stomach pain

[maltie]

Dr. Rosenberg, I understand that everything is speculation. However, I can't help but think that the tummy tuck surgery is the cause of my pain. The thing that bothers me the most is that noone seems to be able to help me. From the moment that I got out of the plastic surgery center & had to be admitted to the main hospital for a collapsed lung, it was apparant that regular docs have no understanding of plastic surgery. I was at plano presby, a very large hospital & they seemed baffled by my collapsed lung & did not even know how to take care of me concerning the plastic surgry. For starters, the hospital staff sat me up & forward in the bed after I told them that my surgeon had told me NOT to bend my stomach. This caused  my first problem. Some skin to the rt of my naval folded onto itself. I was in the hospital for 9 days & during this time, ths skin basically rotted &  I was left with an open wound of puss for  a month. This caused a 1x2 inch scar. I can feel alot of my pain behind this scar as well as behind the naval. I am trying to figure out what my next step should be. I've already been scoped both ways, had ct, sonogram, x-rays...you name it. My husband works in the medical field & obtaining all of these tests have been easy, however they basically come up with nothing. My gyn. thinks I could have adhesions(?) from the tummy tuck, so he has rec.exploratory lap. surgery . My  gastro doc thinks we should keep trying other medications. The fact is that I am in tremendous pain, can barely stand without pain medication. My  job is in jeopardy for absences & I  will soon be forced to take medical leave. Do you have any ideas?

[maltie]

The advice from Dr.Rosenberg was great. I went to a teaching hospital/research medical center at the  University of Texas & finally got some answers to my chronic pain. Apparantly, a nerve was cut during my tummy tuck. The doctors here have put me on new medication to start blocking some of the pain. I think it is rare for such accidents to occur during a tummy tuck, but I am hoping that my questions & answers will help someone else should they also experience something similar.

[Howard Rosenberg, MD]

Persistent post-operative pain is often very difficult to diagnose and treat.  Some major medical centers have multispecialty pain centers.  These are often located at major hospital teaching facilities.  It may be appropriate to identify and be evaluated at a teaching hospital near your home.