Hi everyone, I was banded Monday, April 14th and still have intense pain in my left shoulder. Has anyone had gas pains this long? I thought yesterday it was finally going away, but today it was back worse than before. I'm dying and wishing I'd never had this surgery. I'm fine with my band and incisions, it's this shoulder pain that is making my life miserable.

It seems to have moved across my shoulder toward my neck. I'm thinking it's not gas, it's something altogether different. I never hurt before surgery, so maybe it's a result of having my arms outstretched during surgery. Pinched nerve or disc is what I'm thinking.

Someone please tell me that this will go away quickly. I'm sobbing now from the pain.

Please note that this is about the pain that lasts for some time after the surgery. For me it has been 6 weeks or so and I still feel it, but much less and much less intense.

Ok here we go again. I am over two years now and still having extreme left neck and radiatind shoulder pain. In fact my neck swells a little. I asked the bariatric doc and he doesnt have a clue. He says maybe it is the diaphram thing. Well ok that ndoesnt do me any good. I want something done. This is miserable. Can someone tell me what I can do or say to get the ball rolling on this painful situation...

Thanks:sad_smile:

Ok here we go again. I am over two years now and still having extreme left neck and radiatind shoulder pain. In fact my neck swells a little. I asked the bariatric doc and he doesnt have a clue. He says maybe it is the diaphram thing. Well ok that ndoesnt do me any good. I want something done. This is miserable. Can someone tell me what I can do or say to get the ball rolling on this painful situation...

Thanks:sad_smile:

If your over two years out, perhaps there is a specific problem that might not be the usual lapband related pain. I think it might be time to seek advice from a specialist. Your bariatric doctor or primary care physician should probably consider giving you a referral.

Wendy5391,

I don't think there is any mechanism by which the diaphram irritation could cause swelling in your neck. I think you have an unrelated problem and need to see a doctor who specializes in neck and shoulder.

I am 3 months out and still get pain on most days. It is especially positional, like when laying back in bed or leaning back in an office chair. It is not debilitating. My doctor has said he has seen this last, but go away within 8 months at most. He says it will go away because the brain will turn off the false signal.

I still expect it to go away. I would not want surgery to try to correct it.

Please go see a doctor who knows about neck and shoulder. How much weight did you lose in two years? Is the pain constant?

Wendy5391,

I don't think there is any mechanism by which the diaphram irritation could cause swelling in your neck. I think you have an unrelated problem and need to see a doctor who specializes in neck and shoulder.

I am 3 months out and still get pain on most days. It is especially positional, like when laying back in bed or leaning back in an office chair. It is not debilitating. My doctor has said he has seen this last, but go away within 8 months at most. He says it will go away because the brain will turn off the false signal.

I still expect it to go away. I would not want surgery to try to correct it.

Please go see a doctor who knows about neck and shoulder. How much weight did you lose in two years? Is the pain constant?

Thanks guys for your replies. The pain is not constant. It does come daily though. It did start right after the sx so that is why I know it is related. I am waiting to see my general practioner and then he will hopefully get me the referral.

I have only lost 50 lbs, but I havent done the program. No excercise and I truthfully havent eaten the right foods. I am happy though, I couldnt have done it without the sx.

I too suffered from the shoulder pain and my doctor confirmed that it was "referred" pain from an irritated nerve in my diaphragm. Just like when your right shoulder hurts from gallbladder pain. Mine did go away but has returned since my last fill. I have to be very careful not to overeat. Ibuprofen has helped me quite a bit. Also, sleeping on your left side minimizes the pain. If I sleep on my right I feel like I'm just about to die the next morning. Good luck!

I just wanted to note, for completeness in this thread, that my pain finally went away. It happened at around 14 to 16 weeks. It had been declining, so I just noticed one day it was gone. I believe my doctor's theory that my "brain" would turn it off was correct.

I will see if it returns on my next fill.

I would ask those who experience this odd side effect to be patient...