HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Cramping with colostomy

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/9/2010 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
I was in a motorcycle accident 22 days ago. I essentially "rode my butt" down the highway at 55 mph and caused a severe laceration to my groin area. In order to compete the surgeries necessary to repair the laceration, the doctors believed it was necessary to do a reversible colostomy. I am a professional 24 year old who has always been very proud of my fitness and looks so this has been a major adjustment for me.

I have had the colostomy for 19 days now but recently I have had cramping with each "bowel movement" or whatever it is called now. Sometimes these cramps are mild but other times they are so severe that it bring tears to my eyes. Is this normal and if so, how do others deal with it?

I am very lucky that I am ok, my other surgeries went well and the colostomy will be reversed in April. I am just very worried about the cramps because of the pain and because I have to return to work in a week.

Any advice or help is greatly appreciated!
Posted 11/9/2010 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
sometimes blockages cause cramps like that, or it could be gas.
Posted 11/9/2010 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
It may be the muscles, but I would notify the surgeon just to make sure. If its a new pain he may was to a CT scan to make sure there isnt anything they missed. Hope things get better for you
Posted 11/9/2010 4:44 AM (GMT 0)
I had severe cramping every now and then for the first couple weeks of my colostomy. Definitely made me cry a few times especially when it happened while i was walking. I would apply those microwaveable heat packs to my side sometimes because the cramping would make my already sore muscles hurt more. Also kinda try massaging the area while its cramping. I almost thought of it as a charlie horse. But I'd say the last time I had one was about 3 weeks ago, and I'm 7 weeks out from surgery. I mentioned it to the doctors, nurses and surgeons at the hospital and they all said it can happen sometimes and should get better as I healed and it did. You should still double check with your surgeon, but hopefully you'll be like me and its just your body healing and readjusting to its new plumbing.
Posted 11/9/2010 11:46 AM (GMT 0)
As the mom of young person who just had a really bad car accident....I am SO GLAD you are ok (in general terms!)!!!!!

You are still so early in recovery and it does take time - I know that is hard to deal with but it should get better as you get farther out. Talk to your doc just so they know. The warm heat will help just don't put heat directly on any wounds and check with your doc about a stool softener and if it would help.

Depending on your other injuries and how limiting they are you should still be able to do any activities you did before...sports or lifting is possible with an ostomy. The important thing to remember is that you'd have to be more careful about the amount of weight you use...you couldn't start off where you left off! Essentially, an ostomy is a hernia, so that has to be kept in mind.

And let your body heal before you start back...you do have youth on your side but you want to make a full recovery!!!

and...welcome to the forum!
Posted 11/10/2010 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone. I have a follow up at shock trauma for my other injuries on Thursday. I will bring it up again and see what they say. I have increased my stool softener and quit taking the iron I was required to take to increase my hemoglobin levels. Hopefully after a few days, this will provide relief as well.

Thanks again!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply