Is it sometimes "normal" to have pain 5 mos post-colostomy surgery? (partial rectum removed- cancer.) sharp spasms of pains off & on in lower region.

Yes: Pain can occur at least up to 5 months postsurgery after any major abdominal procedure when a partial resection of the rectum has taken place and there is no colostomy, it infers that anastomosis has been performed. Occassionally the suture line starts to close down partially narrowing the lumen of the rectum. One must check that this has not happened. Sometimes dilatation needed.