Stomach Muscle Cramps After Ileostomy Surgery - Seeking Advice

I had my first ileostomy surgery on January 1, 2021. I had a relocation on March 30th of this year (so I am at about a half a year out). My former site is healed but slightly purple still. I have been through physical therapy to strengthen the stomach muscles and in the end of May, I graduated from PT. Something that happens to me a lot is if I bend over, I get a severe muscle cramp in my stomach below where my current stoma is. Is this due to my stoma? Its positioning? Scar tissue under the skin? I have recently taken up chair yoga, and one of the exercises is to lean forward and put your elbows on your knees. Whenever I do this, I get a sharp, severe pain that lasts for several minutes (actually about 5 minutes after I straighten up). I no longer have pain at the site of my old stoma, and not at my new stoma site. It is a muscular thing but only happens on the side where the stoma is. It is like the worst feeling of pain aside from major surgery. I am glad it only lasts a few minutes but it does not motivate me to do yoga, or to bend over to tie my shoes, or to shave my legs in the shower. All of which cause this pain. I still do exercises to strengthen those stomach muscles, but it doesn't seem to work. Will I live with this forever?

Lee

Hello Lee.

I will not hazard a guess at what might be going on with this pain. However, it does sound very specific and might benefit from physiotherapy.
If it was me, I think I would first of all talk it over with a stoma nurse and then ask for a referral to whatever specialist might deal with these types of things. 
There might be a simple explanation and exercises that could help. (let's hope so!)
Best wishes
Bill

Hi Lee,

Have you talked with your doctor about the pain that you are having?

You 100% sure it's a muscle cramp? If I get a partial blockage or maybe things get hung up cause my insides go different directions now, I get severe pain and have a really tough time bending, tying my work boots, etc. until I poop. Once I poop, it's instant relief. I haven't had it happen in a while but it's very painful when it does. It doesn't hurt at all when I'm laying flat or walking but one little bend and it's instant pain.

George Burns once related a doctor visit he had. Told the doctor: "It hurts when I do this - (then demonstrated a body movement that hurt). Doctor said "OK, don't do it."

My Ostomy Journey: Kimberly | Hollister

My mom suggested I start doing my old PT exercises again to help strengthen the muscle. I guess if it persists, I will tell my doctor and see what she says.

Lee

You don't say why you had the relocation but if it was due to hernia, did they use mesh reinforcement? I certainly get pain from where I had Sugarbaker repair.

Can you contact your old physical therapist? I just finished PT on my hand (I broke it in June), and my physical therapist urged me to contact her if I had any more problems in the future.

I had the relocation because the site of my old stoma was at my waistline and because of that a bag wouldn't stay on. For about a year and a half, I went around with a diaper around my waist and constant leakage. It ruined all my clothes. I had such bad pain that they put me on Norco. It was the worst year and a half of my life. Only since March 30th of this year was I finally able to wear a bag.

Lee

She said I could, but I think she has to say that to all her clients. I don't think they mean it.

Lee