Still in Pain After Endometriosis Surgery? What I Wish I’d Known About Recovery

By Orisha Boychuk, NNCP | Natural Nutrition Clinical Practitioner and Pain Recovery Coach

I tried to manage my expectations before excision surgery. But deep down, I thought this might finally be my golden ticket to feeling like myself again.

I wanted to enjoy food without pain. Exercise without worrying about a flare. Have enough energy to do the things I loved. After years of pelvic pain, I was ready for life to feel different.

During my surgery, severe adhesions were found and removed from all my pelvic organs (including my bowel). I went home hopeful. What followed was a recovery I hadn’t expected, and a lesson I now carry into my work: surgery can be an important part of care, but it doesn’t always fix everything.

If you’re still struggling after endometriosis surgery, I want you to know there is hope, even if recovery looks different from what you imagined.

Incisions After Excision Surgery

When recovery did not look like I expected

One of the most unexpected symptoms was a cold, burning nerve pain throughout my pelvis. It slowly eased up over the next three months, but exercise could bring it back. As someone who loves fitness and cycling, that was hard.

I also developed a urinary tract infection that needed antibiotics. It was difficult to tell which sensations were related to the infection and which were nerve pain. That uncertainty fed my panic.

Then there were the emotions. I cried without knowing why. My feelings were up and down. I felt like a stranger in my own body.

By three months, my hope was slipping. Around six months, I realized I needed a different approach. I still wanted less pain, but I also needed help with the fear that was taking over my days.

I wish someone had told me that recovery involved more than waiting for the incisions to heal. I needed support with everything that came afterward, too.

Continued pain deserves attention

Pain after surgery does not automatically mean the surgery failed. It also does not tell us, on its own, whether endometriosis remains or has returned.

Pelvic pain can involve several overlapping factors, including pelvic floor muscle tension, bowel or bladder problems, and changes in how the nervous system processes pain. Removing endometriosis may help without resolving every contributor.

That is why ongoing pain deserves a conversation with your surgeon or healthcare provider. New or worsening symptoms need medical assessment, rather than an assumption that they are simply part of recovery. Depending on the cause, support might include medical treatment, pelvic floor physiotherapy, or other care.

You deserve to be heard, even when the explanation isn’t straightforward.

Learning to respond to pain with less fear

For me, addressing panic and anxiety became a turning point. Every symptom had been sending my thoughts straight to the worst-case scenario.

My training in Pain Reprocessing Therapy, and using the tools I learned, helped me tremendously. I began noticing the stories I was telling myself about pain and started practising a calmer response to familiar symptoms. I began to feel safer in my body and my panic subsided.

We cannot always choose our thoughts or control what we feel. But with support and practice, we can sometimes change how we respond. For me, that meant pain no longer had to lead immediately to panic.

Giving digestion the attention it deserves

Things really started to turn around when I gave my digestion more attention. I focused on having comfortable, complete bowel movements every day and making food and lifestyle choices aimed at reducing inflammation. Over time, my digestive symptoms eased, my pelvic pain decreased, and I felt so much better.

That experience shaped how I support women today. As a Natural Nutrition Clinical Practitioner, I look at digestion, bowel regularity, and nutrition together. When each of these areas are functioning optimally, the foundation is set for your body to heal, regain energy and feel better.

My starting point is nourishment: balanced meals and a variety of whole foods.

Please remember:

There is no single endometriosis diet that works for everyone.

Everyone’s body is unique, and foods that feel good for one woman may not feel good for another. Together, we explore what works for your body so you can feel nourished and more confident about what to eat.

I also look at sleep, stress, movement, and fear around symptoms. These parts of life are connected, and supporting them can help make recovery feel more manageable.

Making room for life again

Returning to fitness took longer than I expected. I listen to my body more now and don’t always push through.

Getting back into running has meant so much to me. It has helped my mental and emotional health and reminded me that I am recovering. I treasure those moments.

Healing now means finding balance, giving my body what it needs, and making room to dream again.

You may feel changed by what you have been through, but that doesn’t mean your present and future can’t be full of good things. You can keep seeking answers and support while beginning to build a meaningful life right now.

You don’t have to figure out every part of that journey alone.

Support for your next steps

In my four-month Pelvic Pain Recovery Program, I offer personalized nutrition, lifestyle, and pain recovery coaching for women navigating ongoing pelvic pain, including after endometriosis surgery. Together, we explore practical ways to support your body and rebuild confidence alongside your medical care.

Looking for more support with pelvic pain?

Explore the Pelvic Pain Recovery Program to see if it’s a good fit for you.

Orisha Boychuk is a Natural Nutrition Clinical Practitioner (NNCP), Pain Recovery Coach, and founder of One Tree Nutrition. She helps women with endometriosis and pelvic pain get symptom relief. Her approach combines personalized nutrition, lifestyle support, and coaching informed by Pain Reprocessing Therapy principles.

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