Pain after months/years
As a rule, the pain caused by the operation subsides within 6 weeks. The surrounding tissue needs this time to heal.However, women with endometriosis can still experience lower abdominal pain after months or years. This then indicates that there is still a dislocated lining of the uterus in the lower abdomen.
This mucous membrane reacts to the hormone fluctuations and thus leads to pain. If the endometriosis is so severe that the uterus must be removed, the ovaries are also removed at the same time. This is the only way to ensure that the pain can be controlled. In women without endometriosis who have had their uterus removed, persistent pain for months or years is unusual and must be clarified. In the case of recurrent pain that has been preceded by a painless interval, adhesions or an infection must be considered.
Diagnosis
The intensity of pain can be easily indicated by a scale. Such scales use either a point system or a line whose endpoints symbolize “no pain” and “strongest imaginable pain”. Since pain is subjective, these scales are particularly suitable for documenting the course of pain. Such a scale would also be used in the diagnosis of pain after uterus removal. If the pain persists for unexplained reasons over a normal period of time, a pain diary can also be kept to obtain more information about the course of the pain over time.
How long does the pain last?
After a hysterectomy, pain is normal for a few weeks. However, the pain should have subsided by a maximum of six weeks after the operation.
