You describe cramps, not unlike menstrual cramps, after masturbation. Orgasm includes contraction of pelvic floor muscles, and it sounds like you're experiencing some spasms of those muscles. Radical hysterectomies often require tissue removal or dissection surrounding the uterus and ovaries. It's likely your spasms are caused within nerves and muscles that are still healing.
I suspect this will improve with continued healing, but using an anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen may help relieve the pain. If, three months or so after surgery, when most healing has taken place, the spasms and pain persist, a consultation with a pelvic floor physical therapist may be helpful. They can assess the muscles and nerves of the pelvic floor and often remedy persistent pain.
Continue that healing work! I'm hopeful the pain will resolve itself.
Dr. Barb DePree, M.D., has been a gynecologist and women’s health provider for almost 30 years and a menopause care specialist for the past ten.
41 comments
I’m 7 months post op-kept my ovaries. I’m having horrible muscle spasms and labor contractions when I walk. I push like I’m in labor, I cramp and have burning and tingling up my sternum that shoots me out of my sleep. The spasms go all the way up my abdomen I cant move without pain and sitting in a car is impossible.
Catherine, unfortunately I can’t really answer how long symptoms like this may last. Healing is a varied event that is difficult to predict. If there is bleeding in the area, that can cause pain, until that blood absorbs there will likely be continued discomfort. Please do follow up with your provider if you continue to feel pain so they can help you manage your pain and recovery.
I had a laparoscopy for my hysterectomy on monday may 20th exactly 7 days ago. Last night i began to feel contractions like if I was in labor. Worst feeling in the world. With xtra dosage of meds n heating pad slowly did the pain go away but this lasted hours. This morning as soon as I woke up the pain came back. My doctor said its spasms and common but my question is how long will they last. I can’t take anymore of it. There’s a reason a had epidurals wirh my children. How can I prevent from getting these spasms.
Trish, I really don’t know what the cause of your pain might be. I assume the hysterectomy was done in an attempt to alleviate the pain, so presumably it was not uterine in origin. A post-operative visit/exam would be important to make sure there is no obvious surgery related issue. Then I think an assessment with a pelvic floor physical therapist would be an important consideration.
I had severe cramping and lower back pain prior to a total hysterectomy (kept cervix) which was performed on Feb 6, 2019. So I’m 5 weeks out. I am having severe cramping and it feels like it did before hysterectomy. I can’t hardly work due to the pain and I have a desk job. I had a colonoscopy about 3 months ago as well. All was good. I have been diagnosed with IBS years ago. Could this be where the pain is coming from?