I had hyst mid 90's. My back problems started several years after that. You may be right.
Brenda

I am scheduled for a complete hysterectomy with a bladder sling if needed.
One of the first things after the surgery being completed is a regimen of walking, with posture checks, back and abdomen checks, for two years after the surgery, minimum.
I tried everything prior to being scheduled for this surgery.
I am working through my fear, and what you mention is scary to me. Best wishes on pain relief.

mideyebrow - so sorry that other treatments have failed. I hope you don't suffer nearly the problems I have! The anatomical / skeletal changes and resulting pain are more distressing to me than the hormonal havoc which has been a nightmare.

Hope your surgery and recovery are uneventful!

Brenda - sorry for your back problems! Your hyst was many years before mine. I fear the pain will get progressively worse - seems to be what happens after a hyst. And if I develop osteoporosis, that will just add to the back problems and chronic pain.

Have you had many hormonal issues since your hyst? Even though many of my typical meno type symptoms are much better with HRT, I still feel like a "shell" of a person and it's been 6 years so not sure it will get better. I used to be so happy, healthy, and vibrant!

Yes I had a hysterectomy 6yrs ago for fibroids.My ssi joints are degenerating I don,t know if this has anything to do with the surg or ddd.You have a good point.My back problems started after the surg. I worked in the Laundry field for 23 yrs.Very hard labor.I also lost height .

Wow psheehan! I think it's telling that although you did hard labor for so long, your back problems didn't start until after your hyst. I assume when you say SSI joints you mean the sacroiliac joint that connects the sacrum (triangular-shaped bone at the bottom of the spine) to the iliac (hip) bones. This makes sense in that the severing of those uterine ligaments causes the spine to compress and the rib cage to fall which puts additional pressure on the pelvic/hip bones.

I feel this as back, hip, and rib cage pain but also have feelings of poor circulation in one hip especially after sitting for too long on a hard surface. I know someone who developed avascular necrosis in her hip after hysterectomy - hoping this isn't my issue!

Interestingly, this article - http://www.medicinenet.com/sacroiliac_joint_pain/article.htm - talks about the stress of pregnancy on the SI joint for two reasons 1) hormones make the ligaments lax, and 2) additional weight and gait adds stress to these joints.

Of course, there's no mention of hysterectomy yet I believe this adverse effect of hysts (one of many) is known by the medical community, just not acknowledged.

I had a hysterectomy in January 2011. I have had back problems for years...way before the hysterectomy. So for me it didn't add any problems. Once I healed properly which took a while I have been fine. I am sooo glad I had the hysterectomy done. One less problem to worry about. So sorry for anyone that had issues after.
Autumn

Autumn - I hate to say it but the back problems take a number of years to happen because it takes some time for the skeletal changes to occur after hysterectomy.

Do your best to keep your core (abs and back) strong to at least maybe mitigate some of the effects. Also, you don't want to get osteoporosis on top of it because that makes matters worse. I don't have osteoporosis (or don't think I do anyway) but I know some women who've had hysts who do and are in a lot of pain.

I'm new to this group. I had a radical hysterectomy almost 10 years ago. I have lost height. I have horrible lower back and bone pain.

The surgeon took everything and like yours, was not necessary. I regret that but I can't put it back. :( The surgeon did not staple my bladder in place and I've been having problems with that ever since. It is very embarrassing at times.

I can relate all too well to your post. I hope you feel better soon.
Melinda

I saw a doctor this afternoon for disability assessment and told him I am having a total hysterectomy.
He stopped what he was doing, looked at me and said, after you heal from the surgery, I want you to swim. That would keep the pressure issue off the table while I build up my strength again, and according to him, once I am stable enough to ride a bicycle again, I can go back to it-I have had to give it up due to the pain.
I hope everyone has a pain-free day.

pipercub / Melinda,
I'm so sorry for what you've been (and are going) through! Unfortunately, most hysterectomies are unwarranted and we're left with permanent and oftentimes debilitating health problems. I know in at least some states, over 40% of women have had a hyst.

Have you been on HRT at all since your hyst? Do you have osteoporosis also? It seems like height loss is inevitable even without osteoporosis due to broken "scaffolding" and the effects of gravity.

mideyebrow - You have to be sure not to overdo any type of exercise too soon so that you can heal well internally. Otherwise, you can develop adhesions which can complicate matters and cause pain.

So was this doctor indicating that swimming would prevent the post-hyst spine compression? It won't.

No, the doctor was providing me with the alternative to lap band surgery, which I do not want to have, and so after I heal inside, then I can start a very slow, gentle, mild exercise routine to build up my hip strength again.

Do any of you have:
Rib cage pain?
A squeezing feeling in your chest that's not painful?
Pain along your spine or spinal stenosis?