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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

C-section shoulder pain

23 replies

plannedshock · 28/04/2015 06:31

I'm sat in hospital in agony!! Everytime I breathe in its a stabbing pain I can lift my arm or do anything, been given a peppermint tablet and paracetamol but does anyone have any other tips to get rid??? Seriously painful!!!

OP posts:

Nectarines · 28/04/2015 06:34

I had this and iirc it was trapped wind. I think it went away by itself before long, but you have my sympathy!

Congratulations on your new baby!

OgreIt · 28/04/2015 06:34

Get a heat pack and put it on the shoulder. It's the only thing that helped the shoulder tippling when I had ds2 in January. My hospital didn't generally recommend heat after surgery but it was the only thing that helped me (I did have peppermint water etc but the heat helped instantly).

OgreIt · 28/04/2015 06:36

That should say shoulder tip pain!

imip · 28/04/2015 06:37

Peppermint tea did it for me. Drink loads, it is v painful...

andadietcoke · 28/04/2015 06:39

Oh I totally feel your pain. It was excruciating. I lost all power in my arm (which was inconvenient with twins). Heat was the only thing that helped. I went to see an osteopath afterwards in the end.

MangoBiscuit · 28/04/2015 06:53

Referred pain from trapped wind. I remember that pain, awful, couldn't breathe it hurt so much. If you can walk, even the slowest of shuffles, walk. I took the wheely cot, and shuffled round the ward in very slow laps. Helped to get things moving, along with peppermint tea, and tic tacs! Hope it eases for you soon.

Original poster

plannedshock · 28/04/2015 06:58

Right, partner bringing in heat pack I'm guzzling peppermint cordial. I can't actually believe how painful it is, on the plus side it's taking my mind of the section wound!! Thank you everyone for the quick responses!!

OP posts:

imip · 28/04/2015 12:24

And congrats :-)

Theyvallgone · 28/04/2015 12:54

Peppermint tea would be better than cordial. And make it strong! Not sure what the tablet is that they gave you but if they have peppermint water thats probably more effective.

Trapped wind as others have said, agony though! Heat packs are a good idea too :)

Original poster

plannedshock · 28/04/2015 20:33

Ahhhhh nothing is working!!! Now everytime I lay back it stabs so I'm slouched in the middle of the bed holding a baby! ?????? how is it this painful?!?!

OP posts:

imip · 28/04/2015 21:18

I think you need to keep having it. Drink it like water! If I use it just for trapped wind, it'll take all night.

I'm sure after section it took a day go work??? It will work!

Grantaire · 28/04/2015 21:22

You need proper peppermint capsules dissolved in hot water. Cordial won't cut it.

I had two cs and it was the only thing which hurt. I felt like I'd slept really badly on my arm/shoulder and had totally fecked it.

The other thing is, the pressure will release when you start passing lots of wind. And you will. Get the process moving if you can with lots of fruit and try and get mobile to encourage your bowel to be less sluggish.

Original poster

plannedshock · 28/04/2015 23:51

So I've had peppermint capsules and a laxative and nothing is working, they've told me I've had everything they have got so that's it. Every inhalation or if I lean back just slightly is like a knife in my shoulder ive been sat here in tears and I can't do anything I'm so tired and my back is killing from being unable to lean back which is making my wound throb! I'm feeling so sorry for myself

OP posts:

Feckeggblue · 29/04/2015 00:01

Lots of sympathy and another who improved it massively with peppermint tea.

There is an exercise you can try to clear it- it's a sort of humpf noise like a horse makes. Hard to describe but worth asking the midwives

Grantaire · 29/04/2015 07:24

How are you this morning?

Are you moving round at all? I found I had to. Lying down, especially leaning back was the worst position. My trapped wind pain usually started about 2 hours post surgery and while peppermint was brilliant, getting up and walking around a bit, stretching into a proper upright position instead of hunching over and encouraging normal function was the best thing for me.

Most of the women on the ward (mostly cs patients) were encouraged to get up and move asap. It really helps. It was while immobile in those first couple of hours that I felt at the mercy of it. As soon as I was safely back on the ward and up and walking, going to the loo, changing nappies, normal function resumed.

Ifyourawizardwhydouwearglasses · 29/04/2015 07:32

I've had this with both of mine, can't sit up behind the vertical (never mind lay back!) for about 3/4 days post section.

It's the worst pain I've ever felt ever, and I've been through back to back labour

It had me on all fours literally screaming on the ward, I couldn't even reach to the call button, couldn't move or breathe, they just heard my screams and came running. And I hate to make a scene.

Both times I've had oramorph (morphine) which has sorted it, and then just been VERY careful not to sit back at all, as that's what sets it off.

It's crap having to sit up all day and night after a section, I hardly dated sleep in case I sat back in my sleep and set it off again. I also stayed in an extra night each time as I wouldn't have been able to deal with it without morphine.

It was by far and away the worst part of having sections. I have nerve damage in my shoulder anyway so that might be why it's so bad.

Anyway when it comes on strong just ask for demand oramorph, and then be careful not to sit back.

Once you get rid of the wind, it does go completely though. Hang on in there!

Oh and congratulations!

Ifyourawizardwhydouwearglasses · 29/04/2015 07:33

Oh yes and move around as much as poss

Original poster

plannedshock · 29/04/2015 19:10

Thank you everyone. I didn't sleep at all, it was a long night, my back is killing today because I slouched all night! Home now but feel like I was moving ok yesterday but have gone backwards today! Definitely harder 2nd section round! Am literally sucking on peppermint teabags!

OP posts:

Ifyourawizardwhydouwearglasses · 30/04/2015 07:06

Tmi but......once you starting farting again you'll be fine. And prop yourself up with loads of pillows.

Eltonjohnsflorist · 30/04/2015 10:24

It's true, you will fart/ burp most of it out

AnnieLewis · 30/04/2015 12:12

Hi, haven't had this myself, due first section soon but someone told me to get Windeze rather than the peppermint water/capsules they give you. She's has 2 sections and said that was the only thing that worked for her - its safe to take postnatally apparently but maybe double check with your M/W.

Am stocking up on it before I go in for my section!

Congrats on your baby!

MrsTedCrilly · 03/05/2015 09:21

Aww I feel your pain, this was so unexpected and it was so much worse than the wound.. Who knew trapped wind was so excruciating! I kept massaging it and drinking peppermint tea and it was gone by the third day. Hope it escapes quickly...

superbfairywren · 11/05/2015 21:21

It is absolutely the worst pain I have ever felt in my life. I ended up downing peppermint tea for about a week and massaging my own back to try and get the wind moving. Imagine winding a baby and I basically did that to myself and it seemed to help. Keep moving as much as you can but don't overddo it and take your painkillers, might help the muscle pain from slouching.

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