Post surgical pain can present shortly following a surgery - and usually resolves over the following days and weeks as the patient recovers from that surgery. But some pain may linger for months or years following a surgical procedure. The question is, what is the source of this pain? In some cases, the answer is Adhesions! Adhesions are bands of scar tissue - intra-abdominal and/or pelvic cavity - that bind internal organs together, causing them to stick to each other. The result of these bands of scar tissue can lead to Adhesion Related Disorder (ARD).
Symptoms adhesions can cause are...
Physical disorders such as: * Chronic pain * Infertility * Bowel obstruction * Pain and difficulty having a bowel movement * Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) * Urinary bladder dysfunction * Pain when walking, sitting or laying in certain positions * Loss of nutrients due to poor eating habits or loss of appetiteEmotional disorders such as:* Depression * Thoughts of suicide * HopelessnessLosses such as: * Loss of employment due to lost work days * Loss of family and social life
If you are experiencing pelvic pain, it’s important to see your doctor. Pain in the pelvic or abdominal area can be caused by a variety of conditions, some of which may be serious. Your doctor will be able to perform tests to determine the cause of your pain. Do not assume all pelvic or abdominal pain is caused by adhesions - even if you are post-adhesiolysis. One of the more common non-surgical causes of pelvic pain is endometriosis.It is important to ask for and allow diagnostic tests to rule out other sources of pathology as being the cause of your symptoms.
While some adhesions do cause pain, not all adhesions cause pain and not all pain is caused by adhesions! If all diagnostic tests are normal or negative for abnormal pathology, the one cause of pain your doctor might consider is adhesions - particularly if you have had abdominal or pelvic surgery. Adhesions are commonly associated with pelvic pain. In fact, an estimated 38 percent of women suffering from pelvic pain have adhesions. There are things your doctor can do to reduce the incidence of post-operative adhesions - and maybe even prevent them altogether.
Demand a video or DVD ofthe procedure!
Learn as much as you can about Adhesion Related Disorder - so you will be able to make informed decisions when discussing your symptoms and medical care needs with your doctor. Request all of your operative and pathology reports from Medical Records at the hospital(s), where you have had surgery - and keep a personal file of all of your medical interventions!
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