Gas pains and neck pain after surgery

[borderholic]

I had surgery last Thursday. I went home on Sunday. I have a lot of gas pain. I also have a terrible pain on my left shoulder that is killing me.

Any ideas what I can do about the gas pains? I don't want to push to hard because I don't want to but to much pressure on my stiches. I had my first BM today but hardly passed any gas.

Did anyone else have a pain in the shoulder/neck area a few days after surgery?

Any suggestions on how to deal with both would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MichelleinKansas]

Was your surgery laparascopic or open? I had a laparascopic procedure a couple of weeks ago and they told me they pumped me full of gas so they could see inside better and that the gas finds it way out. The nurse told me that it could cause pain up in my shoulders and that lots of people think they are having a heart attack or something after surgery when it is just the gas.

 

[Grumbletum]

Sipping hot water can help relieve the pain from gas. And - sorry to be a bit crude here - but moving around as much as you can within reason can help you pass the gas ( fart basically! ) Hope you get some relief soon - it can be really sore.

 

[Traumanurse]

Hate to say it, but the biggest rule post-op at hospitals for gas releif is walk, walk, walk. It's definitely not fun post-op, but it really does help.

Shoulder pain post-op can either be caused by the gas that you're having (it sometimes refers to the shoulder), or the way your head was positioned during surgery.

So.... the walking MIGHT help both things. Also, a heating pad just makes you feel better when down.