Weird chronic pain

[mcpogo]

I have been dealing with soreness, tenderness and sometimes a "pulling" sensation that starts immediately atop my right hipbone and runs down to top of right thigh, and am wondering if it might be related to a past surgery or caused by ?.  Pain is almost always present at a level of 4,sometimes reaching a 7.  I had surgery about 10 years ago to remove large bilateral ovarian cysts and had persistent soreness in area of right side of incision.  About 2 years later I had a scope done to see what was causing that soreness and the doctor found nothing to explain it. That pain seems to have spread to the pain I am describing here.  Does this sound like pain from adhesions, or maybe the beginning of hip arthritis?  I have no pain on the left side at all.

The doctors I have talked to since the scope don't seem to quite understand what I'm talking about, or are not interested enough to investigate further.  I have used opioid analgesics a few times over the years with good result, but prefer not to because of potential for dependence. I've never heard anyone else mention having this kind of pain in this exact spot. If I have to continue to live with it I would at least like an idea of what is causing it.  If any of you have questions that might help me clarify what I am describing here, please feel free to ask.

[mcpogo]

Eeeekkk!  Tuck, I got cold chills reading your description of your incident with the seat belt.  You probably have a seat belt law in your state but did that make you not want to use them?  We have seat belt law here and I do use mine religiously but every now and then worry about being trapped in a burning vehicle.  

At some point I will seek out a pain mgt specialist but am dragging my feet not eager to start another merry go round of testing.  I'm glad you get some relief from heat and meds, that's pretty much what I've been doing too.

[Tuckamore]

Seano, An adhesion is also called scar tissue. It binds tissues or sometimes organs and tissues together that should be separate. It occurs in the majority of ppl that undergo surgery or have a serious internal infection like pelvic inflamatory disease. It most often occurs in the pelvic or abdominal cavity and some times the heart. Some ppl are more prone to them than others. An adhesion can be a thin layer of tissue or it can develop into strong fiber-like bands. The location and amount and the density of the adhesions often determines the amount of discomfort one feels, if any. For some ppl adhesions can cause severe debilitating pain and for others they experience absolutely no symptoms or discomfort. Adhesions are normally diagnosed with a laparoscopy.  Mcpogo explained them well.

Mcpogo, I have had no treatment for them. Several years after a seat belt severed me to the spine and caused an abnormally large abdominal and lumbar muscle herniation I had a huge piece of mesh inserted in my body. It extends from my abdominal mid-line around into my lumbar area, attached to my bottom rib and down to below the hip line. I have mega adhesions. Some areas have improved over time. There really isn't any treatment short of a surgical release which than can produce even more adhesions.

I have used heat and pain medications with some releif. I am just surprised that your surgeon did not see the adhesion(s) when they preformed the scope. So you may have other things going on. However your symptoms do seem to fit that diagnosis. That said don't assume anything. Keep searching for answers to your pain.

[mcpogo]

Thanks, Tuck, it's nice to hear from you.  I'd like to know how you've been treated for adhesions and what treatment has been most helpful.

Seano, the best way I can explain it is that abdominal surgery can sometimes result in scar tissue that forms and binds organs together, or binds organs to body walls.It can also result from endometriosis.  Doctors often don't seem to "get" the fact that you are really in pain, or are reluctant to do more surgery to free up the adhesions because more surgery can cause more adhesions.  I have read stories from others with ahesions with more pain than I've had, but after 10 years my pain is pretty darn tiresome.

[seano]

Hi! I'm sorry if this is off topic. What exactly are adhesions? Is it a form of scar tissue of some sort?? Just curious. I havn't heard of them before that's all.

[Tuckamore]

Hello MC,

Welcome to the Pain Mangement Forum. I am glad that you found us and posted.

I am certainly not an expert but your pain sounds similar to some of what I live with which is adhesions. In my case it is massive adhesions from severe abdominal trauma. It is a pulling and sometimes burning sensation that comes after or with specific motions. Areas are often sore and tender.

This may or may not be the source of your pain. I have not hear of arthritis described as a pulling pain. Is your pain located in the joint?  If not I doubt it is arthritis. On the other hand a scope should have seen adhesions although that's not 100%.

I encourage you to find a physician that is interested in what you are talking about...and it concerned that you are in pain and uncomfortable. I know it can be discouraging but it's your body and you deserve answers.

I hope you will let us kow how you are doing. We willl look forward to hearing from you soon. Best of luck to you.

Take Care,
Tuck