On 1/1/2010, i had my RealizeBand surgery. In June i had a prolapse from vomiting. My band was removed July 20th. From the time that I had my band surgery, I have had bad pain in the left shoulder, back and left chest area just below the nipple line that radiated completely through the back. Due to my insurance having a max of $10,000 and the pain, I decided to remove the band instead of having it repaired. It's now September 19th and I still have the pain even though my band has been removed. I have found that a full stomach, walking and sitting for a duration more than 20 minutes intensifies my pain to nearly the level of feeling like a heart attack. I've had various test and CTscans. Surgeons seem to take it very lightly and I'm having to get aggressive with the situation. My pain can be at 7 on a scale of 1-10 during activity. I've been off work since my band removal in July. I got a second opinion from another surgeon who is trying me on Neurotin and haven't seen any sign of improvements at all. . If anyone has suggestions, please feel free to email me... brianlodwick@ymail.com

When they removed the band did they remove the port and all the tubing? From what I understand, the tubing can be too close to the diaphram resulting in referred pain in the shoulder, and I would imagine the chest and back, too. It could be that even if they removed the port and tubing the area has been so irritated that it will take awhile to recover.

Make sure you get copies of all these test results, including the CT scans, and the operative report for both the placement and removal of the band. You might be very surprised at what you find out.

If necessary, take the test results to another doctor for a second opinion. Living with pain at your level is not acceptable and you need to find answers. Good luck.

I think I read that GERD can cause that sort of pain. I may be wrong.

It's been 2 weeks since I've had mine removed due to it started to flip and I was throwing up blood. I'm still having severe pain in shoulder and chest as well. I'm releaved to see I'm not the only one. It's so bad I'm on vicotin for pain. Supposed to go back to work tomorrow but not sure how that will work out. I called Dr about it and was told could possibly still be gas from surgery. But 2 weeks later? !

I suggest that you see if you can have tests done in regards to the Vagus Nerve. At times it can be traumatized during band removal/Implantation.

For those experiencing Shoulder pain ITCAN be a complication of having a Lap band, especially if the band has slipped. (Allergan states it in the Literature as an Adverse reaction)

In some cases when a band slips it can contact the diaphram ( diaphram doesn't feel pain it refers it to the shoulder)

Godd luck finding answers!!

I started getting shoulder pain when I cut back on my Celexa meds. I'm back on it after realizing that stress was causing my shoulder/arm pain. It felt like someone stuck me with a fork. I tried deep muscle massages and then Chiropractic. I had a beer that caused pain in my shoulder then realized it was gas pain and had started since I ran out and was trying to quit my meds. I started taking them again and the pain went away. I have to take them everyday or the I get some pain. Nothing like what it has been with the Celexa