C Section Scar — C-Section Recovery Kit blog

C Section Pain And Adhesions

September 22, 2010 by C-Section Recovery admin 14 Comments

C-section pain is commonly caused by adhesion formation that occurs after the surgery. Adhesions form as the first step in the healing process after any surgery, trauma, infection, or inflammation. As the first step in the healing process, tiny strands of collagen rush to the site that has been cut. There, they lay down in a random pattern to create the powerful bonds we call adhesions.

After a C-section, these adhesions remain in the body for life, as a permanent by-product of the surgery. Wherever they form, adhesions join internal bodily structures with strong glue-like bonds that can last a lifetime

As the body’s tissues heal and adhesions form, the tissues begin to shrink. This can result in an uncomfortable pulling sensation or pain. This contraction creates more mechanical irritation, often perpetuating the process of adhesion formation.

When adhesions form in the delicate folds of the bowels, they can create pain or digestive problems such as diarrhea, constipation, or irritable bowel syndrome. In severe cases, these adhesions can cause bowel obstruction, a potentially life-threatening condition. C-section adhesions can also form in the delicate tissues of the reproductive tract, causing secondary infertility, pelvic pain or intercourse pain.

Adhesions may impair fertility in women by causing blockage of the fallopian tubes. It has been estimated that:

* At least one-third of women who suffer from pelvic pain have adhesions as a cause of or contributor to the pain.
* Adhesions involving the ovaries or fallopian tubes are responsible for 15-20 percent of female infertility cases.
* Small bowel obstruction is often a surgical emergency and is particularly common after gynecological surgery.

The British Journal of Surgery, 1999 (Ellis)1 reported that 35% of all open abdominal or pelvic surgery patients were readmitted to the hospital more than twice to treat post-surgical adhesions, during the 10 years after their original surgery. Many follow-up surgeries (22%) occurred in the first year after surgery, and readmissions continued steadily throughout the 10-year period of the study.

According to a recent study in Birth (2008), 18 percent of women who underwent C-section surgery reported pain at the incision six months postpartum. A study in Digestive Surgery showed that more than 90% of patients develop adhesions following open abdominal surgery and 55% to 100% of women develop adhesions following pelvic surgery. Adhesions can also be a cause of painful sex after a c-section

C section adhesions can cause ongoing pain or dysfunction, long after the surface scars have healed. You can reduce the likelihood of these complications by using our Deluxe C Section Recovery Kit. Our uniquely designed 100% Cotton Bikini Belt can be worn immediately after cesarean delivery, or other abdominal surgery. The Hem It In Binder can be worn three weeks post surgery, to further accelerate your healing and reduce pain.

The kit also includes the Hemming Scar Therapy Guide, created by a Professional Massage therapist who experienced an emergency C Section. The DVD guide gives you many simple and effective tools to reduce adhesions and other complication and assist you in a faster and better c section recovery.

Adhesions After C Section

May 7, 2010 by C-Section Recovery admin 17 Comments

There are a variety of problems that can arise as a result of a c section delivery, among them are adhesions. Adhesions are fibrous bands that form between tissues and organs. They may be thought of as internal scar tissue.

Many women who have had c-section later experience low back and hip pain. The c-section scar, if untreated can form prominent and internal scar tissue just above the pubic bone. When this scar tissue is thick with adhesions it can pull on the hip flexors or psoas musscles which originate at the lumbar vertabrae T12-L5 (your lower back). When one hip flexor is hypertonic (having a very high muscular tension) it will typically pull on the lower lumbar spine. As a result pain is experienced, typically either sciatic pain or lower back pain.

Another symptom that has been seen with cesarean moms is that they may have issues with lower digestion such as irritable bowel syndrome or elimination difficulties. Again, the tightening created by the scar tissue pulls within the abdominal cavity and thus affects the organs. Painful sex after c-section is another complication that can be caused by adhesions.

Bottom line, typically the scar tissue that formed after the c-section can tighten and pull the body out of balance and the symptoms of pain in the back really originates in the abdomen. Fortunately there are solutions that work for most women. First and foremost caring for the scar with daily self massage will soften the tissue dramatically and prevent adhesions.

After two months the addition of null will further diminish and heal the scar tissue. Myofascial and craniosacral treatment can also help release any remaining pulling from the scar tissue in the pelvic floor. The hip flexor(s) can then return to balance. Caring for the scar in these ways creates relaxation of the tightened lower abdominal tissue relieving pressure on the low back, and typically avoids potential future problems and pain.

Couple the benefits of such a self care routine with those of binding and you have The Deluxe C Section Recovery Kit. We cared enough to design and make it, please care enough to use it.

A video showing how adhesions are treated with laparoscopic keyhole surgery

C-Section Recovery – Sutures Better Than Staples

April 15, 2010 by C-Section Recovery admin Leave a Comment

Women may have an easier recovery after a cesarean section if the surgeon uses sutures rather than staples to close the incision. In most cases staples increase the likelihood of c section recovery problems and can cause unsightly scar healing. You have a right to request sutures, your c section recovery will be aided if you do.

Your C Section Scar Needs Massage

October 22, 2009 by C-Section Recovery admin 33 Comments

After Pregnancy, your abdomen has just undergone tremendous change and it needs all the support it can get. Massaging your c-section scar for even a few minutes a day can have a huge benefit.

As you heal, your skin and scar will change, and the feelings around your scar will shift. Many women say they feel afraid to touch their scar and that it feels numb. In fact touching your abdomen after the surgery will help speed healing and reduce the size, feel and look of your scar. Because massaging stimulates the nerve endings it will bring back the feelings and the numbness will disappear.

Massaging your c-section scar can also help avoid incontinence as well as reduce pain. Massaging your scar helps it to heal faster, and because it softens the scar tissue to create a flat smooth scar. Massaging your c-section incision helps organize the scar tissue because regular massage provides compression which increases circulation and connection, stimulating the healing process. Self massage of your healing scar reduces the potential for c-section scar adhesions, so consistent touch and massage will help the look and feel of your scar, as well as promote circulation and awareness.

When you avoid touching your incision the tissue can end up being lumpy and discolored. If you feel lumps, chords, numb areas, and have bladder issues, then adhesions may be forming, through the disorganized scar tissue. Tissue fibers a like little pick up sticks, they need to be rolled and organized to optimize cohesion and healing. Consistent massage and dry skin brushing for as little as 2-5 minutes a day will make a big difference in your healing. Massage gently and always hold below your scar to avoid it opening.

The actual scar is much deeper than what you can see, so massage is key, and the longer you massage, the softer the scar and the deeper you can penetrate the abdomen to organize and help deeper levels internally. If you keloid easily, purchase silica strips or gel to aid in discoloration and scar texture on the surface

You can learn about tissue repair and how to help yourself avoid complications from the C-Section surgery from my self help Scar therapy guide which is available as a DVD. The DVD takes you through the massage techniques of compression, rolling, cross fiber friction, lifting, and other fascial, cranial sacral and energetic moves to keep the scar tissue soft, avoid adhesions and bring peace and harmony into the system. The techniques are easy to do, just follow along for 2-5 minutes a day. It’s never too late to work on an old scar!

The DVD is available with the C-Section Recovery Kit and the Deluxe version! I encourage you to empower yourself and actively assist the healing of your c-section scar using binding, massage and later dry skin brushing too.

How Dry Skin Brushing Aids C Section Recovery

October 22, 2009 by C-Section Recovery admin 7 Comments

After a Cesarean birth, you are going to have a scar, it is after all surgery that cuts through six layers, which cuts superficial nerves and disrupts the lymphatic flow. Many people feel afraid to touch their incision and some want to ignore that it is there altogether. In part this is from a lack of information. The truth is there are many things you can do to ensure a speedy c-section recovery, minimize complications and create a small smooth c-section scar.

One of them is dry skin brushing. Dry skin brushing is an ancient techniques used to decrease infection, remove dead skin, increase circulation and eliminate ingrown hairs in an incision as it heals. Here are seven ways that you can benefit from doing dry skin brushing as part of your c section recovery.

1: Dry skin brushing moves the lymph, which lies in the deep skin layer. Lymph is a major part of our immune system and contains white blood cells called lymphocytes and the interstitial fluid that bathe our cells, bringing our cells nutrients and removing their waste. Our bodies contain more lymph than blood, which demonstrates how important lymph is. Dry skin brushing moves the lymph containing large proteins and particulate matter that cannot be transported in any other way back into circulatory system. When these proteins are not removed, they attract other fluid, leading to swelling. This is called lymphedema.

2: Dry skin brushing helps reduce ingrown hairs on or around the incision. Ingrown hairs can create more scarring and unsightly blemishes. Consistent skin brushing will reduce and eliminate the ingrown hairs. Many people’s scars feel numb. These numb feelings can also helped by dry skin brushing through increasing the proprioceptive response. ( pro·pri·o·cep·tor – A sensory receptor, found chiefly in muscles, tendons, joints, and the inner ear, that detects the motion or position of the body or a limb by responding to stimuli arising within the organism.)

3: Dry brushing stimulates the skins oil glands, helping the skin stay healthy and perform one of it’s main functions. The skin is your body’s largest organ. When improperly maintained, the elimination duties of the skin are forced upon the kidneys.

4: Dry Brushing tightens the skin by increasing the flow of blood which, in turn moves toxins and accelerates healing. Our bodies make a new top layer of skin every 24 hours – skin brushing removes the old top layer, allowing the clean new layer to come to the surface, resulting in softer, smoother skin and therefore a softer smoother scar. Dry skin brushing flakes off the outer layer of skin, which has been tested and found to contain uric acid, which is highly toxic.

5: Dry Brushing tones the muscles. Dry skin brushing helps muscle tone by stimulating the nerve endings which causes the individual muscle fibers to activate and move. Obviously this is of great benefit to the recovery muscles of your abdomen.

6: Dry brushing stimulates circulation. Did you know your skin breathes? And yet, in most people, this vital route of detoxification is operating far below its capacity, because it is clogged with dead skin cells and the un-removed waste excreted through perspiration. Dry skin brushing increases circulation to skin, encouraging your body’s discharge of metabolic wastes. Increased blood flow begins entering the areas brushed.

7: Dry brushing improves the function of the nervous system–Dry skin brushing rejuvenates the nervous system by stimulating nerve endings in the skin. Because of all these benefits we include a dry skin brush with both our C Section Recovery Kit and our Deluxe C section Recovery Kit . Remember to follow our guide, and only skin brush on the incision line after the 2nd or 3rd month post surgery. It feels great, and remember – Brush when you are DRY.