back pain after gall bladder removal

I had my gallbladdder removed 8 months ago & I still experience rib & back pain. I have seen 4 gastro Drs. & 3 MD's, 3 ER visits & lots of tests. The pain comes after I eat so I think it is a digestion problem. When I awake, I'm ok. As soon as I eat, I get pains under the ribs & across my back. I feels like a band wrapped around & squeezed tightly. I also have a sensitivity to clothes even if they aren't tight. I have a hard time sitting for long periods or in a car. I can't walk very far (I used to walk a mile a day) & I tire easily. Things have become a little better but it seems like this is going on forever. If I massage under the ribs, the pain subsides but returns when I stop (Dr's don't have an answer). I go to a chiropractor who has me on AF Betafood & Zypan & eat red beets. This seems to help but the Drs. have been of NO help. They act like I'm the only person with this problem. Obviously not, when I read what others are experiencing. I also pray a lot which for me helps more than anything.I hope it goes away some day. People ask how you are doing & they can't believe it still affects you after all this time because others fare out so well.  

I just had mine out about a week ago. I was eating small portions of healthy food all week after my surgery with no pains. One night we went out for sushi and i had tempura thinking it was a light fried food should be ok. NO! Holy c**p! within two hours I had severe gas pain around my live, under my ribs..it felt like someone was stabbing me with a knife. It started to radiate to my back and cramp up my back after awhile. The following day was horrible too my stomach muscles and back muscles were soooo tense I could barely move and the vicodin they gave me didn't even make a dent in the pain. What I found helped tons was a heating pad on my back. In fact, I even slept with it that night on low. I put it in the middle of my back. Also, for whatever reason I've been experiencing constipation which is the opposite what the doctor told me I would have. I took Phillips the night before with the combination of the heating the pad it really helped. I've been told by the doctor and by other people that have had their GB removed that I shouldn't have to change my diet. However, I'm not finding this to be true...maybe b/c it's only been about a week after the surgery, but after reading the above comments I'm figuring I will have to change my diet to a more healthier one..which in all honesty isn't a bad idea for anyone to do. Just wanted to through my two cents in about the gas and abdonimal/back pains. Go get yourself a heating pad..it helps a lot. I've noticed also eat small meals several times a day..don't stuff yourself or have a huge meal. I've heard this from a personal trainer before that technically we should eat 6 small meals a day to keep our metabolism up. I've been eating about 4 small meals a day for the last 3 days and it really seems to be helping with stomach pains. Also, walk around for about 5-10 mins after eating instead of staying stationary. 

Oh, one more thing..actually I got this from my chiropractor after telling him about the gas pains. You should get a "Digestive Enzyme"...you can find them at GNC or Vitamin Shoppe. It helps to break down your food. You take a chewable tablet 10 mins before every meal...2 for heavy meals. It seems to be helping a lot.

It has been 1year and 8 months after I got my gall bladder removed, I remember still getting the same pains after the surgery. I had a big attack 4months after the surgery when I was home alone. After that I never had any pains at all, so weird! It has been 16months since my last attack and I havent changed my eating at all.. ALTHOUGH sometimes when Im drinking alcohol I get a mild pain but it doesn't last long! Feeling muuuuuuch better :) 

   I had my gallbladder removed in december of  2010.  Ever since I have had indegestion issues, center back pain, occasional pain where the gallbladder was- sometimes it feels like something is fluttering there.  I also get burning pains in my stomach - if I dont eat the whole day it can hurt badly.  I love coffee, which I could not have anymore because they would trigger attacks and If I dont eat now and drink coffee all day I get this burning with back pain as well  I also was just diagnoised with vit D deficiency- never had that problem before.  I believe it comes from poor digestion not being able to get the nutrition from the food I eat. It expains why my bones are sore and crack alot and the fatigue, teeth pain, and hair loss.  I also get constipated and other times loose stools.  Sometimes I get a pain on my left side where the pancreas is.

  I do not regret removing the gallbladder because I was getting to the point of  severe attacks even if I did not eat anything- It felt like I could not breathe, pain, turning yellow, sweating- just like your about to die from a heart attack- I used to beg someone to shake me to try to get the gallstone out of my bile duct so the pain would stop- it was hell- never knew when or where an attack would come and I could only eat tomato soup and crackers-

  I found out that these back pains are from gas building up from indegestion and the burning is the bile that is dripping into our bellies and sitting there.  There is a condition called bile reflux however I dont feel I have this since I lack alot of the symptoms.  To get rid of the pain I take gas x pills and try to move around, rub my back and burp.  For the burning I also drink water and milk.  I read somewhere that enzyme supplements can harm the pancreas so I dont take them.  For the most part, if I dont skip meals and have small instead of large meals, I do ok.

  I have a strange belief that technically I should not be alive right now, that I was given extra life because there was a time when the people would die from gallbladder issues since there was no surgery.  I think it is true with other diseases like diabetic condition.  Since I see things this way, I do not let these pains get me down.  I am glad to be alive.  However, I have a true dislike of pain and if I was in alot of pain I would certainly go to get some relief- some of you seem to have left over stones or bile duct issues- these need to be treated.

  Just know that you are not alone- I know others with the same issues since removal-some can still not have fats years after surgery due to the pain and loose stools.  And remember, we could have all died instead.

 

 

i had my gallbladder removed a year ago a month after i had my last baby they said my gallbladder was full of stones and very slushy. i have back pain daily, ive never taken so many otc pain killers in my life! i thought maybe it had to do with my epidural cuz ive had a total of 4 but the pain is in my upper back and shoulders i try every which was to crack my back it never helps, a steaming hot bath or a heating pad helps for like 30 mins then im right back to the same pain. im 27 and feel like im in a 60 year olds body. i dont know what else to do it disrupts my sleep and the heartburn and bloating comes on a lot too i basically stopped taking the pain pills cuz they only help for a short while anyway and theyre not good for your body. going to my doctor wont help either she told me it was indigestion and an er doctor had to tell me it was my gallbladder. if anyone knows of anything to do about this can you please email me? 

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Wow... also glad to see I am not the only one!!! I had my GB out in July 2012 and for the last few months I have had back pain like never before!!! I see my doc on Feb 13 so I will talk with him then and hopefully get some investigations done. If I find anything out I will post my results in hopes of helping others. Good luck all!!!

To all of you, I strongly reccomend to eat healthy and cut your portions down. I still havent had any pains but I had 1 symptom which was loose yellow stools which I suppose was relates to the bile somehow. I have started eating healthy this year and small portions now I am 100% better. Honestly eating clean or just healthily might very well help your pains! :) and lotsa water!!

Same thing is happening to me. Cannot find a thing wrong.

I can relate to how you are feeling. I had my gallbladder removed 2-3 weeks after I had my baby (that was 6 yrs ago!) since then I've had upper back pain and between my shoulder blades. I have been so frustrated! it never goes away! and it's been 6 yrs. I've tried everything from acupuncture, PT, ultrasound therapy, heat therapy, cold therapy, pain meds, massage, chiropractor and recently trigger point therapy. None of which has taken my pain away, but after many many doctor's visits all they can tell me is that all the tests come back normal. I currently take Tramadol which only decreases the pain just a little bit (but a little is better than nothing). I don't have any heartburn or bloating, but I'm so tired of this pain. It does wake me up at night and it's hard to fall asleep. It's hard to take care of my kids, work or do anything when I'm in pain all the time. The tramadol is about the only thing that seemed to help just a little bit, you can talk to your doctor and see if it helps you at all. I'm still searching for anything that would help take this pain away. Please post if you find anything that helps.

How did your doctor's visit go? were they able to tell you what was causing your back pain?

Hi cbbtng, thanks for asking. I just actually went for some blood work this morning and have to have a xray done as well he would like me to go for some physical therapy in case it's "posture" - job related. I see my doc again on March 25th to review all of my results, so I will check in and let you know. but just fyi... my doc seems to think that it can't be related to the gallbladder removal... but I somehow don't think I believe him because I have never had any back trouble in my 43 years as a woman so I think it is related to the removal... but I will play his game and let him put me through everything and once it doesn't work... we'll go from there!! I'll keep you posted!!!! take care, Sheryl....

My gallbladder surgery was almost a month ago now, pain is worse everywhere and my back pain got 10 times worse. Surgeon says nothing to do with the surgery........  have had 2 hour MRI  and showed a kink in my common bile duct,  dr didnt think that could be bothering me.. DONT GET YOUR GALLBLADDER OUT!!!!! 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh no thats no good at all! My pains stopped 4 months after my surgery. I advise you to invest in some codeine :) and just give it a bit more time and definitely eat clean and healthy :) It has been 2 years exactly since my surgery and the only pains I get now are very very mild pains under my right side of my chest but that is only when Im excercising (walking fast). Doesnt hurt when I run. And I had mild mild pains when I drink alcohol but dont drink much anymore. Wish you well :)

My back pain is worse and last longer now, been 1 month since surgery. Had a two hour MRI of my whole spine ,liver,stomache, ducts and even my neck, kidneys, pancreas. I had my doc mail me the findings report it says a kink in my common bile duct???? not even sure what that means yet but it showed no blockage in the ducts. Have a few small issues with my neck but doc said has nothing to do with mid back and up to the left pain? still dont know anything but the pain they said was my gallbladder just got way worse after surgery.