Pain in left shoulder after hernia repair and lapband revisit

[CAROLYNFC 24]

I had Hiatal Hernia repair and lap band replacement in April and have been experincing horrible shoulder pain in the left shoulder since surgery. I am currently in therapy for what the doctors are calling a neck issue. But I want to give the whole story and find out if anyone else has ever had this happen.

When I had surgery the IV had to be placed in the bend of my arm on the left side. My hand swelled and ached and the next morning after surgery I was begging them to take it out. When I got home from hospital my arm and shoulder ached and I called the doctor several times because it hurt so bad. Since surgery it has ached on and off but in the last 3 weeks it has been killing me. I can't sleep and I am taking to much pain meds. My family doctor thought it was rotater cup and sent me to theraphy. Theraphy thinks neck. Now here is what I think and want to know what others think.

When I eat I get awful cramp like pains in my left shoulder. I wonder it has something to do with the mesh that had to be placed in me during hernia reapir. I don't have a lot of Fluid in my band like 3cc. It is crazy I know! Please let me know if anyone has had this problem and what the outcome was. I see my surgeon tomorrow and I am going to try to get to the bottom of this but I would love some input!!!

[Bawaji 11]

I had Hiatal Hernia repair and lap band replacement in April and have been experincing horrible shoulder pain in the left shoulder since surgery. I am currently in therapy for what the doctors are calling a neck issue. But I want to give the whole story and find out if anyone else has ever had this happen.

When I had surgery the IV had to be placed in the bend of my arm on the left side. My hand swelled and ached and the next morning after surgery I was begging them to take it out. When I got home from hospital my arm and shoulder ached and I called the doctor several times because it hurt so bad. Since surgery it has ached on and off but in the last 3 weeks it has been killing me. I can't sleep and I am taking to much pain meds. My family doctor thought it was rotater cup and sent me to theraphy. Theraphy thinks neck. Now here is what I think and want to know what others think.

When I eat I get awful cramp like pains in my left shoulder. I wonder it has something to do with the mesh that had to be placed in me during hernia reapir. I don't have a lot of Fluid in my band like 3cc. It is crazy I know! Please let me know if anyone has had this problem and what the outcome was. I see my surgeon tomorrow and I am going to try to get to the bottom of this but I would love some input!!!

I had the same hernia repair - only difference is I got sleeved at the same time - way back in 1st week of Jan. Don't have any issues since then.

Your issues seems unconnected to the basic surgery but I suspect the placement of the IV could be the cause of your pain where Fluid might have accumulated - but this too goes away in a few days normally. Better to have this checked out more thoroughly.

[Bandista 7,466]

Glad you are seeing your surgeon tomorrow.....sounds like multiple diagnosis with neck/shoulder involved. Can be so painful! Pain associated with eating makes it interesting, too -- that seems very important so they don't just chalk it up to an orthopedic issue and send you on to the next doctor. Meanwhile, do you use ice packs? Amazing drug-free pain relief. Sending best wishes your way -- keep us posted!

[bsellis 105]

I had my lap-band with hernia repair done in August 2013. In December I started experiencing shoulder pain in my left shoulder that varied from being extremely painful to just annoying. I thought I had somehow injured it but then I noticed that lifting heavy stuff or overusing it didn't make it hurt any worse. Sometimes it wouldn't hurt at all. This went on everyday for four months. I know what nerve pain feels like and that's what I suspected. In looking into it I found there is a nerve that runs through your diaphram called the phrenic nerve. When that nerve is pinched or has a lot of pressure on it then it will cause pain in the left shoulder area. I'm not sure why I was having issues because when it started I had less than 2 cc's in my band, and I'm not sure why it stopped. I have talked to others with the lap-band who have experienced this same thing. It's definitely worth mentioning to your doctor!!!

[Bawaji 11]

I had my lap-band with hernia repair done in August 2013. In December I started experiencing shoulder pain in my left shoulder that varied from being extremely painful to just annoying. I thought I had somehow injured it but then I noticed that lifting heavy stuff or overusing it didn't make it hurt any worse. Sometimes it wouldn't hurt at all. This went on everyday for four months. I know what nerve pain feels like and that's what I suspected. In looking into it I found there is a nerve that runs through your diaphram called the phrenic nerve. When that nerve is pinched or has a lot of pressure on it then it will cause pain in the left shoulder area. I'm not sure why I was having issues because when it started I had less than 2 cc's in my band, and I'm not sure why it stopped. I have talked to others with the lap-band who have experienced this same thing. It's definitely worth mentioning to your doctor!!!

I guess this and many other reasons why they are increasingly discouraging the band surgery and promoting the sleeve!

[CAROLYNFC 24]

OK I went to see my surgeon today and she really has no idea why I am having this pain. She has suggested pain managment doctors because they will know more about nerve pain. She is going to a big conference this weekend and she is going to do some research while there. She did tell me to keep taking my pain meds and doing thearpy to see if we can get this resolved.

[Lady VS 1,147]

I also had hiatial hernia repair done with the LapBand back in December 2010 and occasionally I still get that left shoulder pain when I have eaten a little more than 4 oz of food per meal. It is where the band was placed which as another poster stated is on that nerve. After a few hours the pain subsides. It shouldn't be ongoing though however. Glad you went to the doctor to get a check up on it. Continued success on your journey.

Edited June 19, 2014 by Lady VS

[sgnelson22 9]

I get that same pain. Had my surgery in September 2013. I can usually relate it to gas. It was the same pain after surgery from the air they pump into you. I usually take gasx strips and it goes away.