Anyone Have Pain 6 Months After C-section?

C.,

C-section incisions are quite long, as you know. Is your pain along the entire incision, or just in one spot? The reason I ask is because I remember the stitches working their way out in various spots long after I thought I was healed. They use dissolving stitches internally even if you had staples externally, and sometimes they don't dissolve, and your body can either build up around it, or work it out, causing swelling and some pain. Something worth looking into. Definitely see you surgeon though...sometimes er docs aren't prepared to handle OB issues.

Oh, I've had 3 c-sections and even though my last one was 18 months ago I still have some pain from the incisions.

D.

I expereienced pain in the incision with my 1st c-section for about 1 year post op... My other 2 sections no pain. I figured it was because I didn't give my self a chance to heal with the 1st pregnancy because my son had to be transfered to a hospital out of state and had open heart surgery - in other words there was no rest or healing for me, hence the pain and longer time to fully heal.

Good luck!

I had 2 sections (last 18 months ago) and sometimes have pain there(not bad enough to go to the ER though). If it still bothers you I would go to your OB and get checked.

Yes, I had pain and hrdness around the incision area for about 1 year after my c-section. Sometimes the pain was dull and sometimes it was sharp and more painful. The doctor at about 6 months post surgery told me that this was normal and it would diminish over time. He was right and I don't feel it anymore! Good luck and I hope this helps.

C., I have not had a c-section but I did have an abdominal surgery. My scar ended up being a bit strange because the skin through a large mole I had just tore in a different direction than they intended to cut. (It was a possibility we had discussed beforehand so I knew it might happen)

I had this surgery in 2006 and I still have itching and swelling. It is quite prominent when it swells and the itching is nearly intolerable. I notice that the itching and swelling part happens just around the time of my period.

After hearing about the adhesions mentioned below, I will definitely ask my ob about them the next time I am in.

C.,
I had that happen as well and still do at times. My last c-section (which was my 3rd) was 21 years ago, I also went on to have 2 more children vaginally. When I first started having pain around the incision well after my delivery, I went to the doctor and had it checked, he told me it was from the nerves and not to worry about it. I have a high tolerance for pain so when I called him he saw me right away. If I were you I would call my ob/gyn and have him/her check it out, just to be on the safe side.
Hugs,
T.

Hello C.,

it might sound far fetched, but how was the weather? I know when I'm not getting all my minerals (calcium, magnesium, etc) my body is more sensitive to barometric pressure changes. you know how they say that certain people always know when it's going to rain...

are you resting enough? are you still breastfeeding, are you making sure you take the right supplements? omega-3s, calcium, magnesium, enough fiber, enough water, etc.

keep a diary of what you feel and when and what you've eaten and if you're taking any meds or suplements. I hope this helps you get to the bottom of it. and I've had 2 c-sections and didn't have that issue. good luck! ~Carmen~

Hi C.,

I had a problem right after my surgery where a few of my stitches ruptured and I bled into the space between the muscle wall and the fatty tissue. It left a big lump (hematoma) that gave me problems for a long time...

But the onset of your symptoms is very different timing than mine ...The lump can be scar tissue possibly with adhesions, which are very painful.

Did you have a CT scan to rule out a hernia? What does your OB/GYN have to say?

Go back to your OB, and have her/him get to the bottom of your pain.

C.,

I had my third child via c-section and had pain for over one year. I went back for a check up and they did an ultrasound to be sure everything was ok. They did find one varicose vein, but it would not cause my severe pain (I couldn't lean on the counter while doing dishes and I would be stopped in my tracks sometimes). They said that some people heal slower then others (I already knew I was a slow healer). After three years (this Sunday) I will still occasionally feel discomfort.

Hope this passes soon for you.

T.
Mom of 3 ages 6,5, and almost 3.

Yes I have had that pain for 5yrs now. What started out as a little pain and hardness has turned into a lump. Basically I have done all the tests on it and they can not say for sure what it is until I get it removed, some say its scar tissue from the c-section not healing properly. My obgyn adviced me to have another baby so she can remove the lump during the c-section.There is also a possibility it could be endometreosis which some women develop after a c-section. Either way all the doctors I have seen have told me its not life threatening or anything. Basically I never got it removed because I kept thinking I may have another baby and that would be the best time to do it. But life got in the way and no baby so far. It does become uncomfortable especially during menstruation but I just take advil. I don't know if its worth it for you to get it taken care of its a personal choice. If you plan on having another baby your best bet is to get it removed during ur c-section. It's only been 6 months so its probably not too bad yet. Also don't get it done leproscopic not sure how to spell that. The best way to get it done is to go through the skin. An inexperienced doctor may recommend a leproscopic procedure. Again I've lived with this for 5 years it does get annoying. I will probably get it removed if I decide for sure that I'm not having more children. One more thing I want to tell you is that it could get very discouraging because doctors don't know much about this condition and you will get a different opinion everywhere you go. I never realized doctor's were so useless until this happened to me. Good Luck and don't worry, like I said its not life threatening.

Hi C.,

It has been six months for me as well. I have not had constant severe pain, but I find if I overdo it I am sore and if I actually lean against it, it HURTS. There was some hardness but that abated ahwile ago. To be safe you should pobably visit your gyn. for a check out.

What helped me was exercise - specifically walking a lot. It gently exercises the abs. I am only just starting the sit up routine.

I hope everything works out!

over a year after my C I still have pain and numbness in certain areas. Like, if I tug at the skin 5 inches above my scar it feels like the scar will tear open.

What I've noticed is it gets worse during certain weather...like rain or humidity. (Yes I feel like a 90 yr old woman whining about her hip)

I've hear dit's just one of the many crappy side effects of this dreadful procedure.

Hi C.,

Most likely it's scar tissue. I had the same issue after my first c-section and it was an emergency so it wasn't the most carefully done surgery. I just had my third c-section last October and they cleaned A LOT of the scar tissue out (I had a ton). It should go away soon (the pain that is, the hardness may not for a long while). Good luck.

Hello C.,
I have had 2 c-sections and yes I experienced the pain and hardness around the incision. I can almost guarantee that you have formed adhesians (scar tissue that may have attached to another organ) Hence the pain. In my life time I have had 6 abdominal surgeries and each time they have gone in they have to clean up adhesians. The only reason they have cleaned them up though is because they are in there already for another reason. You can live just fine if you can stand the pain. And the pain is usually tolerable except around your period.
I did want to ask if they did blood work at the emergency room to rule out an infection. If they did not, follow up with your family Dr and get that done. You can have a low grade infection in there for months and not know it. I had that too.
M.

Hi C.,

I am a physical therapist who worked with women with chronic pain and fertility issues, and have done a lot of work with post surgical scars. You need to do a lot of tissue mobiliza-tion after the scar has "healed" or it gets bound down. It might even have adhesions to the uterus and surrounding tissues. Check out clearpassage.com for more info.
A.

Hi C.
My advice is call the OB. Probably was not an emergency and probably they were not OB experts in the ER.
Incisions don't feel like the rest of your skin.
I also don't think it feels like dead skin as I have heard it decribed. Mine was uncomfortable for years. When I had my twins they took the old incisions out and at least now it is only one incision that itches, it is an 18 year old incision at this point.
Just thought if it was really hurting--thinking what kind of pain would have made me go to the ER, you should have an answer, because for me that would not have been just discomfort or itching. Ruptures are possible. In fact my gastroenterologist says that mine has but they will simply watch it as it is a small portion. That does hurt at times.
God bless you
K. SAHM married 38 years with 4 children, 37, 32, and twins 18.

Yes, C., sorry to say, I had pain in my c-section incision up to and beyond 6 months after each of my children. The two are three years apart, so the pain at the site did nearly disappear in between pregnancies, and did not really bother me too much while pregnant with my second child, but it never really 100% stopped. It especially hurt me (the way I think that yours might be from your message) and felt like "pain and hardness around the incision" after my second child's birth--way beyond the 6 month mark, post-op. My doctor explained to me that it was built-up scar tissue, and that I would always feel some sensitivity. My second child is 17 months old now (today, actually), and I will tell you that my incision site does not really bother me much anymore at all (compared to the shooting pains of earlier days)...though it is sensitive at certain times. I am concerned how it might be if I go for one or two more kids/sections. Good luck to you.
P.S. after reading Aura B's response (below), I remember that I actually had "adhesions to the uterus" and I was supposed to do things to break the tissue apart--I remember that my doctor suggesting "leg lifts" to me, and saying that some people go for physical therapy. I think I tried it a little (it hurt that much), but the leg lifts only made the pain worse. I think I remember her saying that we would have to revisit the topic before I thought about getting PG again. Hope your pain subsides soon...

Hi, I did and it was scar tissue. It is comon after c section. I had a stomach ultrasound just to be sure and it went away after a year or so. hope this helps.