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What Causes Abdominal Cramps Post A Hysterectomy?
Question: I'm a 49 yr. old female that had a hysterectomy about 5 years ago. At that time my bladder was adhered to my uterus due to endometriosis. Occasionally, over the past couple of years I will experience what feels like cramping in my ventral abdomen around my bladder or I may have a spasmodic pain in my left lateral abdomen. I am a large animal veterinarian and do very strenuous work. Therefore, I sometimes think it's a pulled muscle. I don't have any indications of a hernia of any kind. Lately I have wondered if the adhesions may be back and due to my strenuous work I aggravate things inside my abdomen.
Brief Answer:
This sounds like endometriosis related problems
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the question.
You are still of an age (i.e. young) where your ovaries might still be cycling. As you probably know, endometriosis is related to the cells that normally lined the uterus finding their way into the pelvis and continuing to cycle - causing pain and scarring. This whole process of pain and scarring is driven by your ovarian hormonal cycle. Many women have hysterectomies related to endometriosis but that should not be the end of the story as there is still cells left behind that can cause problems. I think of endometriosis not as a curable problem, but a manageable problem.
So, my gut feeling when you state that there was significant endometriosis noted at the time of hysterectomy between the uterus and bladder, and now you have had progressive worsening of pain in that location, is that this is just related to the endometriosis that was left behind.
1. What do you think about this as an explanation?
2. Is there any cycle to the pain?
Dr. Tim
This sounds like endometriosis related problems
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the question.
You are still of an age (i.e. young) where your ovaries might still be cycling. As you probably know, endometriosis is related to the cells that normally lined the uterus finding their way into the pelvis and continuing to cycle - causing pain and scarring. This whole process of pain and scarring is driven by your ovarian hormonal cycle. Many women have hysterectomies related to endometriosis but that should not be the end of the story as there is still cells left behind that can cause problems. I think of endometriosis not as a curable problem, but a manageable problem.
So, my gut feeling when you state that there was significant endometriosis noted at the time of hysterectomy between the uterus and bladder, and now you have had progressive worsening of pain in that location, is that this is just related to the endometriosis that was left behind.
1. What do you think about this as an explanation?
2. Is there any cycle to the pain?
Dr. Tim
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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