:confused_smile:I was banded yesterday and everything went great except for this darn shoulder/arm pain. I feel like my shoulder has been dislocated. I have never had a disclocation before but it is hard to move up and down and in a circular motion and the pain is just getting worse. I have a feeling it is from when they strapped my arms down before going under but not really sure what to get some feedback. Anyone else experience this ?

I went through that - it lasted me a week. Start walking when ever you can and use a heating pad as well.

It's probably referred pain from your diaphragm. Exercise helps. It also helped me to have someone give my neck and shoulders a quick massage to loosen the tight muscle up there. Rather than heat, ice may help too. It will go away over time as your insides heal! If it doesn't get better by Monday call your doc. The odds of it being an injury from surgery are slim; it CAN happen, but not likely, especially for such a quick surgery as the lap band. And they'd have to really be rough with you (unless you have a pre-existing condition) to dislocate your shoulder. You are limp and they move you into place, so it would be HARD to injure you that way; they'd have to work at it.

It does sound like referred pain from the air on your diaphram. Sometimes it hurt so bad I wanted to cry. I found it helped me to lay flat on my back on the floor. Something about the hard floor. Driving was tough. I also had more of it after I would eat. I had it off and on for about 3 weeks.

You'll get there. Congrats on the band.

Hi there

I am just 5 days into recovery (8th Dec 08) after my op and today was the first time I experienced this excruciating pain in my left shoulder which got progressively worse and I couldn't seem to relieve it no matter what I did. No-one forewarned me that I might get this problem but after speaking to my support nurse and then the on-call doctor who subsequently rang me too, I was told that its not uncommon but is due to referred pain from where the band sits below the diaphram & apparently is primarily caused by trapped wind - particularly during early recovery until things settle down. I'm advised that it can also come from overeating but given I'm only on small amounts of clear fluids at present this was an unlikely cause.

Unfortunately, the trapped wind is not in the diaphram itself (but comes as a result of where the surgeon blew up the stomach in order to get in to do the keyhole surgery) so burping isn't possible & won't therefore relieve it anyway. I'm also advised that it will pass and I sincerely hope they are right as you say, its extremely painful!

I took some strong painkillers which relieved it for about 3 hours and now its back (its now 3.00am & I can't sleep).

I've read other posts stating that they regret going through this but don't regret it, (I don't as it was not an easy decision to take in the first place) & I'm pretty sure it will pass or go back to your doctor/surgeon and see if there's anything they can do to relieve it.

Wishing you and me better

regards

Fab

(United Kingdom)