Adhesions or Scar Tissue???

[gma718]

I am still having this weird pain...I cant imagine what it could be except adhesions or scar tissue? It started in my butt/lower back and now it feels like a drawing pulling sensation...on my left side in the front...it is the same kind of pain that I had before my surgery like where my ovary would be..I feel like the cysts are still there...how crazy is that!! I had my surgery in May 07 full hysterectomy so what is this??? It is not a horrible pain or stabbing pain...its a very uncomfortable feeling...I dont know what I should do. My husband has been massaging it and it feels good when he does that. I am so upset.....Should I call the Dr?? If so who do I call the surgeon??? If it wasnt SUPERBOWL SUNDAY I wouldve went to the ER...it is the same pain I had which warranted me to the ER in the first place last year which then diagnosed me with the cysts..Can someone please help me?? Thanks, Gia :)

[gma718]

Thank you so much for always being there...My husband doesnt want me to do the ball execises till i speak with the doctor. I did feel better with the massage...i also have been laying on the heating pad..it is comforting. Anyway, thanks again...Gia :)

[gma718]

Thank you so much for always being there...My husband doesnt want me to do the ball execises till i speak with the doctor. I did feel better with the massage...i also have been laying on the heating pad..it is comforting. Anyway, thanks again...Gia :)

[Mary 53]

Just a thought...and, I do need to be brief since my new goal is to keep a reasonable bedtime and so far I have failed miserably at that goal.

Oh, and thank  you Star for the clarification on Scar tissue vs. adhesions. The two are so often said at the same time that it gets confusing.

Well, first of all, your questions are as valid as the next. I recall that the pain got so bad for me (adhesions) that I could not walk well. Seriously. And, I was on meds for IBS because the adhesions were collapsing the colon. That is how they were discovered for me. The MRI or CT scan did not pick them up in my case and so the doctors were looking at Colon cancer at that point. Thus the colonoscopy. Then they told me that the only way I could be helped was to come in every six months for another colonoscopy so that we could keep SNAPPING those adhesions as they strangled the colon. I know this sounds dramatic ...but, geez these things are nasty. And, the docs I had (reg. OB/GYN and the Oncologist) were both top docs in the state.  When the adhesions were discovered the doctor said that they could go in and snip the adhesions but that they would only form again. Life was looking grimmer than I'd imagined.

Then this wonderful Gym teacher changed my life (along with a little Blue's Clues ball from Target). My doctor took notes. I mean, how sad that this is a well kept secret.

I wanted to close by saying that you said you got some relief from the massage from your husband. When I learned about all of this that issue came up...like, What about regular massage? Not that it was harmful, mind you, but that you just were not getting enough blood to the bone itself and that was what you needed to do...flood that tendon to the bone with blood. That is why the relief was so great and did not bounce back as it would have with just a regular massage without doint the bodyrolling thing.

I know this is scary since you do not know for sure. Good luck when you speak with the doctor and if he okays the ball thing...well, ROLL away! Let us know how it goes.

Mary

[gma718]

Thank you. You are so informative and so wise and I appreciate you and everyone elses feedback..I have to tell you though..I am not a medicine taker...I take tylenol and if necessary antibiotic but I am very leary with the pain meds..I do not want to spend my life on pain meds..My husband said if their is pain that lingers then something is not right. The pain meds made me so sick in the hospital and for weeks when i came home. I came home with Dilaudid and never took one..just took Tylenol extra stength but this pain is lingering all day today...I had extreme endo so maybe it has to do with that..I am leaning more that it is adhesions..I will call the surgeon in the a.m. because I know that my primary and gyn arent going to do much but tell me to go to my surgeon. Thanks all of you for your input...lets pray for all our friends going into surgery this week...Gia :)
P.S. Honestly, sometimes I feel so stupid with my posts when there are so many others that need us at this time!!

[SimplyStar]

Scar tissue and adhesions are 2 different things, scar tissue is formed around the actual incision, it is a puckered like layer of skin that does not grow. Adhesions are growths of "'stringy" like tissue that try to bind  things together after removal of organs,  that creates a  space in the area, the adhesions are the bodies way of trying to "make up" for the removal of something.   Adhesions can be seen on a CT scan,  Some adhesions get very involved in the abdomen, netting up around intestines and can cause a lot of problems. They can attach to the lining of the abdomen and grow every which way in time.Tthey are elastic to a point, but when stretched will pull and cause pain.  What the body rolling does is to gently "break up" those endings where they are attached. It also increases the blood supply to those areas. Body manipulation is done by many professionals, chiropractics, massage, osteopaths.  Body rolling is done at home and with a cheap to get ball. Before starting anything like body rolling  be sure you consult your doctor,  If a doctor trys to tell you to just get used to it, be proactive and tell him you can't live that way,  getting off of pain pills for pain is the best route, and adhesions for some are very painful and if he suggests more surgery to remove them, remember they might just grow back again. Endo is a great place for adhesions to start in.  This is just my opinion , Leslee uses the ball, about once a month now, and has had no probems with  abdominal pain.  Marty

[alanpvegas]

My mom always had it...nobody cared enough to tell her what it was though.  There is plenty of pain medication that you can use and dosage.  A pain specialist can help you find the right combination.  For example Dilaudid (hydromorphone) is one to keep in mind if it ever gets *really* bad.

Also remember that surgical staples were probablly also used so that could be causing issues.  If you had an abdominal CT since your operation, review it with your physician to see what is in the area of the pain.

[gma718]

Thank you all....Hopeshell it is such a weird feeling..I dont know what I should do? I have no patience for this!! I am really not feeling well today....I was sitting on the heating pad and took some tylenol but it is still there..Do you know how they diagnoise if it is adhesions or scar tissue? I am going to do some research.....if I find anything out I'll be sure to  post...I dont want to do anything with the ball without discussing it with the dr. Hope you feel better..Gia :)

[SimplyStar]

Leslee uses the ball and so far no signs of adhesions.  I got her the soft medicine ball in the sports dept of Wal Mart.  Don't start body rolling though until at least 3 months after the surgery. and discuss it with your doctor.  

[hopeshell]

I have the same type of pain.  I posted below and I think adhesions may be my problem.  See post below on this page from Mary53 on adhesions.  She suggests using a ball to reduce adhesions.  I am going to try this.  I was dx stage 1a last July and had  a TAHBSO.  I also am concerned about this persistent pain since it is so much like what I used to feel was pain in my ovary.  I didn't think of adhesions until I posted last night about the pain.  The suggestion with the ball sounds like it may really be helpful.  Good luck.  Let me know if you find anything else that is helpful.

[ireneo]

A question for the other experienced people out there: does yoga help with adhesions? I was thinking of the gentle stretches. I used to have trouble with my left shoulder and kept going back for physical therapy. We took some yoga classes at the local college and I haven't had trouble with my shoulder since then.