Is it normal to have pain a week after surgery?

It's been a week since my surgery. My bag and stoma don't bother me. It's my scar and inside of it. I can't do anything without it hurting. I still feel so “useless” 😔. I know everyone is different. But is it normal for it to be still this sore and somewhat painful and not be able to do much? Am I just being impatient? I am just so tired and bored I guess.

Hi - I have had good luck with Polysporin Plus and Weber Vitamin E cream to ease the itch/pain and speed healing. Please check with your health care team to make sure they could be right for you. Good luck.

Healing scars can drive a person nuts with the tightening, itching, etc.

It takes time to heal. Gotta be patient. It took me about 3 months to start feeling somewhat normal. Be careful, it's easy to get a peristomal hernia.

Yes, normally, hopefully by around the 6-week stage, pain will start getting less. Then over time, you just wake up one day and think it's not hurting anymore.

You said a week since your surgery? You are doing great then. Give yourself time; it takes a while.

What kind of surgery did you have?
This type of surgery is major surgery and they messed with many abdominal muscles. Since we use our abs for just about everything… it's normal to still have pain and discomfort. I am 4 weeks out and am still taking Tylenol regularly. I get muscles burning, which I have been told is nerve endings healing. (I have had 2 c-sections prior to this)

Take care, it is normal.

One week is nothing; may as well have been yesterday. Don't rush it; no good will come of it. Let your health come to you. Be patient.

I had a sigmoid colectomy with end colostomy. I think? TBH, that's what the report says. I'm not the brightest bulb in any room 😅

Thanks! I'm trying, but I've never been the type to be idle for too long. I enjoy working and trying to do things on my own. I'm doing my best not to let my mental health be affected. I'll take this as a lesson that I need to learn to be patient and know that I'm not alone.

I agree with what the others are saying also. One week is not very long.
Maybe you can find something productive to do with your hands… like crochet… or singing like that… uses your mind and keeps hands busy. I, too, don't like being slowed down… I am a busy person normally and lately before surgery was so sick I couldn't do anything and then after surgery I am having to slowly return to normal. It's not been easy to not be at my usual activity level.

I am a year past my colectomy and my "autopsy" scar still occasionally itches. The worst, though, are the holes in my belly that used to host drainage tubes. Those drive me nuts sometimes. :-)

Daniel

Hated drain tubes. Hated even more... getting them yanked out. Yikes.

The nurse that took mine out had 2 students the day I got discharged. She came in by herself and asked if one could take my IV out and the other take my drain tube out. I said… can I mess with them? She said… absolutely. 😁👍 I screamed when the one that took my drain tube out started pulling. She dropped it and backed up. 😂 I said… just messing with you, go ahead. 🤭

The one for my pancreas fell out on its own. One day, I stood up and there it was on the floor. Figured it wasn't wise to try to put it back in. 😅

The only one that bothered me coming out was the one draining fluid from the lungs. That was a little uncomfortable, but nothing like having the NG tube removed. Had that done twice. 😝

I agree! I hated, HATED the drain tubes. OMG, so painful when they come out… I had 2 open surgeries within a month of each other and dreaded it each time. The first time, the doc said I would just feel pressure. Boy, was he wrong. Five months post-op, and I still have dull pain intermittently in that area.