Cramps

Limelife50
Limelife50 Member Posts: 476
in Kidney Cancer #1
Anyone else here experiancing muscle cramps around the incision area.I am 10 months out and i am still getting what feels like a leg cramp in my stomach area close to where the large incision is just above my waist.

Comments

  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #2
    Cramps
    Mike, I was experiencing something a little like that a few days ago, together with morning backache. It lasted for several days. 4 or 5 hours of heavy gardening, a couple of rounds of golf and several hard rowing sessions later I seem to be through it and with less backache. Perhaps just a phase of the healing process? Nerve healing is a long drawn out process, I believe. I hope Fox may be able to give you some useful thoughts and advice.
  • adman
    adman Member Posts: 336
    #3
    Texas_wedge said:

    Cramps
    Mike, I was experiencing something a little like that a few days ago, together with morning backache. It lasted for several days. 4 or 5 hours of heavy gardening, a couple of rounds of golf and several hard rowing sessions later I seem to be through it and with less backache. Perhaps just a phase of the healing process? Nerve healing is a long drawn out process, I believe. I hope Fox may be able to give you some useful thoughts and advice.

    pinching feeling.....

    I continue to have a 'pinching' type feeling. Not a hurt, and the pain level is 2. More of a worried distraction. Almost feels like something is pulling.
    This is about 2-4 inches from the actual incision site.

    I'm 5-6 weeks post surgery, and other that this and some muscle tight/ bloating feeling in my stomach, I seem to be doing fine.

    I've been back to the surgeon to discuss and he doesn't seem to concerned. He mentioned a possible hematoma, but said to watch out for my temperature and redness which may indicate this, which I don't seem to have.

    Anyone else with anything like my symptoms?

    Thanks.
  • donna_lee
    donna_lee Member Posts: 1,045 Member
    #4
    adman said:

    pinching feeling.....

    I continue to have a 'pinching' type feeling. Not a hurt, and the pain level is 2. More of a worried distraction. Almost feels like something is pulling.
    This is about 2-4 inches from the actual incision site.

    I'm 5-6 weeks post surgery, and other that this and some muscle tight/ bloating feeling in my stomach, I seem to be doing fine.

    I've been back to the surgeon to discuss and he doesn't seem to concerned. He mentioned a possible hematoma, but said to watch out for my temperature and redness which may indicate this, which I don't seem to have.

    Anyone else with anything like my symptoms?

    Thanks.

    It's not Friday....but
    Sorry guys, but welcome to what women go or went thru every month. :)

    On a more serious note, look at an anatomy book. During the open incision, the surgeon cuts through 4 separate muscles, layers of sheathing, clamps vessels and separates nerves, just to enter the abdominal cavity. Then he/she has to move small intestines and other organs that may be in the way to access the kidney. After this is all done, leaving behind surgical clips, dead end vessels, nerves that have been "tampered with", he starts putting you back together, one layer at a time.
    There will be additional tension and some pulling sensations. (Imagine doing ab crunches if you are totally out of shape.)

    For me, it's been six years since the first big surgery-and 5 and 4 since subsequenet openings along the same incision. There is still some pulling, itching, and a minimal keloid along the line.

    Verdict: see your doc to rule out anything not in line with the healing process. Then relax and let your body heal.

    donna_lee
  • donna_lee
    donna_lee Member Posts: 1,045 Member
    #5
    donna_lee said:

    It's not Friday....but
    Sorry guys, but welcome to what women go or went thru every month. :)

    On a more serious note, look at an anatomy book. During the open incision, the surgeon cuts through 4 separate muscles, layers of sheathing, clamps vessels and separates nerves, just to enter the abdominal cavity. Then he/she has to move small intestines and other organs that may be in the way to access the kidney. After this is all done, leaving behind surgical clips, dead end vessels, nerves that have been "tampered with", he starts putting you back together, one layer at a time.
    There will be additional tension and some pulling sensations. (Imagine doing ab crunches if you are totally out of shape.)

    For me, it's been six years since the first big surgery-and 5 and 4 since subsequenet openings along the same incision. There is still some pulling, itching, and a minimal keloid along the line.

    Verdict: see your doc to rule out anything not in line with the healing process. Then relax and let your body heal.

    donna_lee

    Sorry, Tex-this is too good to pass up
    I'm sure we've all read the jokes in our own industry.
    As a former PE teacher, some one had taken the time to assemble a list of all the excuses girls used to bring/or have for not dressing down and participating in class. (that ages me-so many schools don't even have PE now)
    You guessed it..."I can't take PE today because I was in bed all night with "gramps."

    Gramps better get a good attorney.
    donna_lee
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #6
    donna_lee said:

    Sorry, Tex-this is too good to pass up
    I'm sure we've all read the jokes in our own industry.
    As a former PE teacher, some one had taken the time to assemble a list of all the excuses girls used to bring/or have for not dressing down and participating in class. (that ages me-so many schools don't even have PE now)
    You guessed it..."I can't take PE today because I was in bed all night with "gramps."

    Gramps better get a good attorney.
    donna_lee

    Too good
    So, who's been talking to you then Donna?!
    I hope that's a misconstruction of your intent and you've remembered I used to be an attorney. We are of a generation, so maybe you'd be familiar with the joke/story that ends with
    "But the vicar wouldn't like it!"
    "I am the vicar"
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #7
    adman said:

    pinching feeling.....

    I continue to have a 'pinching' type feeling. Not a hurt, and the pain level is 2. More of a worried distraction. Almost feels like something is pulling.
    This is about 2-4 inches from the actual incision site.

    I'm 5-6 weeks post surgery, and other that this and some muscle tight/ bloating feeling in my stomach, I seem to be doing fine.

    I've been back to the surgeon to discuss and he doesn't seem to concerned. He mentioned a possible hematoma, but said to watch out for my temperature and redness which may indicate this, which I don't seem to have.

    Anyone else with anything like my symptoms?

    Thanks.

    pinching feeling
    It sounds, from Robin's reply, that my prescription of plenty of exercise wasn't too wide of the mark (as an alternative to physical therapy or massage).

    See also Donna_Lee's comments above (not the joke!)
  • donna_lee
    donna_lee Member Posts: 1,045 Member
    #8
    Texas_wedge said:

    pinching feeling
    It sounds, from Robin's reply, that my prescription of plenty of exercise wasn't too wide of the mark (as an alternative to physical therapy or massage).

    See also Donna_Lee's comments above (not the joke!)

    Here come de judge
    Yes, I do recall the mention of being a barrister.
    Donna
  • donna_lee
    donna_lee Member Posts: 1,045 Member
    #9
    Texas_wedge said:

    pinching feeling
    It sounds, from Robin's reply, that my prescription of plenty of exercise wasn't too wide of the mark (as an alternative to physical therapy or massage).

    See also Donna_Lee's comments above (not the joke!)

    Here come de judge
    Yes, I do recall the mention of being a barrister.
    Donna
  • donna_lee
    donna_lee Member Posts: 1,045 Member
    #10
    Texas_wedge said:

    pinching feeling
    It sounds, from Robin's reply, that my prescription of plenty of exercise wasn't too wide of the mark (as an alternative to physical therapy or massage).

    See also Donna_Lee's comments above (not the joke!)

    Here come de judge
    Yes, I do recall the mention of being a barrister.
    Donna
  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #11
    donna_lee said:

    Here come de judge
    Yes, I do recall the mention of being a barrister.
    Donna

    pain
    After Donna's description of what is done during nephrectomies, is there any doubt why we hurt? Our natural body memorey is completely disrupted. Things that your body has "known" for your entire lifetime are no more. Everything that your body percieves is "new" and different. It takes time and "experience" with your new you. Some people can adapt quickly. Some, hold on to their previous body memorey, body image and body mechanics. They also tend to be the people who have more chronic pain. The advice is to heal first. In the scope of committing to getting stronger and healthier, we do not want to hurt ourselfs and further delay our recovery. Heavy lifting serves no purpose. Returning to normal activities should be first. Stand erect. Make transfers from different levels safely. Walk with your concentration on walking as "pretty" as possible. Don't limp.Learn to be aware of how you move. The better you can walk, the more your body identifies that things are "normal". Or at least returning to normal. As a result, much pain that one has been experiencing begins to serve no effective purpose. It goes away. Pain that remains may be due to the nature of your medical issues and will take more time or professional evaluation. We all respond differently. But this approach works for alot of people.
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #12
    foxhd said:

    pain
    After Donna's description of what is done during nephrectomies, is there any doubt why we hurt? Our natural body memorey is completely disrupted. Things that your body has "known" for your entire lifetime are no more. Everything that your body percieves is "new" and different. It takes time and "experience" with your new you. Some people can adapt quickly. Some, hold on to their previous body memorey, body image and body mechanics. They also tend to be the people who have more chronic pain. The advice is to heal first. In the scope of committing to getting stronger and healthier, we do not want to hurt ourselfs and further delay our recovery. Heavy lifting serves no purpose. Returning to normal activities should be first. Stand erect. Make transfers from different levels safely. Walk with your concentration on walking as "pretty" as possible. Don't limp.Learn to be aware of how you move. The better you can walk, the more your body identifies that things are "normal". Or at least returning to normal. As a result, much pain that one has been experiencing begins to serve no effective purpose. It goes away. Pain that remains may be due to the nature of your medical issues and will take more time or professional evaluation. We all respond differently. But this approach works for alot of people.

    pain
    Brilliant analysis - thank goodness we have you here. I'm sure a lot of members will take the advice and/or be reassured at times of pain and worry. ELF!
  • Limelife50
    Limelife50 Member Posts: 476
    #13
    Texas_wedge said:

    pain
    Brilliant analysis - thank goodness we have you here. I'm sure a lot of members will take the advice and/or be reassured at times of pain and worry. ELF!

    Hi Texas
    Since you are reffering to Fox as being an ELF i challenge you to come out of the closet and show us who you are,i promise not to laugh!!!!!
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #14
    Limelife50 said:

    Hi Texas
    Since you are reffering to Fox as being an ELF i challenge you to come out of the closet and show us who you are,i promise not to laugh!!!!!

    Fox
    Mike, I guess you didn't see it as an acronym. You remember FLY - Fox loves ya. Have a guess at what ELF stands for. I'll give you a clue: E is for everyone.

    You know who I am and I'm not as photogenic as you. Anyway, I don't trust you not to laugh :)
  • Limelife50
    Limelife50 Member Posts: 476
    #15
    Texas_wedge said:

    Fox
    Mike, I guess you didn't see it as an acronym. You remember FLY - Fox loves ya. Have a guess at what ELF stands for. I'll give you a clue: E is for everyone.

    You know who I am and I'm not as photogenic as you. Anyway, I don't trust you not to laugh :)

    My Bad ok you got me
    I forgot to take into account your dry wit but the invitation still remains.
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #16
    Limelife50 said:

    My Bad ok you got me
    I forgot to take into account your dry wit but the invitation still remains.

    ID
    Noted and I'll think about making an appearance. You've seen me playing golf though.

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