Pain Management Community

I've been having pain on my right side every time I cough lately. I had an appendectomy about four years ago. Has anyone had any similar pain after this surgery?

Hi JoeSteve and welcome,

Please see your medical provider to find out for sure what is going on here.

Pain Management is a subject near and dear to me! I'm a 78 yr old retired military who is afflicted with a serious case of Osteo Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and a handful of other ailments. Needless to say I'm familiar with pain. Pain 24/7. I used to find solace and relief from exercise. I exercised as much as 5 hours a day in two 2 &1/2 hour sessions. For each of these periods, morning and evening, I no longer had any pain. Once I quit exercising the pain was right there with a vengeance. Then chronic fatigue (side effect of FM) crept into my life, gradually tore down my defenses to the point that in complete surrender to my
maladies I quit exercising altogether. Now I'm some 60 lbs over-weight, try as I may to watch what I eat I'm unable to make progress with weight loss. Back in August of 2007, I quit smoking (w/the help of chantix for a while). Earlier that same year I gave up drinking bourbon, which I used as a crutch to help me cope with the pain. I have not touched my pipe or drank so much as a drop of bourbon since I quit. So I can do something I want to do as a general rule, but the chronic fatigue and pain have whipped me and I've succumbed to the ravages of both fatigue, pain and yes despair. Yes, I had a bout with depression back in the early 90's, so I'm very careful to NOT fall back into that domain. I have come to realize that at my age, the inability to exercise limits my attempts to lose weight. The only way I see myself losing weight is to quit eating all together, but that is not only unhealthy but dangerous. I'm open to any suggestion by the learned professionals in our community. I might add that aquatic exercises are out, since I have a phobia about swimming or exercising in a pool that I do not know who used it and what if anything they may have left behind. Just cannot even consider doing it! I damaged my heart from exercising TOO MUCH, and in 2005 I wound up in the emergency room and subsequently had a Pacemaker implanted. I've considered having a Sauna or Steam cabinet installed in our basement, but ruled it out because I would need to have someone keep a watchful eye on me when it was in use, and my wife who is my caregiver is already too tied down with me.
I had back surgery in 2000, lumbar and again in 2010 a little further down. The surgeon assured me my spine is deteriorating to the point that future surgery would be of no benefit to me. So each way I turn with this problem there is always another obstacle to over-come, and the unnecessary weight I'm carrying around continues to ravage my body in the form of higher levels of pain 24/7. Any suggestions?

FrankXXXX,
Have you been to a pain management specialist yet. I am 56 and have severe back problems and have had a hip replacement already. You can click on my name and read my history. It is very easy to get down with the type of problems that you have but don't you think your wife loves you enough not to feel bogged down with you. I would try that pain management doc to help relieve your pain. Keep in touch and vent anytime you want, that's what this forum is about, helping each other.

Thank you for your military service.

Talk to your pcp about what kinds of exercise would be best for you. There are recumbent bikes, stationery bikes, both of which would take weight off your joints. But only your pcp would know how to adjust exercise with your pacemaker, etc.

Please do not think about exercise like you used to. For folks with chronic pain, it is start low and increase slowly!! My pain management doctor suggested exercising 3-5 minutes a day, 2-3 times a day to start out with, then increase each exercise period by 1-2 minutes once a week. He said it was fine to start out with stretching and walking, then stretching again for the cool down if I wanted to. He suggested working up to 30 minutes total each day on most days. He suggested slowing down or decreasing the amount of exercise, but not stopping it entirely for a flare. Again, this is what he suggested for me, you need to speak to your pcp to find out what is best for you. My PM doc's opinion was that nearly everyone can tolerate this level, then work up very slowly.

My husband and I got a very small hot tub with a thermostat that we can set to what we prefer. We keep it in our patio. This is something you would also discuss with your doctor and try out before you buy one of your own. I have FMS, he has OA and a hip replacement. It works for both of us, but in a different way.

Take care, Annette