Abdominal pain or left-side pain, which may include nausea and vomiting, among other symptoms, is a common complaint following gastric bypass surgery. It’s estimated that more than half of patients experience postoperative complaints related to abdominal discomfort—and these can be severe enough to warrant hospitalization. In this post, we’ll discuss what causes left side back pain after gastric bypass surgery and how you can treat it effectively.
What Causes The Pain?
More than half of people with gastric bypass concerns report this pain after the process. Thus, Back pain is the most common side effect of gastric sleeve surgery. It is among the most frequent complaints received by patients following surgery. Whilst lower, middle, and upper back pain following gastric sleeve could appear to be a mild problem, it can be pretty debilitating and interfere with your quality of life. Throughout this blog article, we will look at what’s causing back pain after a gastric sleeve surgical procedure and how to address it successfully.
Shouldn’t Weight Loss Make My Back Problem Go Away?
One of the primary reasons patients report back pain since gastric sleeve surgery is that they lose a great deal of weight. Although this relieves back pain, the truth is that it can put a lot of strain on one’s spine as well as muscles. Because once you lose weight, your body begins to burn muscle and fat for energy. It can cause muscle mass loss, leading to back problems.
Furthermore, the muscle tissue has most likely been under a lot of strain for years, continuing to support the extra weight. And being able to relax immediately can cause reactionary pain till the muscles adapt.
In addition, other factors that can influence this pain are due to:
Nutritional Factors
- Overeating-related pain
- Food intolerance
- Deficiencies in vitamins
It may take a lot of work to adjust or adapt one’s eating habits to conform to one newly remodeled digestion process. Overeating or having to eat too quickly after surgery can cause stomach cramps. Bypass surgery affects your body’s ability to detect fullness, which means you may not realize you’re full until one’s stomach stretches to the point of pain. Following gastric bypass, it is frequent for the sensation of fullness to feel somewhat like uneasiness.
Following meals, you may experience pain below your rib cage or abdominal area due to rapid and excessive eating. It is essential to remember that your abdomen is smaller after surgery, so eat in moderation and in smaller amounts.
Other nutritional reasons for pain include vitamin deficiency or gluten intolerance. Individuals will have different food intolerances or reactions. According to one study released in The British Journal of Surgery, red meat and fermentable carbohydrates in fat and sweetener were the most common causes of food lactose intolerance after gastric bypass.
To identify food intolerance, it is critical to consider what you eat before experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms or distress. If folks suspect you have food intolerance or selectivity, consult with a nutritionist to identify the underlying cause and make the required dietary changes.
Iron, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 inadequacies have been connected to abdominal discomfort. Even though nutrient uptake is reduced after surgery, nutritional deficiencies can end up causing stomach pain. Supplements can assist with pain relief.
How Can I Get Rid of My Back Pains Following Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
Fortunately, there are several options for treating back pain since gastric sleeve surgery. First and foremost, recognize that you’re not alone in experiencing this issue. Many patients may experience back discomfort following surgery, but the good thing about it is that it is generally only temporary and will eventually go away by itself.
But if your back pain persists after a few weeks, there are numerous things you can perform to help relieve it. First, ensure that you’re getting sufficient rest and are not overboard with the task. Adherence to your bariatric surgeon’s medication and diet suggestions is also essential. Your healing will be aided by successfully handling your diet, medications, and physical exercise. It is also essential to keep your muscles strong by engaging in delicate exercises such as walking or swimming. Unless your back aches are severe, you may have to take pain relievers or see a medical professional for hands-on care.
Walking increases the number of Adsorption processes and causes the gas to move faster. Breathing exercises can also help push gas out by exerting pressure mainly on the abdominal cavity.
The following symptoms are similar to pain, but it is crucial to remain aware of other symptoms which may imply severe medical problems, such as:
- Vomiting in excess
- Failure to keep liquids down
- High heart rate
- Fever
- Surgical wound drainage
- Blood pressure is too low
- Urine output has decreased
How To Handle Extreme Pain From A Side Effect?
It is critical to consult your bariatric surgeon rather than your primary care doctor because bariatric surgeons are more acquainted with gastric bypass health problems.
Following surgery, discomfort or ache is almost unavoidable. It is critical to assess the type of discomfort you are experiencing. Examine whether the pain occurs after meals or when seated in certain positions.
Examine the pain to see if it is sharp, cramping, or burning. Determine whether the pain seems to be mild or severe. Trust your instincts about your body, and communicate directly with your bariatric surgeon when you suffer severe symptoms or pain.
Conclusion
If you’re experiencing pain caused by something else, it could be due to other side effects or conditions. Thus, follow your bariatric diet plan and take supplements daily—and consume enough protein because your body needs it. Moreover, left side back pain after gastric bypass is common among patients, though it usually goes away after a few weeks. If your symptoms persist beyond