C-Section Adhesions & Scar Tissue
If you’ve had a c-section, or any surgery for that matter, you have scar tissue and most likely adhesions as well.
As you heal from having a c-section your body will naturally produce scar tissue which is the body’s way of replacing the damaged, cut tissues at the incision site.
But there are really two kinds of scar tissue. There is the skin scar tissue which is what occurs at the incision site but there are also the adhesions which is the deep scar tissue that occurs in the facial layers of the body.
These adhesions can tighten and pull on the addominal cavity affecting your muscles, organs or even your bones, nerves or arteries. When this happens it can cause things like bowel or digestion problems, back or abdomen pain, it can also become problematic for future c-sections.
Of all the common c-section complications, adhesions can be the most troublesome.
Adhesions begin forming almost immediately after surgery and for many women adhesions are painless, never causing any complications whatsoever, however for others they are not only painful, they can create complications to organs such as the ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, bladder or even cause bowel obstruction. Adhesions can also interfere with subsequent births causing infertility.
For women with extensive adhesion complications such as excessive pain or infertility, abdominal adhesions have successfully been treated with laparoscopic surgery to remove the adhesions. This procedure is less invasive and has been shown to relieve pain and also help improve fertility.
Massage Therapy has also shown to improve adhesion related issues, however more investigation on the benefits of massage is the topic of my next investigation.
HELLO MY NAME IS LAVON IM 48 I HAVE HAD 3 C SECTIONS KIDS 31 ,27,23 BUT NOW MY STOMACH HAVE BEEN GIVING ME PAIN IVE BEEN CHECKED I HAVE IBS BUT I DO HAVE A LOT OF FAT I SOMETIMES HURT ALOT I FEEL LIKE SOMETHING IS PULLING WHEN IM LAYING DOWN WHEN I GO TO TURN I HAVE TO HOLD MY STOMACH I FEEL LIKE ITS THE EXCESS FAT HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE SCARED TISSUE CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME THANKYOU LAVON
Hi Lavon,
You may very well have scar tissue that is pulling on your muscles. Have you checked with your doctor on this? The problem is that x-rays and ultrasounds do not detect scar tissue. It’s mostly through examination that a doctor can detect how much scar tissue you have.
There is a procedure now called visceral minipulation. This is a gentle massage technique that helps release scar tissue and internal adhesions, it’s designed to increase your range of motion in your organs. This procedure is used for a lot of things and scar tissue is also one of them.
There are many centers that perform the procedure, however I would check with your doctor first, see what s(he) says about your scar tissue first. The procedure may not be for everyone but it might be worth checking into.
hello,
my name is bindu. my first child is a c-section baby, now 3yrs old. now i am 8months pregnant.
my first incision is still itchy and i still feel some discomfort in that area. i heard of adhesions and massages to cure it. does your book cover this area. are there any self-massages included in your book. i live in place where i cant find any experts or therapists to cure adhesions. my c-section is due in 50 days. please help.
Hi BIndu,
At the present time I don’t have useful information in my book about adhesion massage or visceral manipulation. I’m researching the topic to inclusion to my book for the next release. I don’t know precisely enough about how to do self-massage to instruct you on this, however you can check on Amazon as they have several books on the topic that may help.
Kind Regards, Elizabeth
Hello
I am 43 , I had 4 c-sections before I was 24. I am pregnant after 19 years .the doctor i went to see tells me that my uterus will explode and me and the baby will die. he did not check me, it was a consult.. what are the odds for me dieing? I don’t have much time to make a decision and i’m scared to death.. please help..
Sounds to me like that doctor doesn’t want your case
I’m a little perplexed that a doctor would say your uterus will explode and both you and baby will die, that’s a little over the top. I don’t think this is a doctor you want anyway… goodness!
Having had 4 c-sections means you have adhesions which is a problem for many doctors and with good reason, rupture of the uterus or other complications are a concern but there are women who have had 5 or more c-sections and they didn’t die.
Do you or did you have pain or complications from adhesions now or in the past? That may be a clue as to whether you may have adhesion complications.
I would suggest finding a doctor that is willing to not only take your case but is willing to support you and watch your pregnancy closely, someone that isn’t going to scare you. I personally feel the attitude and communication you get from your doctor makes a big difference, you need someone caring, willing and experienced. Worry also complicates things so try not to let this doctor cause you unnecessary fear and worry, often easier said than done, I know, but it’s important to be positive and surround yourself with professional people that are too.
hi my name is shani i am 48 and have had to normal del and 3 sections since the birth of my last child who is now 19 i have suffererd with ibs and crippling pain in my left side i have had tests done and scans which havent showed anything the pain is so bad sometims i just curl up with a hot water bottle it gets really bad during and after a menstral cycle if i need to cough i have to hold my stomach becoz it is to painful i am wondering if this cauld know be adhesions when i went for my scan the scan lady said what i was discribing sounded like a problem with muscle damage but im not so sure i would be gratfeful if you cauld let me know what you think thanks
Hey Shani, it’s possible that scar tissue could be causing the problem. Scar tissue doesn’t show up on scans and xrays so it’s hard to know, even for the doctors.
Has a doctor examined you yet? He should be able to determine the problem from an exam. IBS and pain can be symptoms of scar tissue but obviously I can’t say for sure. Until your doctor can examine you it’s anybody’s guess – but scar tissue is a good possibility.
My name is Amber…and I had a c-section 8 yrs ago with my twins. I have had some discomfort and pulling and burning on my right side right at the scar site. And have recently noticed a hard lump in that area. Could it be scar tissue causing this pain? And can it happen this long after my c-section? (8yrs)
Amber, Just off the top of my head this sounds like an adhesion problem and yes, adhesions can cause pain many years later, in fact it happens quite a bit, however it’s important to check with your doctor, even though it sounds like an adhesion problem no one can know for sure without seeing a doctor first.
[...] a c-section, subsequent c-sections will often take longer, this is most often due to the amount of c-section adhesions & scar tissue that a doctor has to maneuver through to get the baby [...]
My girlfreind is going in for surgery to try an remove scar tissue from her c-sections. She worrys that she may not be able to have more kids if her uterus has attached to the scar tissue. Is there any truth to this and can it be fixed if so?
Hey RJ, C-Section adhesions that are removed through surgery are fairly successful and they help over 60% of the time, so there’s a good chance your friend should be able to have more kids, however that’s just a general observance, since I don’t know anything about your friend and her medical history I can’t say for sure but for most healthy women the outcome is positive.
i am 2 weeks away from having my fourth c section honestly im very afraid. what would be the risk of having 4? the last was done in 2008
Hi Von, Adhesions can complicate things but what does your doctor say? He’s really your best indicator. Since this will be your 4th c-section the surgery itself may take longer because there is more scar tissue for the doctor to get through, but for many women, they are fine. Placenta problems can also be a risk, specifically placenta accreta but if you are 2 weeks away from delivery you’re probably fine as bleeding may occur in the third trimester with placenta accreta.
Be aware that your doctor may urge you not to have more children as the next c-section would put you at even greater risk. Having had your last c-section in 2008 isn’t as much of a concern, it would be more of a concern if you were having a VBAC and that’s not an option after 3 c-sections.
Don’t be afraid, if you’ve had a healthly pregnancy and you’re feeling good you have every reason to believe everything will be fine. On your next visit to the doctor, if you have one, ask about these things, discuss your fears and get your doctor to tell you what these things mean for you and how he deals with complications he comes across. Best of luck to you and your little one and don’t worry!
thanks so much for your advice. i really needed to hear those words of encouragement.
I have had 2 C Sections, the last one being 1996. I Have had a pain on my lower right side for many years, whilst stretching or sneeezing. My abdomen has swelled and gone away for most of this time. Now my abdomen has been swollen for about 3 months without going down. I have been given movacol to take regularly. I have had an MRI scan, CT scan and sigmoidoscopy, I am waiting for results. Sigmoidoscopy was clear. Is it likely to be adhesions? If so, what will happen next.
It’s hard for me to say what will happen next without knowing what the problem actually is. The amount of pain your having and the cause will determine what you doctor wants to do. If adhesions are the the problem you may want to look into visceral manipulation or physical therapy, something you should check with your doctor about.
Hi, i had a c-section 10 day ago, i am experiencing pain when i urinate in my lower abdomen, and I also have a painless swelling near the right side of my incision. I had two c-sections before , the last in 2008 January and both had no issues. Please advise
You should check with your doctor however the swelling and lumpy feelings around your incision is often normal and should go away with time, however since you’re also experiencing pain in your abdomen when urinating there may be something more going on. I would urge you to ask your doctor.
Hi I’ve had the same burning pain in my right side an slight swelling on my right side since my caserean four years ago. Had ultrasound Friday and the lady said nothing was jumping out to her.doctor wants me to have LH/FHS blood test and I’m unsure why.
Hi Aimee, Unfortunately an ultrasound won’t detect adhesions or scar tissue. Not sure either about the blood test, only thing I can think of is that the blood test could possibly detect something that might be going on such as an infection. Hope all turns out OK for you
Sorry I meant to ask whether this could be adhesions? I’m really worried can u help???
Hi Amy, this could be adhesions but I have no way of knowing for sure. If it does turn out to be adhesions try looking into physical therapy or visceral manipulation. This is a massage therapy that can loosen adhesions if they attach themselves to organs or other tissues. It can also help reduce the pain and other complications they may cause.
The best thing for you right now is NOT TO WORRY. Worry is stressful and can make you sick. Take a deep breath and relax. It doesn’t sound life threatening to me. You’re doing the right thing by having it checked out so simply sit tight until you truly know what is going on – promise me you will do that
hi my name is samantha i have had 2 c-sections one 5 years ago and the other 4 years ago. i have also had two misscages and an etopic pregnancy there last year. From i have had my daughter i have had problems with my section scar its always been sore. After i had an etopic pregnancy i noticed a red lump on my scar i have been to see the doctor and they said there was nothng wrong with i didnt believe the doctor so i ask to see another doctor and she was saying she thinks i could be a stitch that has not went away has i had to get the other stitches cut out. It get really sore around that time off the month its can be very tender to
Hi
My name is Mahaveer My wife had c-section 4 days back, I would like to know the methods to follow to remove/reduce her internal and external scares, any oil, massage,creams, yoga, excises etc.. that can bring her back to normal postion, and completely take away marks on her tommy and bring her body back to shape.. Please help us to follow best methods.
Hi Mahaveer, At this time you should not do anything to treat or try to reduce the appearance of her scars, it’s much to soon. If you do, you risk infection. For getting back into shape there is a c-section exercise guide by Jago Holmes that is quite good. Also Maui Healing kits has a c-section recovery kit with Hemming Scar therapy that may help.
Hope that helps
Hi – I was just wondering if scarr tissue could really be dangerous in the future. I had my second c-section 4 months ago and the Dr. said there was a lot of scar tissue and it could affect me in the future. My scar does not seem like it is heeling as good as the first time. It is still very sensitive, itchy and lumpy and I have started working out again and my scar really starts bothering me. I dontk now for sure if I should contact the Dr, is the scar tissue getting worse, maybe connecting to other organs and if so, can this harm you? I have had problems going to the bathroom every since the surgery….It is just always so uncomfortable. Any advice?
Thanks!!
Danni, it’s hard for me to say but scar tissue can cause some problems, short and long term. The itchy and lumpiness should go away at some point. I’ve known it to take a year or more. When you say you have trouble going to the bathroom, what kind of trouble? Usually when scar tissue adheres to other organs you have a lot of internal pain, if this is what’s happening you should check with your doctor. The problem is there’s not a lot that can be done for adhesions. Having surgery to remove them just creates more adhesions. They also can’t be seen in x-rays or sonograms. Massage therapy has been the popular trend and I understand it does help, but talk to your doctor first, if he isn’t concerned then I’d sit tight and let your body heal completely.
I have been having mild pain and buring since I had a c section in 2007. I assume its adhesions but recently I noticed a bean size lump an inch or two above the incision sight. Its on the inside and I was just wondering if you can feel adhesions. Its sore on that side and in that area. Its a new thing though. That area has been sore before and I would feel around and it kinda felt like there should be a bruise there but there never was. It always felf kinda lumpy but I am guessing it was just fatty tissue until I felt this one that seems harder and tender. ANy help?
Hi-I have had 2 sections in 05 and 07 without complications. In 09 I started to notice some discomfort in my left lower abdomen that radiates up to my hip at times. I notice that it starts during ovulation and continues for a few weeks on and off. Over the past 4 months I’m having problems with my bladder-urgency and irritation around the urethra area with a negative U/A. I have had 2 Ultrasounds-both negative and a cystoscopy that showed scarring on my bladder. The urologist said that was probably from my c-sections. I guess my question is can this all be caused from c-section adhesions and can these adhesions effect neighboring nerves? I can live with the discomfort in my abdomen but how can I confirm that it’s from adhesions? Any help or suggestions is much appreciated!!
Hey Michelle, so sorry to hear about our pain, I know that must be troublesome for you.
I can’t confirm that this is from adhesions, in fact it may be difficult for a doctor to determine that. The scarring on your bladder may have something to do with it. Adhesions can affect other nerves and organs the problem is it’s very hard to confirm that.
Hi,
I’m Shirlie, I’ve had an emergency c-section 2007. I managed to get back on my feet after 3 months, but then suddenly began to experience strong burning pains just below the stitching, and a lump that appears to be growing. This discomfort occurs a fee weeks before my menistration, and after! It is extremely painful at times I’m bed ridden. When I cough sneeze, or try to get up from sitting or lying down is absolutely painful! If my knickers touches this area, or any item of clothing, the agony I’m in is so unbearable for my husband and children to see! I have visited my doctor and told me I’m not alone, gave tablets to take and said it was the stomache muscle tissue stitched in an error of emergency! My husbands wants me to go for further tests to have it removed, but I am scared of experiencing more pain! I’m also a match to donate my kidney to my sister who has Renal failure. Please bless me with your wisdom!
Kind Regards
I’m so sorry Shirlie to hear of your pain and discomfort but I have to say I’m with your husband, I think you should go for further tests and consider having it removed. Having surgery may end the problem, not having surgery could prolong your pain and suffering indefinitely. It’s certainly something to consider.
Are you expecting donate your kidney as well?
I had a c-section 24 years ago and 2 succesful vbac’s after that. The incision was vertical and recently at the lower end of the scaring, it seems to have stretched and is red and very sensitive. Is this normal so many years later? Infection wouldn’t be a concern would it? That same area of the scar was slower in healing as well, because of it’s location, and was not as nice and clean in looks as the rest of the scar.
Martha, it’s unusual to have problems with redness 24 years later. How long have you had the redness and soreness? It may be an ingrown hair or an acne formation. It’s hard for me to tell but I’d watch it and if it doesn’t go away or gets worse check with your doctor.
I have had 3 c Sections in the last 5 years. 4 1/2 months after my last one I have had chronic loose stools. I have had ct scan, mri, ultrasounds, stools samples, colonoscopy, endoscopy and blood work done all are okay. the only test that came back with a problem was a test for malabsorption – 72 hour fecal fat was at 27mmol/d. i took flagyl (antiobiotic) which temporarily cleared up the problem. this has been an ongoing problem for 6 months . anyone else have this happen after their c section? could adhesions cause this problem? I have no pain. they have ruled out crohns, colitis, celiac. HEELP
I had 2 pregnancies & 2 c-sections…the last one being 11 years ago. For the past year I have had severe back pain which wakes me up every night. We bought a new mattress, but that didn’t fix it. So I ended up at the chiropractor. After many visits and little relief, we did x-rays & discovered scoliosis (but the kind that causes the spine to rotate), bulging discs, pinched nerves & arthritis. The chiro said it didn’t make sense why his treatments weren’t bringing me relief. My range of motion is fantastic…I can lift my legs like a dancer, but have muscle spasms in my lower back and pain across the hips. He eventually put me on an inversion table and figured that would start relieving those disc problems. As I laid on the table, I noticed that my abdomen was really hard. I told him about it and when he started examining the area he found a considerable amount of scar tissue related to my c-sections. He then explained that it made total sense for the scar tissue to draw up the abdominal muscles which in turn is causing the spine to rotate thus the disc & muscle problems. Now we’re trying to figure out what to do. Do you know of other women with this problem and where I can turn to for relief. Is there a support group out there? Any help is appreciated.
Hi Shirlie again!
Yes I have just recently found out that I’m a match to donate my kidney to my
sister, she has renal failure for 9 years! My sister older than her died November with the same illness. I just want her to have a better quality of life and live long enough to see her daughter (5) marry and have children! She has not expectations on me, but I don’t believe she should suffer any longer!
Yes, scar tissue may very well be the culprit. Try the ICAN Network, here’s the link. http://www.ican-online.org/ they do quite a bit of support for c-section moms and they also have a forum that you can bring your questions and concerns to. I think you’ll get a lot of feedback there. Good luck
What a wonderful person you are. Your sister is a lucky lady. I actually just found out myself that my sister will be losing a kidney due to cancer. It’s forced me to think about what it might be like having to donate a kidney myself, although if her remaining kidney fails her husband is a perfect match so I guess that would fall on his shoulders, but having thought about it myself it’s a big step in someone’s life to have to do that. May God bless you and best of luck to you
I am 39 this August. Had a c-section 4/5/06. At times, when sitting down, I feel as if there is something in my lower abdominal area that is ‘in they way’ and it is uncomfortable and sometimes, painful. I am now beginning to experience a nagging discomfort (almost a scraping feeling), behind the left edge of my scar. Additionally, my stomach at certain times during the month is so bloated I look like I’m 5 months pregnant! Could this be adhesion or some other issue?
Hello,
I had two c-sections; one in ‘96 and the other in ‘00, and two miscarriages and a d&c in between. I’m truly grateful that I have two healthy children. The past 6 years or so I noticed a gradual change in bowels, from chronic loose stools (since childhood) to constipation. Of course I was given a colonoscopy and the only thing the doctor found was that my bowels were “kinky”. She had to give me more medication part of the way through the procedure because it was so painful. I’ve also had an endoscopy since then due to heartburn – which I have never experienced before in my life – even with pregnancy. A small hiatal hernia was found, nothing else.
The only explanation for these symptoms that I can come up with is adhesions. Does this sound plausible or familiar to anyone?
Thanks so much for your time.
It could be adhesions, the problem is it’s hard for anyone to know for sure, even the doctor as adhesions don’t show up on xrays or ultrasounds. I’d check out the bloating, not sure if that is a side effect of adhesions. I’d check with your doctor on that.