Has anyone else had this diagnosis?

I had a perforated colon that was not operated on for 12-1/2 hours. By that time toxins and acids had effected all of my other organs in the abdominal cavity and my large intestine had broken into many small pieces. The incision went from my pubic bone to 1-1/2" above my navel. Each organ was separated from its normal position, cleaned and sutured where necessary.
I have had pain in my abdominal and back left-side ever since the surgery on April 5th. The pain ranges from none to a nine on a scale of one to 10 where 10 is pain so bad you are screaming. Giving birth was about a seven for me even with an 11 lb 10 oz baby boy.
I take oxycodone for pain above a 6. Ended up in the emergency room on Sunday with a pain level of 9. Needless to say, I have had enough of this pain.
I started wondering if the pain could be muscular because my pain levels dramatically increased whenever I tried to live a "normal" day.
Out of desperation I went to a a physical therapist recommended by my doctor and an Olympic rowing champion. The test results were that two sets of my abdominal muscles, the transverse abdominus and the rectus abdominus had stopped working. Stimulation of the muscles resulted in an extremely low response. Back pain was centered in the latissmus dorsi muscle. The two sets of stomach muscles were cut through during surgery and apparently the scar tissue may be preventing the muscles from working properly.
I was told the situation is treatable through physical therapy but that it will take up to 2 years before I can do all of the things I did before I became ill.
Has anyone else had this diagnosis? The length of treatment is very hard for me to accept.
I look forward to any responses!
Szm

Ali.
I am very glad to hear that physical therapy worked for someone else. I have tried to do exercises to strengthen those muscles on my own but each time I would end up in bed with pain for at least 2 days. I don't mind working out until it hurts but I don't want to harm myself.
So far physical therapy hurts very little. I like the idea of someone stopping me before I harm my muscles. The activities that hurt are hard to predict: I can canoe but not kayak, I can hike but not wash laundry, I can stand for four hours but only sit for 1 hour. The therapist explained the differences were due to the muscles used in each activity.
Your last paragraph meant a lot to me. I will try to keep your words in mind and not be depressed by the concept of two years to normality. Every week brings improvement and best of all, I am still alive!
Cynthia

Dear Mollie,
It sounds like we are at the same level and state of recovery. My surgery was 11 days later but I was already in the hospital when you had your surgery. I confess I was happy to see your post. Misery does love company!
This is the third day of physical therapy. It feels like it is too soon to judge its effectiveness. I went to a fundraiser on Friday, four hours in high heels, and had bad abdominal and back cramping Saturday and Sunday. Silly me, I should have known better....
The first exercises are extended kegels. It is very hard to isolate the transverse abdominal muscle on oxycodone. I do repetitions of 15 four times a day. I am trying to take as little oxycodone quantities as I can but it is tough.
Best wishes,
Cynthia

Hi Cynthia...

Gosh, we sound so alike you and I. I too after my colectomy, my ileorectal anastomosis disconnected. Mine wasn't caught for exactly 4 DAYS. I can't believe that I'm still alive. My surgeon went on vacation and the sub neglected me and this is what happened. The sub stated the leakage was soo bad, he spent hours taking out my organs and washing everything...he stated over a gallon was cleaned out and he has never seen or heard of this...well he left me to die after I complained for days!! Even I told the residents...'you mark my words, something horrific is going to happen.' After that happened, the residents were quiet & looked at me with shock everyday thereafter. Then, I believe that another mistake was made, the blood thinners were too strong (leakage caused a blood clot by my liver, again unheardof), made my incision bleed and had to remain open. I was devastated! My back killed me, screamed for days for the whole floor to hear me...due to being bedridden and the open incision. I tried my best when I got home, walked everyday, but my back hurt. 2 months for wound to close, 3 more months and I hit the gym. Thankfully haven't had anymore back pain. PT will do a world of good. We had such trama...surgery, what the leakage did to our organs, and being cut open over and over.

I'm glad you were proactive and found a diagnosis and treatment, some people would've just suffered and done nothing. You are soo strong, with time it will improve. Email me if you want to chat!!!!

((((((Christine))))))))))