Many women undergo myomectomy as a treatment for uterine fibroid symptoms, and their bodies understandably need time to heal from the surgery. The typical recovery is between four and six weeks, depending on the extent of the surgery and the myomectomy technique used.
It is normal to experience some pain immediately after a myomectomy, but some women report pain 6 months after myomectomy or even years later.
Today, we are going to talk about different types of internal pain after a myomectomy and the potential reasons behind it. We will also provide information on UFE, a safer, less invasive treatment for fibroids that is very effective and does not create lasting pain.
What Is The Purpose Of A Myomectomy?
A myomectomy is a surgical procedure used to remove uterine fibroids (non-cancerous growths in the uterus) to provide relief from the debilitating symptoms they can cause, such as heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, infertility, and more. Unlike a hysterectomy, which involves removing the woman’s entire uterus, a myomectomy eliminates only the fibroids while preserving the uterus.
It is important to note that undergoing a myomectomy can compromise the strength and integrity of the uterus, and women who desire to have children may be subject to a mandatory C-section. Also, women who are having a myomectomy must sign a waiver giving the surgeon permission to remove their entire uterus if necessary due to complications or bleeding during the operation.
Pain After Myomectomy
There are different types of pain that women can experience after a myomectomy. Some of this pain is a normal and expected result of undergoing a myomectomy. This surgery requires incisions to be created that cut through your abdomen and into your uterus to cut out any reachable fibroids that are growing.
Right after the surgery, you might experience some discomfort and bloating in your abdomen for a few days. Your bowel movements could be irregular, and you might feel some cramping during the first week. You may also feel pain in your shoulders or back, which is caused by the gas the doctor used to expand your abdomen for better visibility during the operation.
Your doctor will prescribe some medication that will help you manage any pain or discomfort as well as instructions for properly caring for your incisions and yourself so you will experience a smooth and full recovery.
Reasons for Pain After a Myomectomy
There are many things that can contribute to internal pain after a myomectomy, including:
- Surgical Trauma
- The body needs time to heal from the tissue manipulation that occurred during the operation, and the surgical incisions are still healing, which can cause pain, especially when you exert pressure on them by moving around.
- Inflammation
- Inflammation is a natural part of the body’s healing process after surgery or an injury, but it usually causes pain and discomfort. The uterus can swell in response to the surgery and expert pressure on other organs inside the pelvic area and cause pain 3 weeks after a myomectomy or more.
- Scar Tissue
- Adhesions (scar tissue) can form and cause pain by restricting movements or pulling on internal organs or tissues with certain body movements. Scar tissue has been known to cause pelvic pain after myomectomy which is chronic years after a myomectomy.
- Infection
- Although less common, infections can develop and lead to increased internal pain after a myomectomy. During the surgery, multiple incisions are made in the abdomen and the uterus to remove fibroids. There is a small risk that these incisions, as well as the general location of the surgery, can become infected despite sterile surgical practices.
- Muscle Healing
- Cutting fibroids out of the uterus requires making incisions through the abdominal muscles and the muscular uterine wall. These areas will be sore and may be a source of pain or discomfort as they heal.
- Nerve Damage
- Nerve damage is relatively rare but can be a source of internal pain after a myomectomy. There are two nerves that are responsible for providing feeling to the lower portion of the abdomen, upper hip, thigh, and genital area. These nerves also help control muscle movement in the lower abdomen.
The challenge is that these nerves are not always in the same place on each person and have a various number of branches. They can run behind the muscles of the abdominal wall or even through it. This means that if the nerves are in an unexpected location, even the best surgeon can potentially sever a nerve by mistake.
- Cramping And Bloating
- During the early stages of healing, the uterus may be swollen, putting pressure on other internal organs and causing cramping. Many women also experience bloating after surgery due to trapped gas that was introduced to the abdomen during the procedure. These side effects should gradually go away on their own.
- Fibroid Recurrence
- Pelvic pain after a myomectomy can occur due to regrowth of fibroids that were unable to be completely removed during the initial surgery or new fibroids that have developed. One major drawback of a myomectomy is that the surgeon often cannot remove all the fibroids present.Fibroids can be deeply embedded in the uterine wall, or the patient may have numerous fibroids that would be difficult to remove during a myomectomy. In these cases, the doctor may recommend a hysterectomy, which removes your fertility and also increases a woman’s risk of developing several serious medical conditions.
Left Side Pain After Myomectomy
Some women complain of left-side pain after a myomectomy, and there can be a few different causes for this and can depend upon when their myomectomy surgery took place.
- If the fibroids removed were located more on the left side, the pain during the healing process might be more pronounced in that area;
- Sometimes trapped gas located in the intestines after surgery can cause a sharp, localized type of pain on the left side or where the gas is located;
- If the pain is 6 months after a myomectomy or longer, it could be attributed to scar tissue, which is also called an adhesion. When the body creates new collagen to repair a wound, it does not form in a nice uniform pattern like normal but in a haphazard way, which leads to scar tissue. This tissue can attach two or more organs together or cause soft tissues to pull in response to movement, causing pain.
How Can You Avoid Pain After A Myomectomy?
No woman should have to live with the painful, life-interrupting symptoms of uterine fibroids, but they should not have to trade one set of painful symptoms for another either. If you are suffering from fibroid symptoms, uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) offers a safe and effective alternative to surgery. UFE offers many benefits, including:
- It is a non-surgical outpatient procedure, which means there is no hospital stay and you can go home the same day.
- UFE is minimally invasive and works by blocking the blood supply to fibroids, causing them to shrink and die;
- It does not involve cutting into the uterus, which significantly reduces the risk of complications that scar tissue can cause;
- The uterus remains intact and uncompromised, allowing a woman to retain her fertility;
- A full recovery from UFE takes about a week, but many women can return to their usual schedule within a few days;
- Most women experience far less pain and discomfort after UFE compared to myomectomy surgery.
Contact the Atlanta Fibroid Center to learn more about this 45-minute outpatient procedure that can give you back control over your schedule and improve your quality of life. If you are a candidate for surgery, you are a candidate for UFE. Set up a consultation today!
