Nerve Damage during laparoscopic cholecystectomy - gall bladder removal surgery

hi I have exactly the same symptoms . Ive had my gb removed early 2011 and woke up with an extra scar and remebering waking during the surger . The surgeon never mentioned any of these things . Ive also lost at least 20 pounds . Ive been hospitalized 4 times with sever side and back pain . Its terrible and like you ive also tried every anti depressant or anti epileptic drug on the market and im quite sick of the pain. Ive only been to one hospital for treatment . The same hospital that I had the surgery in. I changed primary care doctors and am with a whole new group of doctors and hospital. Two visits they had no doubt it was nerve injury caused by the gb removal. Ive been refered to a neurologist who has to perform a nerve conduction to verify exactly which nerve has been damaged . The dx is THORACIC NEURITIS. ITs something for an entire group of doctors to tell me that "i need to see a pschaitrist " "the pain is in my head" and treat me like im an addict looking for pain meds. ALL I EVER WANTED WAS A DX AND PROPER MEDICAL CARE. when I have proof of the nerve damage as they suspect it will be lawyer time. IM sick of not being able to do the most simple things like hold myself up , exercise or just walk around like a normal person. THE PAIN CAN BE EXTREME to the point of tears. MY husband has to rub my side and back every night with icy hot . I Take anxiety meds, anti depressants and now narcotics . I could not tolerate lyric ,gabapentin,venlafaxin, wellbutrin, I took ibuprofen 800 mg as prescribed then was dx with gasteritis . Its a no win situation. YOU ARE NOT ALONE . I feel the pain all day everyday . Never goes away ...just some days are a little easier to make it through than others. GOOD LUCK TO YOU

Hi Guest 123
My wife appears to have similar issues post GB removal. We also live in Norma Park 4170

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Hi Rod, I have sent you an email i hope you have got it. I look forward to hearing from you, to see what options you have come across in australia, especially being that you are in qld also it would be helpful to compare notes. Fed up with the whole thing and my sympathy goes out for your wife for having to suffer this horrible thing and for you too as I know the strain it puts on a relationship.

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Hi, I had my gallbladder removed on 26 Sep 2012 and since then have suffered sharp pains and an intensely painful ache around my ribs. They have now acknowledged this as nerve damage, I am on Gabapentin and Taamadol and have only recently returned to work. A steroid injection ony numbed the area for a short while. Physiotherapy, acupuncture, rib belt and tems machine all help to relieve the pain but its still there. I'm struggling to wrk shifts and they've said I just need to wait till the nerves heal. I also feel this s a bigger problem than they are asking out. They've said Im unlucky and it's rare. I had to make a written complaint even to get the help I have. I stay in Ayrshire, Scotland & was operated on at Crosshouse in Kilmarnock. Can other people post, to help find out the extent of this.

I have the exact same thing RubyGal, I have had about 6 months ago now a Phenol Nerve Block, I think it was on Nerves T7 or T8, and they did it from around the back probably about 6 cm or so to the right of my spine, to make sure the captured the damage nerve before the damage part. To locate which nerve it was, we did a series of Local Anaesetic injections from this area first, each nerve one by one till the right one went numb. then when this was located we did the Phenol Nerve Block. It took a couple of months to kick in fully, but the pain relief was the best so far, i still get some pain, but managed to reduce my pain killers significantly and managed to get back to work. Still is quite uncomfortable to wear a bra though as it rests right on the damaged nerve. I think this happens more often then they are willing to admit. I have now had this pain for 2 and a half years. The phenol block will wear off though, lasts about 9 months but they asure me they can do it again if need be. My pain specialist is dr clifton timmins, i am in cairns, australia. Perhaps if your doctors haven't heard of this procedure they can contact him. He is a anaesethist specialist. This pain is the worst thing and destroys your life, i hope you get some relief, i have had cortisone injections in the past which helped, but by far this phenol block has worked the best and i recommend it totally.

 

Who was your surgeon? Are you ok now? Kristina

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Hi phenol nerve block is still working but is due to wear off any time now. Mr pain specialist is dr timmins and he did the procedure also at the cairns day surgery under anaesethic. Kezza

I too had a Gall Bladder removal in 2007, and experienced the same pains you are describing.
Firstly, "DONT LET ANYBODY TELL YOU IT IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD!"
This is REAL pain, and the longer the doctors sit on their thumbs telling you that it will resolve itself, or that you have PCS, or lets try this medication or that one, the harder it will be to treat.
Tell your physicians to refer you to a Pain Center right away.
Trained pain physicians know to treat the pain first and find the causes later.
This is because the longer that you are in pain, your brain chemistry begins to change, and cannot remember how to create its own endorphins. Once this happens, you may never be able to live pain free. I learned my lesson the hard way. I did not get referred to a pain specialist for close to a year. I am starting my third year of being on Morphine every day, I have had several spinal nerve blocks, but again, they started them too late. You should have a nerve block done ASAP because this may reset your pain cycle if caught in time.
Don't worry about what is WRONG with you just yet--worry about treating the pain. Don't be ashamed or worry about Narcotics either. Pain specialists know that if you are truly in pain, the medication will work the way it is supposed to, and do its job relieving the pain. People in real pain do not get "High" from painkillers. But, your body will become addicted after long term use. That is just something you deal with when they finally take you off of them. You will go through withdrawals, but they have medications to help with the symptoms.
I got help too late. I am completely disabled and am facing having a spinal cord stimulator implanted in my spine. This would most likely not have happened if I had been sent to a Pain Clinic in a timely manner.
Also, research CRPS and RSD. It may not sound like you have it because it usually happens in the arms and legs, but it does happen in the trunk, and that is what I have finally been diagnosed with.
MOST OF ALL, BE PROACTIVE! Do the research---your Doctors are NOT going home at night thinking of your case and getting online or calling other Physicians. Get all your records, ask questions, if you feel your Physician is not doing his or her job--Fire them and find someone who you feel is really interested in helping you--these things may save your life!
Sorry to be so stringent, but If I can help one person NOT go through what I am, It will be worth it.
BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE!
I have pasted this info from anothers post but do find a pain specialist as this person has it is the only way to manage the pain believe me I have been there with this dreadful pain. I have been on codeine 60mg twice a day only drug that stopped the pain for me. Do not worry that it is addictive its beta than the burning pain. I felt the same.
Donnya ......you will get better take the codeine.

Could you let me know who your physio was. I too have had this painful experience for 4 years almost 5 now and finally found codeine helped to manage the pain. However without it the pain comes straight back. The only downside to the codeine is I am always fatigued. If I could heal the damage with physio I would be a very happy woman. Thanks
Donnya - New Zealand 2013

I too have endured this horrible pain, but managed with codeine for the last 12months. I cannot stop taking this as the symptoms you describe come back. If you need to discuss more email me at my address.

Tami9 hello...............please get your daughter to a pain specialist. I have been through this ordeal and tried lots of painkillers & anticonvulsant drugs like gabapentin that did help but did not take pain away entirely. The only thing that makes the horrible I am able to live a much better life. The fatigue is the only struggle I have to deal with now but a lot better than the horrific pain I have endured. I do hope this helps as I truly truly know what you are all going through.
Donnya - NZ

I have the same thing since 2007 I have lumps on my right side that hurt all the time my doctor just cut me off all my pain meds I want to know what I can do to I am right with you this sucks!!!

In July of 2012 I had experienced overnight dramatic pain and nausea. Early AM of July 4th, went to the emergency room. Diagnosed with a stone in the pancreatic duct, one in the bile duct, sludge in the gall bladder and a kidney stone traveling down the right ureter. As you can imagine the pain was grossly intense. Held overnight (holiday you know) transferred to another hospital, physician not available there for an ERCP (to remove pancreatic duct stone), transferred to another facility for the ERCP and back to the second hospital for a percutaneous cholecystectomy the same day. 2 days later discharged to home. Continued with pain in the RUQ, so the follow up visit with my surgeon required blood work and another CT Scan. Both of these were negative. Placed on Neurontin for the discomfort control with suspect hepatic nerve damage during the surgery. July of 2012 now has progressed to August of 2013, unable to control the pain or discontinue the medication. Right Upper Quadrant pain persists just under the right rib cage radiating to my back. Statistically being one of the unlucky ones post op. Going to my personal physician today for followup. Am also a graduate MD of 1987. Have not seen this type of problem before, of course until I am now experiencing it. There are studies done on post percutaneous cholecystectomy persistent pain and the causes. As if, and I forgot to mention, the urgency and diarrhea after most meals.

I had my gallbladder removed 12 years ago and I am still suffering every minute of my life. I have been to doctors, had all the tests and still after 12 years - no relief. Everyone that I have talked to seems to have the same problems after surgery. The right rib cage feels like a knife is stuck there and when I sit the knife is turning. No one thinks that I'm in this much pain because Doctor's are visual and believe me I don't look sick, so we go through the tests and they come out fine, so final conclusion is that I must not have all this pain. Worst mistake that I ever made was having my gallbladder removed. I didn't even have gall stones. Going in next week for more tests. I usually give myself a 6 month or year break between doctors because none of them have a clue what I'm talking about and the tests don't show anything.

do you think it is nerve damage caroline? I have nerve damage from the gallbladder sugery. Stinging/burning sensation over right rib cage and/or sharp stabbing pains over right rib cage. When it was at its worst I felt like a steal pole had been thrown threw me. Get a referral to a pain specialist from your GP.