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What Causes Severe Back Pain After A Colonoscopy?
Question: I am 56 and had my first colonoscopy last Sept. woke up during procedure with terrible pain and they put be back under when I awoke I had terrible pain in my back and I was not able to stand up. Stayed in bed that night and experienced the same pain in the morning but was able to make it to the livingroom. The pain subsided after stretching for awhile and I was able to walk. Numbness came over my leg and now after an MRI I found out that I have 2 bulging discs. What happened to me during this procedure?
Brief Answer:
Nothing bad happened to you during colonoscopy...
Detailed Answer:
Hi my dear,
It is normal to get pain while having colonoscopy. Normally, it is a bearable pain. However, there are some patients who are more sensitive than others and find this pain unbearable (as in your case).
Nothing bad happened to your during the procedure. Bulging disc instead, is associated with unbearable pain sometimes, depending on the severity of the bulge and its location.
If you got numbness over your leg, I assume, the bulging disc is located at lumbar/sacral level of the spine.
Hope it answered to your queries! Let me know if I can assist you further!
Dr.Albana
Nothing bad happened to you during colonoscopy...
Detailed Answer:
Hi my dear,
It is normal to get pain while having colonoscopy. Normally, it is a bearable pain. However, there are some patients who are more sensitive than others and find this pain unbearable (as in your case).
Nothing bad happened to your during the procedure. Bulging disc instead, is associated with unbearable pain sometimes, depending on the severity of the bulge and its location.
If you got numbness over your leg, I assume, the bulging disc is located at lumbar/sacral level of the spine.
Hope it answered to your queries! Let me know if I can assist you further!
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Why did the bulging disc show up right after the procedure? I did not have it before and I did have it when I woke up from the colonoscopy? And yes I now have 2 bulging discs S1, L5 and L5, L4.
Brief Answer:
Bulging discs has nothing to do with colonoscopy..
Detailed Answer:
Hi back my dear,
Bulging disc has nothing to do with the procedure. To be sure that you did not have it before the colonoscopy, I want to know when was the last MRI or X-ray you did prior to colonoscopy.
Usually, bulging discs are small in size and can increase size by aging. Sometimes, they are asymptomatic, but can give pain when nerve roots are involved.
Thank you!
Dr.Albana
Bulging discs has nothing to do with colonoscopy..
Detailed Answer:
Hi back my dear,
Bulging disc has nothing to do with the procedure. To be sure that you did not have it before the colonoscopy, I want to know when was the last MRI or X-ray you did prior to colonoscopy.
Usually, bulging discs are small in size and can increase size by aging. Sometimes, they are asymptomatic, but can give pain when nerve roots are involved.
Thank you!
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I did not have any xrays or MRI's prior to the procedure because I never had any trouble before that day.
Brief Answer:
Following suggestions...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
The pain you are experiencing is related to colonoscopy as it is a normal reaction to such procedure. It might take several weeks not to feel the pain.
With regards to bulging disc, I should have a look at the MRI results to judge over their size. I still think the pain you are having is due to procedure.
I suppose :
- they might have conducted a quick procedure or
- the procedure was difficult due to resistance and took longer to conclude the procedure,
- thus, the sedative was not enough to keep you asleep.
All these might have caused you wake up in the middle of the procedure and feeling pain. The muscles are still sore from that painful procedure and still giving the feeling of pain.
Once again, with regards to bulging discs, I should know their size first before admitting that the pain you are feeling is due to bulging discs.
Hope it answered to your queries!
All the best!
Dr.Albana
Following suggestions...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
The pain you are experiencing is related to colonoscopy as it is a normal reaction to such procedure. It might take several weeks not to feel the pain.
With regards to bulging disc, I should have a look at the MRI results to judge over their size. I still think the pain you are having is due to procedure.
I suppose :
- they might have conducted a quick procedure or
- the procedure was difficult due to resistance and took longer to conclude the procedure,
- thus, the sedative was not enough to keep you asleep.
All these might have caused you wake up in the middle of the procedure and feeling pain. The muscles are still sore from that painful procedure and still giving the feeling of pain.
Once again, with regards to bulging discs, I should know their size first before admitting that the pain you are feeling is due to bulging discs.
Hope it answered to your queries!
All the best!
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Wait, you first said that the pain was not caused by the procedure and now you are saying it is, I am confused. Do you think that something happened during the colonoscopy that caused my bulging discs? I did not have pain nor did I have numbness in my leg before the procedure.
Brief Answer:
Following answers....
Detailed Answer:
Hi back my dear,
Ok, I should summarize everything we discussed. My intention is to help you and provide a second opinion. I am sorry if I caused confusion; that was not my intention.
Now, when a doctor starts giving opinion regarding the health status of the patient, should analyze all his/her clinical data.
The job would become more difficult when it comes to online consultation as many of patient's medical data is missing. The judgement is based on the few data provided by you.
I have gone through our discussion from the beginning, and would repeat the same: Colonoscopy is a procedure which is described as painful for some of my patients, while others do not have any problem.
In your case, it has caused pain, which is lasting until now. I need to have a look at the colonoscopy report myself to find out why. The doctors who have undergone the procedure might have written what happened during the procedure (details). If not yet, you need to ask them and provide the details of the procedure. Then, you can pass them to me for further assistance.
Once again, to judge over bulging discs, I should have a look at the MRI results regarding the size of bulging discs and if they are compressing the nearby nerves roots.
Sometimes, pain derived from intra-abdominal organs (especially when it comes to colon/bowel), might be also experienced as leg pain/numbness.
All the best!
Following answers....
Detailed Answer:
Hi back my dear,
Ok, I should summarize everything we discussed. My intention is to help you and provide a second opinion. I am sorry if I caused confusion; that was not my intention.
Now, when a doctor starts giving opinion regarding the health status of the patient, should analyze all his/her clinical data.
The job would become more difficult when it comes to online consultation as many of patient's medical data is missing. The judgement is based on the few data provided by you.
I have gone through our discussion from the beginning, and would repeat the same: Colonoscopy is a procedure which is described as painful for some of my patients, while others do not have any problem.
In your case, it has caused pain, which is lasting until now. I need to have a look at the colonoscopy report myself to find out why. The doctors who have undergone the procedure might have written what happened during the procedure (details). If not yet, you need to ask them and provide the details of the procedure. Then, you can pass them to me for further assistance.
Once again, to judge over bulging discs, I should have a look at the MRI results regarding the size of bulging discs and if they are compressing the nearby nerves roots.
Sometimes, pain derived from intra-abdominal organs (especially when it comes to colon/bowel), might be also experienced as leg pain/numbness.
All the best!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I will contact my hospital and request the details of my procedure. I have a disc with the mri and the results on it but I am not sure how to get that to you, any suggestions?
Brief Answer:
Upload the files at the following e-mail address..
Detailed Answer:
Hi back my dear,
You can upload any disc or other files at:
YYYY@YYYY
with subject line: "Attention to Dr.Albana Sejdini"
Thank you!
Upload the files at the following e-mail address..
Detailed Answer:
Hi back my dear,
You can upload any disc or other files at:
YYYY@YYYY
with subject line: "Attention to Dr.Albana Sejdini"
Thank you!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Had to sign a release form for the details of the procedure. The hospital Med Records promised to send it right out. I will forward asap
Brief Answer:
Looking forward to have your new reports in...
Detailed Answer:
Hi there,
Looking forward to have the reports in.
All the best my dear!
Looking forward to have your new reports in...
Detailed Answer:
Hi there,
Looking forward to have the reports in.
All the best my dear!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
reports received
Brief Answer:
Can I have the written report please?
Detailed Answer:
Hi there my dear,
Thank you for sending in the reports. I have gone through them carefully and yes, I have noticed the bulging discs.
I need to ask about the written report of colonoscopy. The report that I received were the photographs during MRI and not for colonoscopy. I need the written report where the whole procedure is described, so, I can assist you further.
Thank you my dear!
Dr.Albana
Can I have the written report please?
Detailed Answer:
Hi there my dear,
Thank you for sending in the reports. I have gone through them carefully and yes, I have noticed the bulging discs.
I need to ask about the written report of colonoscopy. The report that I received were the photographs during MRI and not for colonoscopy. I need the written report where the whole procedure is described, so, I can assist you further.
Thank you my dear!
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I have signed the forms and returned them in person, they said they would send asap but I haven't seen them yet, I will call them!
Brief Answer:
No problem....
Detailed Answer:
Hi back my dear,
Ok, no problem. By the way, may I know how are you doing these days? What about your pain and other problems you reported? Is everything ok? I hope so.
Thank you!
Dr.Albana
No problem....
Detailed Answer:
Hi back my dear,
Ok, no problem. By the way, may I know how are you doing these days? What about your pain and other problems you reported? Is everything ok? I hope so.
Thank you!
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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