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Childbirth

Is it normal for the pain to get worse on day two after a CS?

30 replies

NoTimeForS · 05/03/2013 07:23

I had my emergency CS at midnight on Sunday/Monday. Felt Ok to get out of bed about ten ish the next morning. It hurt but I was Ok. In the afternoon I felt Ok to walk a bit, it was only hurting when I moved, and then only when I went from flat to sitting or sitting to standing.

So, all fine. Then last night my stomach started to hurt all the time and hurt much more if I moved at all, like, if I bend my leg or shift a little I get pain.

The pain is making me shake and there's no way I could walk now like I was yesterday.. It isn't comfortable to stand or sit even. I am having to work up the courage to make the tiniest movement.

I have a tendency to not express my pain very well to medical staff, so they don't seem worried (I was at ten cm dilated before anyone checked me because I kept saying it hurt in too polite a manner before.
But I thought it was meant to all get better, not worse as time passed?
Do I need to shout about it or have I completely misunderstood recovery and this is just what happens?
I am having cocodamol every 6 hours or so.

I might be being a complete baby, but I just thought it was going to get better! I don't know if something is wrong.

OP posts:

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Salbertina · 05/03/2013 07:27

Firstly congratulations. Rrally to hear you're in such pain- its early days tho so may he normal. Didn't have cs myself so cant comment other than to say -do talk to doctor, its not an endurance contest, if you're in pain get some help. Take care.

Racers · 05/03/2013 07:32

Congrats on your birth - sorry it had to be an emergency cs :-(. These are worse than planned, I think, having experienced both! It could be that the stronger painkillers you had at the time have worn off so you are feeling more normal pain but keep an eye on it and keep your midwife well informed. Take it easy as much as possible and keep taking the medication. I'm sure I had quite a cocktail of painkillers, not just one, so check about taking paracetamol etc. it might not seem like much (ie would not do much on its own) but might just boost what you are already taking and help a bit. Check with midwife about dosage etc. I remember being in pain with the emergency one for a couple of weeks (nearly 8 years ago so I might not have the best memory of it)

ChunkyPickle · 05/03/2013 07:33

I was going to ask if you were taking your pain pills, but you are so that's not it (I know that I occasionally forgot mine)

I'm not medical, so I can't say if it's normal or not, but that didn't happen to me. As long as I took my pain pills I improved day on day (well, until the internal stitches started to dissolve a couple of weeks later, then there were sharp pains when moving again)

Infections are a serious business, tell someone that it's suddenly being a lot more painful, that you're taking your meds, and let them have a look - what harm can it do?

springlike · 05/03/2013 07:34

Congratulations!! Have had two CSs. Both very painful after initial pain relief wore off. Even so, would ask doc to check that wound is ok. Take it very easy for first few weeks too. I rushed too much first time round and wound opened a little! Learnt my lesson by the time number two came along!

PseudoBadger · 05/03/2013 07:37

By day 2 bruising and stiffness is starting to set in too. I also had horrendous horrendous trapped wind, the worst pain ever. With an emcs at the end of labour you're also knackered before going into a major operation - I know my body found it traumatic and I was unwell for quite a while. Hope you feel better soon x

targaryen24 · 05/03/2013 07:42

Congrats!

Worth going to the Docs and asking if it's infected. It doesn't have to look very bad to be infected (at first) and it can make you shaky, give you feverish symptoms, make you feel very weak & give you a seriously strong but dull ache across the whole area (not just the scar).

A close relative had that happen & was so weak by the time she saw someone. My episiotomy got infected and I had the same symptoms, only the ache was obviously elsewhere!

Hope you feel better soon & are enjoying these first few mental days

PetiteRaleuse · 05/03/2013 07:43

Speak to doctor, take it easy. Walking is good for c section recovery but not too much - up and down the ward is a very good start! The first day is usually IME easier as you still have the effects of anaesthetic and morphine. When that wears off it's a bit of a shock. Remember that feeling pain is pretty normal right about now.

Take it easy today, maybe try a little walk later on. You've had a major operation on very little sleep - keep reminding youreslf of that. In a couple of days the worst will be a distant memory, and in a week even more so. In three weeks you.ll start to feel like driving again maybe, and you'll probably want to do silly things like hoovering or tidying. Don't ( well, don't do housework, driving will probably be fine).

The wound IME tugged and pulled for six weeks - not painful all that time, but I was aware of it. Then it was like someone flicked a switch and apart from the odd pins and needles feeling I stopped feeling anything. Contratulations - it will get easier.

NoTimeForS · 05/03/2013 07:50

I didn't have a long exhausting labour really, only 8pm to midnight.

Hmm. It sounds like it might be normal or it might not!
I'll ask again when they do the drug rounds in a bit about whether I can have anything else and I guess they'll take the dressing off today to have a look at it all.

Thank you for the congratulations :)

OP posts:

QTPie · 05/03/2013 07:53

Speak the the doctor. You don't need to scream, but make it very clear that you are in a lot of pain.

I had an ELCS - so things were different (I had no pain). Whether it is normal to have a reason for pain, I don't know. However, talking to an anaesthetist friend, "managing the pain" should be completely possible: so they should be able to give you something to manage it.

You are on Cocodamol. Are you also on an anti-inflammatory too? You could/should also have voltarol/dichlofenac (sp?). They can be used in addition to the codeine and paracetamol that you are already taking. Anti-inflammatories can be very good for post surgery pain relief and recovery. If adding that doesn't work, then something stronger might (although what can be taken if you are breastfeeding, I am not sure).

QT

NoTimeForS · 05/03/2013 07:57

(I have been walking through the hospital to SCBU where DS is.
Maybe that's too much in hindsight. But it felt alright if I went slowly at the time, and nobody can take me in a wheelchair apart from DH, who is allowed through the day but is working, or other family at visiting, which is only two hours a day!)

OP posts:

PetiteRaleuse · 05/03/2013 08:18

How is DS?

NoTimeForS · 05/03/2013 08:30

He is Ok. :)
Out of NICU, into HDU already. 33 weeks gestation and everything seems good!

OP posts:

PseudoBadger · 05/03/2013 08:56

I was also going to NICU straight away and I didn't walk there until about day 3! I'm glad you're both doing well :)

ShowOfHands · 05/03/2013 09:37

Congratulations on your baby boy. What did you call him?

I have had two emcs and had no pain after either, needed no painkillers which is nothing but luck. I do know though that the anaesthetic does leave you numb for a while. Here it's standard to give you seven days of antithrombotic drugs to self inject after a cs. The first 4 times I injected, I couldn't feel a thing. The midwife said this was just because of residual numbness. By injection 7, I could feel the sharp scratch again. So you will be regaining more sensation still. Plus, everybody recovers differently. It may be normal recovery pain but even so it doesn't mean you have to suffer it. Here they alternate cocodamol and diclofenac as standard.

You'll probably also have had an anti-inflammatory suppository as standard during the op, plus a shot of diamorphine through your canula whilst in the op too. These will be wearing off and you may need to start taking another med alternated with your cocodamol to manage the pain.

CrustardCream · 05/03/2013 09:44

I found the wound was really painful from day 2 as the stitch really pulled when I walked. Very uncomfortable. It didnt resolve until the stitch came out on about day 5 or 6 I think. I am quite tough but I was whimpering with pain after i had been up and about for half a day. It's still early days so don't be shy to ask for stronger painkillers. I needed a couple of doses of morphine the day after my CS.

All I would say is take your pain killers like clockwork, never let them wear off. And don't walk too far. I took co codamol and diclofenac for a good couple of weeks and it took me 4 weeks to feel really well.

Beatrixpotty · 05/03/2013 13:37

Congrats on your DS.I've had 2 EMCS and after the 2nd one it was so painful I couldn't walk after they had taken the catheter out and I tried to get up to go to the loo.Think that was day 2.At first they didn't believe me but I was still in hospital so the registrar came to see me and massively upped the codeine.It was just a case of increasing the pain relief,everyone has different needs and my pain after the 2nd section was much more than the first.All settled down eventually though

Chopsypie · 05/03/2013 13:41

I've had two sections and I had similar, was fine next day, day 2 and 3 were horrendous. Although I did have codene (SP?), diclofenac and paracetamol.
Just tell them your in a lot of pain. It will get better!

Chopsypie · 05/03/2013 13:42

Sorry, congratulations on your DS as well!

FaceLikeAPickledOnion · 05/03/2013 14:23

I've had one emcs, the pain was unbearable, especially day 2 when they stopped giving me morphine. You have just had major abdominal surgery! Take it easy, accept all pain relief.
I also sympathise with having your baby prem, both mine were too. Glad to hear he's doing well.
Congratulations

NoTimeForS · 05/03/2013 22:55

Thanks all. Feel a bit better today as I didn't walk to see baby. Just waited for my visitors to wheel me instead. Guess I was trying to do too much too soon.

OP posts:

PetiteRaleuse · 06/03/2013 09:02

Easy to do. You'll be up and about in no time :)

MyDarlingClementine · 06/03/2013 09:17

i had oral morphine when pain nagged me on one side.

as well as my other meds - codeine and other stuff.

as far as i am aware you shouldnt be in that much pain, and you need to move realy carefully, they didnt give me much help on how to move, swing to side legs together etc etc etc...

take it really really easy for at least two weeks.

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MrsMarcus · 08/03/2013 08:26

I would ask for another painkiller, there re different things they can give you to see what works. I've had cocodamol for various things over the years and it never seems to do anything for me, plain old paracetamol works much better.

After my section I had morphine for two days and then paracetamol and diclofenac for I think two weeks at least. I was very good with taking them but was still in pain when moving, no infection, think it was just the great big whopping hole they'd made in my stomach! Take it easy.

munchkinmaster · 08/03/2013 08:28

I had co codamal and diclofenic. Ask for more meds. They initially gave me paracetamol and I felt like I was being sawn in two.

PetiteRaleuse · 08/03/2013 10:35

How are you feeling now, five days on OP?

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