Hi Sharka...No the adhesions do not show up on CT-Scan Xray etc. My doctor found mine when he went in for yet another surgery. So its a waste of time and money to get MRI and the lot. I am in constant pain especially when I stand and walk. Its unbearable.
I'm only over five years late in answering. My scar tissue was broken up by a massage therapist. My scar tissue messed with my bladder--too many trips night and day. I hope you come back to this site and try the massage therapy!!!
Your story sounds just like mine iam in pain and nobody will help me iam going crazy they needed to go look as I have no female parts I know what I feel and I need help soon been turned down by 3 Dr's I guess I gotta wait until something is really wrong n I need major surgery :(
Adhesions are notoriously difficult to detect with any kind of radiology scan. They're soft tissue which doesn't show up well. Sometimes the docs can assume adhesions are present based on a history of surgery, endometriosis, appendicitis, infected gallbladder - anything documented that causes inflammation will cause adhesions to form. Most people have this scar tissue but have no symptoms. They usually only cause trouble if they're attached to intestines and cause partial or full obstruction.
You sound like a perfect candidate for an exploratory laparascopy. If at all possible do not let them do a laparatomy (open incision) since that will only invite more adhesions to form.
I just looked at the date of your post and see it was months ago. I hope they didn't just send you home without at least taking a peek inside.
I am now disabled because of adhesions and every day of my life I live with partial small bowel obstruction. I mostly live on a liquid diet and am now 20 to 30 pounds underweight. There is no point to having more surgery unless I am completely obstructed and it won't clear with bowel rest - meaning starvation and an NG tube. Since I'll do anything to avoid the NG tube, I just starve myself at home until it opens up again. So far, the longest time was 6 days. It's taken 4 years of therapy with a pain psychologist and meds from a superb pain doc to give me back a meaningful life. Yes, my life is greatly changed, but it's still life. :-)