Struggling with Pain Post Csection

[EveningReflection]

I'm 6 days post csection and the first few days home I was fine. Possibly over exerted myself looking after baby and tidying the house a bit!

The last few days ive been in the most horrendous pain. A very specific shooting/ripping/knife like pain on the left side of csection wound. It makes sitting down and lying down extruciating (getting into those positions im ok once im there). I saw the midwife yesterday. It took me 15 minutes with my partner helping just to physically get me into the car. The midwife removed my dressing, she said it was healing nicely. She had to remove it standing up as I couldnt lie down. She saw how much pain I was in even picking up my baby and said I should contact GP for pain relief. I picked up cocodymol last night but its not making a huge difference. Im essentially bed bound and my partner now has to do everything for both me and the baby. I feel useless. Any idea what this could be or when I might be back on my feet?

Push for stronger painkillers.

It never ceases to anger me how little pain relief we're supposed to survive on after a c-section. It's major abdominal surgery. How can over the counter meds be enough? I can't think of any other type of surgery where you'd be given just paracetamol afterwards.

Also, congrats on your baby, and (gentle) hugs.

Thank you :)

Definitely push for stronger but if your breastfeeding they may not give you it. Also if you can get a face to face appointment get checked for infection by GP. I had one that midwifes missed and was on antibiotics for 2 weeks after. It does get better I promise but you have to really just do the bare minimum and not overexert yourself. I cleaned windows stood on a ladder at 3 weeks post and it was the most stupid thing I could of done. Got a right telling off from Neighbour (who is a HV) who caught be while she was in her garden 🤦‍♀️. Also remember everyone heals different.. take your time, if the house is a mess leave it. As long as you and baby (and DP too) are okay that’s all that matters. And remember a C section is major surgery that while healing you have the added pressure of looking after a newborn - it’s hard. Congrats on baby x

Cocodamol really aren't strong enough for after c section IMHO. I was discharged from hospital with dihydrocodeine after my section, which were very strong and very good. I took the full pack and felt great after 10 days.

It's great that you got some stronger meds, though don't be afraid to go back if there not doing enough. In the meantime, make sure you are making full use of the meds you can get, so 4 doses of paracetamol a day plus 4 doses of ibuprofen and then the cocodamol on top. Take them one schedule instead of waiting until your in pain, it's easier to stop the pain before it starts. I alternated ibuprofen/paracetamol, and took one or the other every 3 hours, that way the each dose had time to take effect before the previous one wore off.

And most importantly rest. Don't pick up anything other then your baby. It's totally ok to have your DH doing everything for you and baby, that's what he should be doing, you've just grown a baby and had major surgery.

Are you taking your pain meds by the clock rather than waiting until you are in pain?

After my last c-section, I felt great for the first few days, overdid it and then suffered. Pain meds work best when you take them regularly rather than only taking them when you realise you are in pain. Getting that sorted and rest will hopefully help you manage.

We all forget that a c-section is major abdominal surgery. Every other patient who has abdo surgery is sent home with strict instructions not to do too much, not to lift anything heavier than a kettle for 4-6 weeks. But if it's to get a baby out, women are expected to be able to go home and manage.

Plus with the codeine, make sure you get prunes, plenty of fibre or other laxative - constipation will not help your pain one bit!

In the meantime, make sure you are making full use of the meds you can get, so 4 doses of paracetamol a day plus 4 doses of ibuprofen and then the cocodamol on top.

Whatever you do, DO NOT take paracetamol and cocodamol together - you will overdose on paracetamol. It's either one or the other, not both.

Oh god, sorry. I was thinking of codeine not cocodamol

Thank you all for the advice. Dont worry, I have replaced the paracetamol with cocodymol, im not taking both.

Online it says some scary things about breast feeding and cocodymol so it got me a bit worried. To be honest I'm only producing a tiny bit of breast milk currently anyway (expressing as she wont latch) so perhaps thats a none issue until my supply increases.

I will start taking them by the clock. It always feels like a waste to take them at night, but I guess from what people are saying, regular intervals every 6 hours is best?

They gave me lactolose stool softner. I must say I was surprised that they sent me home with zero pain meds. Even in hospital they just gave paracetamol and ibuprofen on the last day before discharge.

I just had an emergency section 3 and a half weeks ago, congrats on your baby! I took paracetamol and ibuprofen together around the clock but really had to stay on top of it, I set alarms on my phone to make sure it never got the chance to wear off! I also found sticking maternity pads on the inside of my (huge granny) knickers where the wound is gave it some cushioning just in case I knocked myself. The pain does get easier slowly but surely, mine is still slightly sore now if I do too much but nothing like it was

Oh and 100% keep up with the lactulose. I thought I didn’t need it but I can’t to regret that decision after about a week!! 😱

I had c section in the summer. Was in so much pain! Found day 6 it eased off a tiny bit (less agony) and at 3 weeks it was much much better. It was an awful burning ripping feeling at first and I couldn't imagine ever feeling fine again. Well I was doing boot camp again by 11 weeks pp. It's just those first few weeks... You will feel normal again XX

Ah op sorry to hear you're in such pain, but it sounds so similar to what happened to me. I had my second ELCS on 28/10 and after about 2 weeks I felt great! But then about 4 weeks later I was lying in bed and I don't know if it was DD 19mo sitting on me or if it was something I did but the pain was horrendous! Trying to sit up in bed was a task in itself - I had to sort of roll and sit up that way at a certain angle because any other way really, really hurt. The same standing up, it was as though I'd just had my section again the pain was so bad (in fact it felt worse than it did just after surgery!). Even getting out the car to walk around Asda I had hold of my right side where my incision was and was lifting my stomach up slightly as the pain was that bad. It felt like knives being stabbed into the area it was awful! The only thing that seemed to ease it (and it sounds bonkers!) was when I got on the floor on all fours and stretched out but dipped my back if that makes sense? And then lifted my right leg up behind me and stretched it out (like some sort of yoga position - my entire household thought I'd gone mad!). I was at the midwife for DD to be weighed again so they asked to see my scar and said it was healing beautifully. I told her how I'd been and about the pain and she said that it'll have been down to me just doing too much, and that even carrying DD1 round can cause extra pain. She said practically everything puts a strain on recovery so to just relax and keep on with the pain relief. About 3 days later it completely subsided

My friend who is an A&E consultant and breast feeding specialist told me I could take Paramol whilst breastfeeding. It is an opiate but can buy over the counter and much stronger than just paracetamol.

The shift from slow release morphine to being sent home with paracetamol was not fun but my pain did settle with this after the first two days and only took it for a few days and then just at night for a few more days. Off anything by a week.

I also felt that most of my pain was actually trapped wind/bowel related. Felt like I was wearing like a ring of pain just round my lower half back too.

Hope this helps. But don't say to pharmacist it is for post section and breastfeeding as they will not give it but I assure you it is safe to take.

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/analgesics

Hey OP, is the pain due to the c section or due to the spinal do you think?

I only ask as I had a spinal post birth, an hour after due to surgery and it made me feel like I’d been run over by a bus for a good few days after. My body ached so much to the point where I found it hard to move.....

Only a thought that’s all.

I only had paracetamol and ibuprofen. By your stage that was enough although thought I was going to die on the first day at home without morphine!

You must must take them by the clock though. It makes a huge difference. I had timers going off on my phone and took my night ones when I was up feeding.

And please don't tidy and overdo it. My incision reopened because I felt back to normal and overdid it and then I had to have many hospital appts to get it sorted. Rest and rest and rest!

@Pegase oh my goodness. That sounds awful. How many weeks post surgery were you when you over did it? I am 3 weeks but feel almost normal though not out and a out much due to weather so not really noticing tiredness.

What a shame. Sounds complicated to fix. X

You need to take it easier, op. Stop tidying!

@Sheera1 it was 2 weeks post- from tidying and cooking. Took about a month to heal as they won't restitch it.

Eeek. Ok I will stop tidying here. X Hope you are doing better. X

Thank you everyone. Ive cut back on the cocodymol now, so im just doing one tablet and one of paracetamol every 6 hours. Its making me constipated even with lactolose. I think I'll have to stop it completely tomorrow as I'll run out of the stool softner. I was also concerned as its not recommended for breast feeding. Even though I have very low milk supply, so I'm only able to provide my baby with a fraction of the milk she actually consumes!

The pain is more manageable now, but I still had an ordeal getting to a midwife appointment yesterday. A lot of pain by the time I got there and I couldnt sit down. I am doing quite a bit more now as my partner was getting frustrated. I'm hoping each day will get better and the worst is over. 10 days now.

@Pegase that sounds horrendous, I'm really fighting the urge to do housework. Its painful and silly but I'm used to always doing things; my partner just doesnt seem to see what needs doing and I hate to nag him.