I was banded on 1/21/10. I've had lower back pain off and on for 6-8 years...nothing unmanageable, mostly when I overdo. Since my surgery, I've noticed that I'm having quite a bit of discomfort in my mid-back, I'm guessing around the back of my ribcage? Anybody else having this? Does it have to do with me leaning a different way to "protect" my abdominal area?

I would say that is a possibility. It might also be due to gas pain, or maybe the way you have to sleep now if you sleep differently than before. I suspect there are a lot of possibilities. Good luck!

I am 3 weeks post op.. my back hurt so bad across the middle I had to lay in bed on and off all day with a heating pad..... I have so much energy and am cleaning cleaning cleaning... i am also bending over alot which I did not do before.. that is why I think my back hurts.... cant use the belly so I am using the back... no more bending over for me... gonna squat down to pick things up

I experienced this, and I also had it really badly after each of my three children was born.

My personal theory with this is that just like pregnancy and birth, any abdominal surgery gives your core muscles a pretty severe shake up and weakens you as you must protect the sore area. Without your core muscles firing on all cylinders, your back has to take more work in holding you upright, and soreness often results.

As to lower back pain, I had sciatic problems, not crippling like some people, but it was a real downer, enough to really bother me and for about 12 months, my right leg felt dead and heavy and numb. Touch wood, but I havent had a problem in about three years now. Weight loss cleared it up completely.

I recently was treated for a kidney infection when I thought it was a strained muscle in my mid back. If it is not too much of a financial strain, I would suggest seeing your family doctor. My infection was made worse by my self misdiagnosis.

I had/have this problem as well occasionally. I finally figured out that it's because I am sitting/holding myself differently as I lose weight. I'm trying to make a conscious effort, when sitting or standing, to hold in my abdominal muscles. This causes me to sit or stand more erect...and less muscle pain across my middle back. I'm finding that as the days go by, I have less of this pain and I think it's because my abdominal muscles are learning to do their job.

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Weight LOSS can sometimes, perversely, exacerbate this kind of problem. We can engage our abs--and that does help a lot--but if there is increased skin laxity, it--combined with gravity--can increase the discomfort. Wearing something supportive---like Spanx---can really help.

If you think you might be a candidate for reconstructive surgery at goal, it would be a good idea to start documenting this pain with your doctor for insurance purposes.

All that said, I do have chronic back pain issues---thin or fat---and have found that, since surgery, most of mine turn out to be attributable to gas. It's odd that the pain is referred to my back, but I think the nerve connections are a bit confused postoperatively.