, traps, and upper back. Some sub scapula stuff i think. Massage, heating pads, icy hot, rest was all that helped. Mostly gone after 2 months. I still had issues with it 6 months later. It was a result of not using those muscles and not retracting my shoulder blades at all for ten days. Also pain was totally gone 9 months later.