SEVERE back/abdominal pain from strained muscles?

[rungout]

I just got back from my regular doc. I went to my knee doc for my six week check up on Tues. My knee is great but my back/abdominal muscles were killing me. I couldn't hardly move and couldn't get out of bed without help! This has been a real set back since I was doing really great last week. My knee doc to xrays of my back and said "I'm not a back man but it looks ok to me." I went to my chiropractor and he said it sounded like kidney pain which he blamed on the pain meds. (I had asked the knee doc about taking them and he said to continue as long as I had pain) So I went to the regular doc and she tested my urine and said not kidneys. She thinks it's muscular. I can only think that the effort doing my PT cause my iliopsoas muscles and the layers of muscles surrounding my internal organs were strained by the PT.

Anyone else have this problem? Is this normal?

I was in tears with the pain from the muscle spasms and couldn't even shift position, much less lift my leg. Even a deep breath hurt. I'm better today though. Suspending PT til I feel I can handle it.
Still Rungout

 

[Linda2]

Did the regular doc prescribe a muscle relaxant? After this surgery, everything is strung together a wee bit differently. Your body compensates, but not always in a good way. Are you getting professional PT? They can really help you to do things correctly.

 

[ship4]

I have a male friend who had RTKR and he experienced pain in his back and had it checked as well. They told him he is stretching muscles that had atrophied and this is why it was hurting. He did not stand up straight prior to the TKR and following the surgery, he stands up straight. His back muscles were not used to being in this position!
Did you stand up straight or not prior to your TKR? It could be as you have gained ROM and are using your knee more, you are doing things and using muscles you have not used in eons..
Best,
Crystal

 

[Jamie]

Crystal, I agree with you. And Rungout, talk to your therapist about the pain. They do much more than just exercises and workouts....they can show you stretches and apply heat or ice in just the right way to help release muscles that may have tightened or be in spasm. But you ARE wise to take it easy on the workouts for a bit. Be sure to continue with your pain meds .... especially now!

 

[rungout]

I feel better today. Didn't do much but at least went to the gym and did very slow bike. I resceduled my PT and will discuss this with PT person.

I really thought it might be something very serious but its better now. Also I am taking my muscle relaxers and pain pills so that's better but I really feel like my knee has suffered a set back.
RO

 

[Judles]

Rung......I think you should give yourself some more time
& be kind to yourself! Let up a little the next few days to see how you feel!

 

[Josephine]

Things like that are much more likely to be muscular before they are anything more serious. A kidney problem caused by pain meds just wouldn't show up that quickly IMO. And muscle spasm - which is what you had - can be unrelenting and agonising. A good (i.e. properly certificated) chiropractor would be able to apply appropriate deep massage to get those muscles to relax. Mine does!

Other treatments for such an occurance could include NSAIDs, heat or cold and rest!

 

[rungout]

YEah I'm pretty convinced now that it was my iliopsoas which connects the spine with the hip and that's not something a massage therapist can get to. i have my PT in a 30 mins and will requests some rehab on the psoas.
Thanks everyone.
Rungout

 

[Josephine]

Oh yes they can! My chiropractor works on my psoas regularly by pressing on the abdominal wall and believe me, I know all about it when he does!