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What Causes Pain Aroun C-section Incision Site?

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Posted on Thu, 11 Sep 2014
Question: I am four and a half months post c section. Last Wednesday I felt a pull on the left side of my abdomen and then I started bleeding which I thought was my period. I bled for six days. In that time I was quite active. I carried heavy suitcases up a flight of stairs multiple times. A few days later I did a ton of housework and walked to the park. My incision became extremely painful and it felt like I pulled something on the other side after the walk. my legs felt weak and overworked, my groin area was in pain on both sides, my butt muscles throbbed and my incision became very painful. it feels like I am just out of surgery. I have been resting for 4/days and there has been some improvement but I still feel fresh out of surgery. I saw my GP this past Thursday and she said to take it easy for a month. she felt no lumps or warmth. incision is not red. bowel movements are good and not much lower back pain. could this just be miscle pain or could I have opened stitches internally?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (23 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Muscle pain likely.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for trusting us with your health concern.
The pain like you are having can be due to a muscle pain. The chances of opening up the internal stitches four and a half months after a surgery is a rare possibility. Also there are no palpable lumps or redness suggestive of no infection in the area.
Also an internal tearing or opening up of the stitches would have caused an internal bleeding. This can be detected on an ultrasound scan.
Right now i would advise you to take rest and take a muscle relaxant like Cataflam after getting proper prescriptions from your physician. You can also do a hot fomentation in the area to relieve the muscle spasm.
Please feel free to discuss further. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Rakhi Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Rakhi-Tayal

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (19 minutes later)
how long will this pain last? I feel like a truck ran over me. should I be trying to see a physiotherapist to ensure I don't do this again? it is very painful, why does it hurt so much?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (51 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
It will take 1-2 weeks.

Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
The muscle pain should subside in a week to 10 days. Physiotherapy is not recommended at the time of acute pain. It is best to take rest and let the pain subside gradually. You can do a hot fomentation and take oral muscle relaxants for an early relief. Doing gradual exercises will help in regaining the normal muscle tone but you should consult a physiotherapist only after this pain subsides.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (2 days later)
so as I rested things improved with the muscles of my legs but yesterday I did a little more (which really didn't include much but a bit of walking around the house) and my incision is extremely painful again, only in the incision area. should I go request an ultrasound or do you think its still muscle? this is my 3rd c section and I've never experienced pain like this before.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (30 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Muscular pain again.

Detailed Answer:
Hello.
A third cesarean section means too much of fibrosis around the scar tissue and a lesser elasticity. Doing too much and too early will cause the pain. This again seems to be a muscular pain which should subside with rest and a hot fomentation.
Just relax and see if it improves in next two days.
Regards.
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal

OBGYN

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 14039 Questions

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What Causes Pain Aroun C-section Incision Site?

Brief Answer: Muscle pain likely. Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for trusting us with your health concern. The pain like you are having can be due to a muscle pain. The chances of opening up the internal stitches four and a half months after a surgery is a rare possibility. Also there are no palpable lumps or redness suggestive of no infection in the area. Also an internal tearing or opening up of the stitches would have caused an internal bleeding. This can be detected on an ultrasound scan. Right now i would advise you to take rest and take a muscle relaxant like Cataflam after getting proper prescriptions from your physician. You can also do a hot fomentation in the area to relieve the muscle spasm. Please feel free to discuss further. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have. Wishing you good health. Regards. Dr. Rakhi Tayal. For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Rakhi-Tayal