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Myofascia pain

Hi All

I was just wondering if anybody knows much about Myfascial pain.

It has been suggested to me that perhaps I have myofascial pain as well as sphincter of oddi dysfunction.

I only get upper abdominal pain both URQ (with nausea and the dark urine etc...symptomatic of SOD) but I also have like a tight band of excruciating upper abdominal pain daily, I have a keloid scar and a couple of trigger injections with local anaesthetic have been trialled. The first was super-effective, but the second barely helped at all. It is noted that I have a couple of trigger points when touched around my scar.....

Can Myofascial pain be caused by surgery? (my gallbladder was removed in Dec 09 - and this is when this muscle type pain started - the SOD is another story I think)

If you can offer some wisdom and advise I would be very grateful

thankyou for caring

Sarah
7 Responses
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547368 tn?1440541785
Hello anda tardy Welcome to our Pain Management Forum.

I'm so sorry to hear about your son. Sadly his response to a Cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) is not a rare occurrence. Sorry!

As far as I can tell Sarsi has not been active on MedHelp since January of 2014. We do have a Gallbladder Community that may be helpful for you. Here's the link:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Gallbladder/show/1208

Although your post does not say, I'm assuming the medical providers are thinking your son may be developing early adhesions from the Cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal)?? Is that so?

Gabapentin was originally designed to treat seizure disorders however it was found to be effective in treating Neuropathic (nerve) pain. People with adhesions often experience pain from nerve entrapment within the adhesion. Gabapentin or Lyrica can be effective in treating Neuropathic pain. However it may be a bit early to discuss adhesions.

Just for future information that while it is true that most imaging is not considered a good diagnostic tool for adhesions there is an option. Some years ago a Cine-magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was found to locate many of the Intra-Abdominal Adhesions that laparoscopic surgery discovered. This may not be done every where but I think it is worth consideration.

Does your son have symptoms of post-cholecystectomy syndrome? This occurs in about one in seven people post-op.  

I wish you and your son the very best. He's fortunate to have your love and caring nature. If you have additional questions of us - or just want to provide an update we'd be happy to hear from you again.

Best of Luck,
~Tuck
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm so sorry your son is going through this. I've read stories from so many other people about this very same thing. Pain after gallbladder surgery.
I also have this side pain and both my primary and GI Dr both agree that it's possible the pain could be scar tissue. I do have back issues so the pain could be coming from that too.
There's really no way to tell if this is scar tissue or not that's causing your sons pain. Not with an MRI or ultrasound that is. They would have to go in with a laparascope to look around.
I hope the Gabapentin helps. If it doesn't make sure to let your sons Dr know so they can try something else.
Did his Dr let your son know that he should not have fatty or greasy foods? If you eat these kinds of foods after the surgery it can cause pain.
Please keep us up to date on how everything is going. We 're here to listen and help anyway we can.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I know it been a while since your last post and I am not sure you will even see my post, but my son is going through almost the same exact situation that you described. He had his gall bladder out 3 months ago and now has chronic abdominal pain which radiates at times to his back. Dr. is putting him on Gabapentin to see if pain is relieved. SOD has not been ruled out and will be tested for should this medicine not work.  
Can you provide an update to your condition?

Donna
Helpful - 0
1415174 tn?1453243103
Hi Sarsi,
I have myofascial pain syndrome and it follows almost the exact description that Tuckamore quoted. It is possible to have pain from adhesions long after surgery but it is not to my knowledge myofascial pain. My sister in  law has had abdominal pain for years and it is due to adhesions. She also has nerve pain. She takes a drug like neurontin and an antidepressant and that seems to help. There are some newer drugs like neurontin such as Lyrica and others. I hope this helps. I am currently doing biofeedback, accupunture, Flexeril and an NSAID to lower my pain.
take care,
mkh9
Helpful - 0
547368 tn?1440541785
Thanks for sharing more information.

I respectfully disagree with your surgeon about the softening and stretching of adhesions in a few years. That's just my personal opinion based on my personal experience and the information I have been given by several specialist. I don't claim to be right and I hate to disagree with any physician. Certainly they know much more then I do, especially about your case in particular. So again this is just my personal opinion.

I am told that my scar tissue continues to produce problems years after their initial formation. That may just be my case and I certainly have much more adhesions then would be produced by a lap choly.

I hope the Gabapentin will be effective in controlling your symptoms. Don't be afraid to speak up, be assertive and ask to be able to live your life as comfortably as possible.

I"ll be interested to learn what you find out. Please keep in touch and active in our community.  As I recently told another poster, were all in the Chronic Pain journey together and support can be so beneficial. That's a bit more of my "wisdom." LOL  

Blessings to you also,
~Tuck

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Tuck

Thankyou for responding.

I am actually still battling for a diagnosis after nearly 2 years! The myofascial suggestion was by a friend on a group on facebook. And it sort of seemed to make sense.....

I have just recently seen a different surgeon, and he poo poohed the scar tissue/adhesion suggestion I gave.....he said that any sort of adhesions after a couple of years (I had a lap choly in Dec 09) would have soften/stretched by now and shouldn't be causing any pain! Im not convinced of this as I have thought about this sort of internal scarring being a major cause of pain.

But he is consulting with his colleagues about my possible sphincter of oddi dysfunction or similar biliary/liver disorder.....so Im hoping to get a referral to a liver/pancreas specialist!

As for managing my pain on a daily basis, my pain management team have put me on Gabapentin (Neurontin) a couple of weeks ago, and Im still waiting for any effect....but I'm still hopeful!

Thankyou for offering your "wisdom" LOL and caring enough to respond.

God Bless
Sarah
Helpful - 0
547368 tn?1440541785
Hi Sarah,

Confused by a Myofascial Pain (MPS) diagnosis? .... So are many medical practitioners! I have seen this DX used in conjunction with and/or in place of CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and Fibromyalgia.  

This is one of the better explanations for the condition and  from a trusted site:
Begin Quote "Myofascial pain syndrome is defined by trigger points, which are felt as taut bands of muscle. The trigger points refer pain to other (nearby) locations in the body. When pressed, trigger points illicit a twitch response, also known as a “jump sign.” One of the main characteristics of myofascial pain syndrome is that the pain is regional, or confined to a limited area of the body. Generally, myofascial pain will be found in the shoulders, neck, arms, face, low back and/or legs. It is quite often a result of misaligned posture." End Quote

Trauma seems to be the main cause of MPS and doesn't usually include surgery. Indeed I can find no literate that lists surgery as a causation of MPS.... Obviously that doesn't mean I am correct.

I would wonder if some of your pain is due to adhesions/scar tissue. Physicians can be slow to admit this could be a factor and still others don't out much credence in that factor. I am far from an expert, it's just a thought.

I believe the important issues is not necessarily the exact diagnosis today but the treatment. Is your pain being controlled and managed? Life is fleeting and it's important to be as comfortable as possible.  

I don't know if I've offered you any "wisdom" but I always have an opinion! :o) ... and I hope my suggestions have been helpful or given you some food for thought. I wish you well and hope you'll keep in touch.

Take Care,
~Tuck
Helpful - 0
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