lower right abdominal pain...ovary or c-section scar?

A couple of months after my 2nd child was born (05/2002)I started having this sharp but not too painfull discomfort in my right side.  This was my second c-section, so I thought the discomfort was from the c-section.  Now, over three years later I'm having more severe pain in my lower right abdominal area.  The pain starts during my period and then worsens about 5 to 6 days later. The pain will last for 6 to 10 days. I've been to the doctor explaining where the pain was and that I thought it was from the c-section scar.  I then had a ultrasound (external and pelvic).  The doctor said there were a few cysts, but nothing to worry about at this time.  And that the scarring was normal. So there was no explaination for what could be causing the pain.  I was then put on birth control to see if the hormone change would help with the pain.  I am suppose to go back to the doctor after 3 months of being on birth control. How many more months of pain should I go through?  I'm trying to figure out why the doctor didn't look into other possibilities of what was causing the pain.  Maybe it is ovarian--why wouldn't the doctor look into that?  Should I get a second opinion? -- My husband thinks that I should.  I am so tired of losing 2 weeks of every month to unexplained pain and being told to wait.  Thanks.

[MickeyVicki]

I have encountered this description of symptoms before, and if I recall correctly, then the patient was finally diagnosed with endometrial tissue  within the scar from an abdominal surgery. The pain was due to the swelling of the endometrial tissue during the monthly cycle.  I do not recall how it was diagnosed as it was a relatively long time ago.

If you ever feel that your doctor is not giving your symptoms the proper attention, then please get a second opinion, regardless of your problem.

[julies]

ive got the same promblem i had it for the past 18 yrs.it comes prombley 6 to 10 time a year its on my left side wear the scare is.i gone to the doctor the other day and i have to get an ultrasound done ive told the doctor that it because their cut me twice and might have cut the nerves because it mainly hurts in winter.let us know what happen.

                                   julie

[Amelia44]

I have had a pain similar to what you all are talking about since I had a c-section almost 19 years ago.  I don't have it every month, just when I have a heavy period.  It feels like a bruise inside of my lower right abdomen.  My doc says it's just scar tissue and to take ibuprofen or aspirin for the discomfort.  I have found that regular aspirin works best for me.  I have annual exams and feel like if it were anything bad, I would have some other symtoms (symptoms) by now.

[fjasmint]

I am having the same type of pain since my 2nd c-section.  It's sharp, like a burning sensation on my lower right side and last about a 10 days.  I don't have it every cycle but enough to worry me.  My doctor also wants to do an ultrasound, but I didn't think there would be any point, since I only have the pain around my monthly.  I read that massage theraphy works although you all probably know how painful that can be.  I will try aspirin.

[Mary 53]

Paula and I just posted some information on a massage therapy called Body Logic...which I started calling body rolling years ago and the name stuck....you do roll on a ball, thus the name. The thread is on this page last time I checked and the thread has the word "Adhesions" in it. I got unbelievable results from doing this procedure and to be honest, I bet I would guess that I have done the procedure only about 15 times since the adhesions were discovered during a Colonoscopy in 2001    ( a year after my hysterectomy).

Take a look at the thread. Some of the info is from awhile ago, so if you have any questions please post.

Good luck...

Mary

[scherb]

[scherb]

Having experienced all these symtoms (symptoms) what helps is a diet rich in omega3 like fruits and vegetables, and fiber. Also what is benefical is to try Red Clover or Flaxseed Oil, 1 capsule a day. This is available at any herbal/nutrition store. It helps with pain, inflammation and swelling.

Simeen Chaudhry, Herbalist
***@****

[Lake Lover]

When a doctor says it's adhesions is that because they can find no other cause?  

I have right side pain that is so bad sometimes it keeps me from sleeping.  

We've finally agreed that it is pain due to IBS which I have had ever since my c-section 15 years ago.  

The pain is at the end of my incision but not one doctor will agree with the adhesion issue which is what I think it is. After a catscan a cyst was found once but by the next month it was gone and so was the pain which has since returnd.

[scherb]

FOR ADHESIONS/C-Sections

Most time, when things in the medical field don't help, it is difficult to find a solution. However, yes adhesions occur sometimes after c-sections. Diet and exercise do help however the pain and the hardness felt along the incision area can be there for ages. It is usually a body's normal respond to form the tough tissue that joins few organs together. Having gone through this myself, for many years have felt this...my teacher and herbalist recommended something that you can get in any herbal pharmacy/store: castor oil..

---> CASTOR OIL PACKS!!! They smell bad, but they help. Warm up castor oil, drizzle on your belly, then put a cheese cloth over that and saran wrap and sleep with it. It may take a while, but castor oil works wonders to dissolve fibrocystic tissue, soften up adhesions and tissue in general.
I´d try that first before I ingest anything. If you do have adhesions, that may be a problem, because not much can be done about that other than softening them. Make sure your digestion is ok, being constipated can cause problems down the road anyway, and with adhesions it gets worse. You know what to do about constipation, should you have that.--> This is what my herbalist Val recommended for me.. and it works!! Good luck to all that have experienced this.

For IBS--> having a diet in fiber, fruits and veges, and reducing a lot of fast food will help, switch to olive oil as your cooking oil and have yogurt, flaxseed oil once a day, and peppermint tea is soothing for IBS.

Sincerely,
Simeen Chaudhry, Herbalist.

[lika2]

I have the same problem as you, I have had a child yet.

I have had a lower left stomach discomfort/pain for sometime now.  I am a female aged 33 yrs old. It started on March07, I woke up with sharp pain on my left ovary.  I rushed to the emergency room where I was treated and went home.  The doctor told me it was two either of the things ovarian cyst and/or infection from my bowl movement.  I was given pain killers and antibiotics that I finished and was told the pain will go away after I had my period.  Since then, I have been experiencing this discomfort feeling. Sometimes I feel pain when I exercise or do lots of physical work.  During my periods I feel cramps more pain on the left side.  And I also see slimy blood towards the end of my period.

Now, the strange thing is I feel like this uncomfortable feeling is lessening on front and is moving towards the back of the same area.

I am also wondering what it could be.

Thanks, Lika2

[jkj300]

i have had two c sections my last was 2 and a half years ago. i had pain on the right side about 6 weeks after and my gp said my bowel was pushing through the tissue underneath, and that it should settle down. it did settle down but 2 years later i got the same pain but alot more severe so my gp has refered me for a laporosocopy. the general surgen which is doing the op thinks that i have adhesions which have wrapped around my bowel causing painful spasms he is hoping to repair it by keyhole but he also wants to re open my scar to see any underlying problems. i strongly recomend anybody with similar pain push for furher tests because the pain gets worse if left.  

[MP_1]

I have had the same pain, in my lower right side, after my c-section 6 years ago. It comes and goes but it feels like a sharp pain if I turn to fast to get up, etc..mostly around my period. Was better when on birth control. Now I am pregnant again, 4 months and the pain is very severe. It also radiates across my entire lower stomach. I am also getting bad back pain to the point where I can't sleep. I also suffer from IBS and have been really having trouble with my digestion (constipation and sever gas pains) since becoming pregnant again. When I asked OB about the pain she simply said "scar tissue" and wasn't too concerned. I, myself, AM really concerned about the pain and how bad it will get as my stomach grows with this baby. Will it tear, what will happen? I still have a lot more growing to do! Does anyone have any advice? The worse part is that I can't take any med. except tylenol for the pain :(

Thanks in advance,

MP_1

[lisa1974]

i have been having deep internal knots near my c-section on the right and left sides of my c-section scar (slightly above) causing severe, sharp pain, more often than not. my last c-section was 10 years ago, and now i have seen a doctor telling me these very painful knots are due to scar tissue growth, my gut tells me it's more than that. Can anyone tell me why these deep internal knots are causing me so much pain? I feel growing scar tissue is a bit far fetched.

[manpegues3]

I'm glad to know I'm not crazy. I'm nine years since last C-section for twins and I'm experiencing the same problems. In the beginning it was like every other month. Now I'm having pain the week of my period and about 7-10 days after. I also experience no appetite. Have gone to the doctor and ultrasounds and CT scans have been done all being negative. My doctor says its my C-section incision that now have adhesions. He said the only solution is to open that C-section scar up and remove all the scar tissue and create me another C-section cut. This is major surgery requiring 6 weeks out of work.

[crissy2009]

i just had my first c-section 4 days ago and there is like a knott were my right overies are i push a lil on it and its alonst like water is in what ever it is but isnt on the left side of my body what could this be? From the surgury or something. i just ened to know if because it was an emergency c-section if maybe it would happen, because they had to rush because me and the baby could have died so they werent very easy on me because they had to hurry of what. i need to kow what is up.

[hatesthepain84]

It feels like i wrote that as i am experiencing exactly the same problems, i get a horrible sharp pain on mostly the right side of my scar esp around my monthly cycle, it hurts during intercourse and if its pushed on or i move funny on it,i get a dull weird feeling all the time though. i have had an internal scan and lots of other tests but still nothing, i am sick of this horrible feeling and want it sorted, i have had 3 sections my last was a yr ago and first 6 yrs. i think i will have to demand more tests but im so glad im not the only 1 so i can stop worrying so much :)

[Vickytoia3112]

I have a burning sensation in my lower abdomen on the right side. I had 3 previous c-sections and my last one I ended up having a tubaligation done due to my uterus rupturing. Funny thing is I haven't felt this before my car accident 10 months ago. I'm worried and scared. I'm a single mom with 3 kids and 2 are disabled so I don't know who would care for them so I can be cared for. HELP!!!

[xAngelWingx]

I had 2 c-sections, one in 04, the other in 06.  Around the summer of 08 is when i noticed the pain in my abdomen.  It would start a few days before my monthly cycle, and end a few days after.  At first i thought it was just regular cramps, but as the months went on, the pain got worse.  Now it's so bad that in the days leading up to, during, and at least 2 wks after my cycle, I am bent over in severe pain!  It hurts when i cough, sneeze, laugh, almost anything i do, and anything that touches it causes severe pain!  I have tried Midol, Advil, Asprin, Alleve, even Tylenol, and NOTHING works.  The only thing that even comes close to relieving it is prescription pain meds, and i cant get those because I have no medical insurance!  Is this caused by my C-section scar tissue or could it be something more serious?  Please help me, i dont know how much more  of this pain i can take!

[lillightbulb]

A related discussion, pain around c section scar and up the sides was started.