I got my band 6 weeks ago and like many people, I had very sharp shoulder pain for days after -- I'm was told to expect that since they inflate the abdominal area for surgery, but the air has no place natural to go; it has to make its way slowly out of the body. Because of theband location, the air goes up into the shoulder. The pain was very sharp and recurring for almost 2 weeks, after that it dulled, but it has never completely gone away. I had my first fill 1 week ago, and I'm doing fine with that, but I still have that come-and-go dull ache in my shoulder.

Is this typical? Could it be caused by food or drink (although I don't see how, since that goes through the stomach)? I admit that I drink occassional diet sodas, but I cut them out for 2 weeks, and it made no difference. Any thoughts anyone? I'd prefer not to have an aching shoulder for the rest of my life....

It'll subside in time. Wait it out even though it is pretty uncomfortable.

It may be phrenic nerve pain and for some of us it doesn't go away. It's caused by some part of the band rubbing against the diaphragm. For me it mainly occurs when I'm lying down or riding in the passenger seat of the car. Not always, just sometimes and I am bamboozled at this point why it's only sometimes. I'm 14 months postop by the way but I've talked to people who are 5 years postop and at maintenance on their weight and still have this pain.

.

My shoulder pain subsided within a week of surgery and I thought, "Oh goody, glad that's over." It then returned at about 6 weeks. Just this annoying dull ache. It eventually faded again, but i still can feel it every once in a while. Nothing I would ever take anything for, just ANNOYING. I do notice it when I ride in a car sometimes...but I often wonder if that's because I've slowed down long enough to pay attention to it!

My phrenic nerve pain was real bad for months. It then became my full signal for awhile. It stopped being as severe after I lost about 45-50 pounds. At 19 months post-op it still comes back now and then.

I found that putting a cheap OTC menthol pain patch on my shoulder helps. They have them at walmart for about $4 a package.

I wish I had read this yesterday I went to the doctor & he gave me a big painful shot of dexamethasone and its still hurting & I am 3 mths out.

Man, I feel your pain, literally. I have horrible left shoulder pain seems like every day around 6-8pm. I am still only a few days post-op, but I really don't have any other pain.

I'm praying its residual gas, but I walk 2 miles a day and it doesn't seem to help.

I currently use my liquid vicotin even though I really don't like using it. Most of the time, it doesn;t stop the pain though. I've found a heating pad helps, also using something like bengay. The other thing that does seem to help is a handheld massager. I use the hitachi magic wand. Yes, it has it's followers somewhere else, but for me, I use it as intended and massage my shoulders and it does seem to help. (It also works pretty good for lower back pain as I've got some unhappy discs (around L4 - L6).

I pray we all feel better soon...