Muscle spasms after operation

[cmoc]

Hello, I have just joined the forum. I don't have Crohn's but was rushed into hospital 3 and half months ago, emergency operation for a small bowel resection (3 foot gone), due to adhesions from an op years ago wrapping around the bowel.
They had to stop the first op and leave me "open" for 2 days then go in again and close up (due to me being ill in the first op). Two weeks of hospital and home. The incision opened partly and has taken 3 months to heal.
Problem now, every morning, the abdomen is in spasm, like its cramped up, it take me a few minutes to physically straighten my body out. Also the muscles in the top half of my abdomen feel like "someones stuffed a parcel in there" like nothing is where it should be.
Also, my toes are cramping and calves, like I am walking on sponges, I cant go barefoot. Tickiling sensation down legs as well. I have had the electrolytes checked and they are normal.
Has anyone else had this and can you say how long it is before things get better.
Thanks
Chris

 

[Jennifer]

Hi cmoc and welcome to the forum. I'm sorry to say that I haven't heard anyone mentioning that happening after a resection although with the odd sensation in your abdomen I wonder if maybe you might have a hernia. Could you get your doctor to order an x-ray, ultrasound or CT scan? I'm going to tag Afidz and see if she had similar symptoms with her hernias. Keep us posted. :hug:

 

[cmoc]

Hi, thanks for answering. No, no hernia. I guess its just taking a long time for my muscles to sort themselves out. It could be because I have a dehis incision (open and healing for 3 months). The top of the abdomen just under the ribs feels like the muscles are overused, it felt like a parcel had been put in there after the operation!
My thyroid has gone overactive and I have antibodies so it may be an autoimmune reaction causing the aching legs, weakness and cramps. I have also been getting more headaches and dizziness.
I just thought other people who had resections and their muscles cut through might have experienced the same problems.
I don't know about the autoimmune response. This is the second time my thyroid has done this after a major operation.
Thanks

 

[Cosmojo]

I've heard that as your muscles basically regenerate that they can spasm a lot, they are learning how to work again. How healed are you? Can you do some light stretching everyday to slowly loosen up your new muscle groups? I like yoga for my gut muscles to help them relax after bad pain attacks. That might help with the severe cramping

 

[cmoc]

Hi,

Well that would make sense. Its been nearly 4 months since my op. The incision had to heal from the inside and has only just finally healed over. The muscles all around it hurt even when I tap them slightly. The muscles under the ribs hurt when I just hang washing up, they feel, afterwoulds like I have done 100 sit ups! I have noticed this last few days, less tightness in the lower abdomen.
I wish there was physio to show us what to do after the op, like how much to stretch and how to do it. I don't want to cause a hernia so am frightened to do much.
What type of yoga stretches do you do?
Thanks

 

[afidz]

I get phantom pains from time to time on different areas of my abdomen, Ijust attribute it to nerve damage from all of the surgeries I have had on my abdomen. You said your electrolytes are fine, what about potassium? It is very common for people with IBD to have low potassium, and that can definitely lead to muscle spasms

 

[cmoc]

Hi, they checked potassium and that was fine. Calcium was fine too. The iron was on the low side of the reference range so I have started taking liquid iron myself, also magnesium.
The lower abdomen muscles are getting better. The top of the abdomen under the ribs is terrible, feels like they have put things back in the wrong place LOL
There is a lot of aching in the legs, so stiff, cant get out of bed in the morning,
and tingling and spongy feeling under the ball of the feet. Most odd.
Thanks

 

[cmoc]

Hi again, just read the bottom part of your post. I had iritis twice in the past too, I have antibodies to my thyroid. I have just read that Crohn's is autoimmune as well, I didn't know that.
I see you have problems with your BMs, I did too, I swear by the Laxido, its been brilliant for me, I slowly reduced it and I haven't a problem in that area.
I know its not supposed to be good long term but we have enough to cope with in the first few weeks of recover without that problem.