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Sep 06, 2025

Is Prolonged Recovery Normal After Major Surgery?

This topic is about someone who has been experiencing severe abdominal-wall pain ten weeks after having their colon removed and an end ileostomy created. They are concerned about whether this level of pain is normal or if it should be a cause for concern. Here are some insights and advice that might be helpful:

1. The intensity and duration of the pain, especially still needing opioids at ten weeks post-surgery, is not typical for most people recovering from ostomy or colon removal surgeries. Many manage with just acetaminophen within a few weeks.

2. It might be beneficial to seek another opinion from a surgical or pain-management specialist, even if the surgery was performed at a reputable place like the Mayo Clinic. Sometimes, having additional experts involved can help identify any issues that might have been missed.

3. Consider consulting with specialists in colorectal or gastroenterology who focus on post-surgical complications. Some top centers to consider include the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and Johns Hopkins Hospital.

4. If the pain worsens, it's important to rule out any ongoing infections or other complications. Keep an eye on your temperature and consider repeating imaging or lab tests as needed.

5. Factors like malnutrition, low body weight, multiple abdominal surgeries, extensive adhesiolysis, and a large hematoma can significantly slow down the healing process. While recovery might be slower and more painful, the pain should gradually decrease over time.

6. When returning to normal activities, do so gradually. Consider reducing your workload or walking distance and slowly work on increasing your core strength and mobility to avoid re-straining the healing tissues.

7. Explore pain-management options beyond opioids. This could include acetaminophen or NSAIDs if they are tolerated, nerve-pain medications, regional blocks, physical therapy, or counseling for central sensitization.

8. It's important to keep advocating for yourself until the pain is adequately explained or relieved. You shouldn't have to live with debilitating pain.
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