Recurrant scar tissue

I am 38 years old now, my first abdominal surgery was when I was 17.  Prior to that I spent alot of time in emergency rooms trying to find out why I was in such pain.  They always said it was just gas or something and that I would be fine.  So finally I stopped going to ER for the pain.

There was no prior injury to my abdomen so the reason that it was generating scar tissue to begin with is unknown still to this day.  But since I have gone in at least once a year, until 5 years ago, to have the scar tissue removed but it changes nothing.  The scar tissue continues to regenerate itself.  My doctor has told me many times that it is absolutely impossible for scar tissue to regenerate at the accelerated pace that mine is.  I had my hysterectomy - 3 months later I was back to get scar tissue removed because I couldn't even stand upright due to the pain.

That was my last surgery, approximately 5 years ago or so.  The pain has increased since I stopped getting the tissue removed but I just didn't feel that I could continue to get the surgeries on a regular basis... either physically nor financially.
  
I now have the dilema of making the decision to have another surgery.  My internal organs (bowel, small intestines and bladder) are starting to not function properly due to being encased in the scar tissue.  I have gone for up to 9 days without a bowel movement, and then my system just breaks down and I cramp horribly and it all comes out, then I get to do it again the next time.  My previous doctor has gone to give speeches and seminars around the world (Dr. Victor Knutzen) so for me, it would mean starting over again.  I'm just not sure I can go through all that again.

Is there any new technology that could alleviate the scar tissue completely or at least enough so that I can function?  Or maybe some specific excercises that would help in some way?

Any excercise that involves my abdominal muscles (which is almost every single excercise) aggravates the pain.  It literally gets so bad that I can't move and I spend hours in the fetal position just to maintain until it subsides.  To someone that doesn't know me, I appear to be pregnant.  I can't live like this.  There has to be a solution out there somewhere.

I want my life back.. I am not the active person that I used to be - I hope you have some insight into what I can do.

Savannah Helm

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Hello - thanks for asking your question.

What you are describing is known as a keloid.  Keloids are benign fibrous growths present in scar tissue that form because of altered wound healing.  Unfortunately, this is a difficult problem to treat.

Here is a list of the main treatments to treat this:
- Intralesional corticosteroids
- Excision
- Silicone gel sheeting
- Cryosurgery
- Pressure earrings
- Radiation therapy
- Interferon alfa
- Intralesional verapamil

Intralesional corticosteroids is ther first line treatment.  

Excision of keloids is complicated by recurrance (occuring in 45 to 100 percent of cases).  

The other modalities (i.e. radiation therapy, cryotherapy) should be discussed with your personal physician since they have varying rates of recurrance.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[surgeon]

actually, keloid generally refers to scars on the surface, and you, I think, are talking about scar tissue buildup in your abdominal cavity. Some people form it to excess, and there's really no modality at present to prevent it. There are products which are a dissolving sheet that's placed over the intestine at the end of an operation to prevent it from adhering to the abdominal wall, and some reports say it works. It's a bit hard to work with, but if you were to have more surgery, it might be worth a try.

[kevinmd]

Hello everyone,
I will be away until June 30th.  Have a nice weekend.

Kevin, M.D.

[Agnes291]

A related discussion, Pelvic Pain was started.

[sillybe12345]

A related discussion, About scar tissue about the size of a pencil wrapping around the intestine was started.