POST REVERSAL EXTREME PAIN - FEELS LIKE GLASS SHARDS

[Herbie_79]

Hello everyone,
I just found this site and am hoping there may be some info to help my wife. She was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2018, she did all the treatment and had her reversal 6 months ago. Every day she is in extreme pain, she describes the feeling is like glass hards when she has a really small bowel movement and then it remains after. She is having bleeding, probably from a fissure. we have tried several cremes and nitroglycerin creme as well as Norco and nothing is helping. Our surgeon seems to not believe her when she describes the pain, he says he has never had a patient have these symptom and thinks it may be anxiety?? If anyone has gone through something similar please let me know. She is suffering everyday and I am having trouble getting any helpful info from our doctors. Thank you so much for reading this, I hope you are all well and healing!

[Don60]

The use of any amount of narcotics decreases mucus production in the intestine, prolongs transit time, and hardens the stool. The effect is also dose-related and worsens with higher doses of narcotics. Stopping the Norco, if possible, would be the first step. Sitz baths may help to relax the anal sphincter and reduce pain.

[mckvan]

I am experiencing the same pain symptoms. I compare it to shingles pain, sharp, buring, deep pain especially at ostomy closure but also have abdominal sensitivity to touch. My surgery was 9/8/2020. Bowel movements are daily and there is no evidence of constipation. I had laparoscopic reversal with the surgeon having to cut through adhesions for over two hours. I am being treated for neuropathic pain but increase in activity makes the symptoms worse. The good news is that the area of sensitivity is decreasing in size but the pain is persistent and interferes with daily work and sleep. I have tried lidocaine patches, mindfulness, heat, and cold. I know how to manage pain (ran a 5k with 4th degree ankle sprain and 5k with perforated colon). But this is wearing me out. If I had any idea that this would happen, I do not think I would have had reversal surgery. So if someone who is further out from surgery can assure me that this will pass, I will have hope. Thanks for listening! Patti

[Herbie_79]

Hi Patti - I am sorry you are going through this tough recovery. It sounds like you are experiencing some of the same symptoms as my wife. My wife has been able to get somewhat better - we found out the contrast from all her CT's sent her into hyperthyroidism which caused her to have increased output as well as causing her to lose an extreme amount of weight. once we figured that out it took about 2 weeks with new meds and then she started putting on weight and was able to get her bowels under control a little more. still having issues with pain and fissure. We also found out that the staples used for her surgery are too large and they are not letting the poo go past very easily as well as scraping the inside of her colon. This could be something to look at for you. We are in talks with a team at Sedars Sainai about having the staples removed. I hope some of this info can help you. Also reach out to a GI as well as a pain management specialist. My wife now is prescribed nucynta which has been the only pain med that has helped. Im always happy to keep you updated on what we are finding so please just reply on this thread. good luck.