Adhesions: Hi im getting severe pains... - Pelvic Pain Suppo...

Pelvic Pain Support Network

19,348 members5,635 posts

Adhesions

stlouise profile image
37 Replies

Hi im getting severe pains in my right side of my abdomen. My doctor thinks its adhesions I have read up on it and it seems to fit the category the only thing is my the pain is getting worse and its seems to get tighter and tighter and more sore and uncomfortable please help me .

Written by
stlouise profile image
stlouise
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
37 Replies
tiki1982 profile image
tiki1982

Hi, I recently had surgery and my dr discovered that my bladder is attached to my uterus. She has sent me to a physiotherapist who is specialized in pelvic floor muscles/pain. It has helped me, I have had 3 c-sections and 2 other surgeries in that scar. I have to massage it in all directions because of it pulling. I hope you find relief soon.

stlouise profile image
stlouise in reply to tiki1982

Thanks but that doesn't help ive been through physio and paimn specialists and the pain still doesn't go away its getting worse as time goes by its at the point where I sit down it hurts if I go for a walk it hurts if I use my jim ball it hurts itt wont go away.

sierra profile image
sierra in reply to tiki1982

Hi Tiki1982

I feel I may have adhesions too and my bladder may be attached to my uterus. I suffer from bladder pain and urinary frequency. Do you suffer from any bladder symptoms and is your pain worse during your periods?

sierra

tiki1982 profile image
tiki1982 in reply to sierra

Hi Sierra, yes I have bladder issues too. I find when I am fuller, I have pain. When I am fuller I have leakage too. It is very embarrassing but you should make sure your dr knows everything. Just before my period, I have pain. After about day 3-4 my pain is better. Pelvic pain is so hard to get a diagnosis, I hope one day things will be better for us all!

sierra profile image
sierra in reply to tiki1982

Hi tiki . I assume the adhesions have a restrictive effect on the bladder filling causing the bladder pain.Yes its so frustrating not knowing the underlying cause of pelvic pain. I just hope one day there is light at the end of the tunnel.

tiki1982 profile image
tiki1982

My other issue is I've been diagnosed with IBSand having severe intestinal spasms. This is what was causing my intense pain, couldn't do anything! Maybe this is something to be explored with you. You could have multiple issues.

lovetorun5 profile image
lovetorun5

dear stlouise - I too was having severe right side pain. After ruling out appendicitis I ended up having surgery - I indeed had adhesions from a previous surgery plus more endometriosis. The second surgeon cleaned out more endometrosis , took out several adhesions (attached to my bowel and bladder) and also removed my remaining left ovary and tube. I'm 1 1/2 weeks post op and wow, feeling great. Thank goodness I pushed for an answer and she removed all this bad stuff inside. Mine was getting worse - especially when I ran (I'm a runner).My back was also killing me on the right side.

stlouise profile image
stlouise in reply to lovetorun5

Hi lovetorun5 have you had any more problems after all that .

lovetorun5 profile image
lovetorun5 in reply to stlouise

Nope, none yet...but I am still recovery from the surgery. The pre-surgical pain is gone, now I've just got some incision pain and some pain from the surgery site that will most likely (95% sure) go away once I've totally healed. I'm just 1 1/2 weeks out from surgery so I need to give it more time. I see my doctor tomorrow for post-op apt, I think it will go very well and she will answer some of my questions (i.e. which was causing more pain endo or scars).

stlouise profile image
stlouise in reply to lovetorun5

Please let me know how it goes as im waiting for my referral and I just want closure on it.

lovetorun5 profile image
lovetorun5 in reply to stlouise

Had my post op appoint. yesterday - found out a lot of things. First my abdomen was filled with lots of more endometriosis. She got a lot out but impossible to get it all because some is attached to vital things like bladder and bowels. But she says by taking out my last ovary this should stop more damage from endo. The adhesions and scars (from previous surgery) were also causing pain because that hook on like Velcro and yank things around in abdom. She showed me pictures of mine - they were big and attached to bowel, etc - they looked painful. I think my running did cause them to hurt even more. She took a lot of adhesions out. So once I've healed totally from surgery I hope to be totally pain free (fingers crossed). I will do a follow up with her a year from now to be sure more endometr. has not formed. My back feels 100% better - so definitely part of this whole mess down there. It only hurts when I over do things and show favoritism to the right due to incision pain. Hope this helps - hoping you find some relief. My latest surgery was definitely worth it - I feel a million times better already.

stlouise profile image
stlouise in reply to lovetorun5

Hi thanks can you please let me know down the track how it all is after healing.

lovetorun5 profile image
lovetorun5 in reply to stlouise

Just wanted to give you a good update. It's been 6 weeks now since my last surgery. I am doing great!! I'm back swimming at lunch time and doing a little running again. The pain is gone - (knock on wood) forever. I am at 98.5% now - just a little sensitivity on the right incision that keeps me from 100%. It's awesome to feel this good again and be active.

stlouise profile image
stlouise in reply to lovetorun5

Cool thats great to hear that things have gone well for you and makes me feel mor confident that the same will be for me im still waiting to have mine done.

thiebane profile image
thiebane in reply to lovetorun5

hi. I noted your post because you were a runner. Long story but I too have adhesions and am waiting for an adhesiolysis. I am encouraged to read yours seems to have worked! I also have the back pain. Where was your surgeon? thanks.

Orangeflower profile image
Orangeflower

Hi I have also suffered with abdominal adhesions. Tha advice I found was do eat only foods low in fibre (google for a list) also if the pain is bad to rest and not to eat anything for 6 hrs. If you start vomiting / intense pain / swelling of tummy you need to go to A and E to be rehydrated, they'll take X rays of your abdomen to see if you have a full obstruction. Your GP may be able to help too by listening to your abdomen to see if it is working OK.

stlouise profile image
stlouise in reply to Orangeflower

Hi thanks for that but ive already been trying that it seems nothing is working.

xweeta profile image
xweeta

Hi,

Your adhesions are related to endometriosis? If yes, taking continuous birth control pill should improve the pain.

You should do a laparoscopy to remove them, if it is in fact adhesions.

Some products are used in surgery to reduce the formation of new adhesions, like for exemple Interceed.

if you have a lot of pain you can sometimes take Nimesulid (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug).

Believe it or not the exercise (for exp. run) improves pain and reduces adhesions. If sometimes a person is not able to exercise because of the pain, my suggestion is to take something light, like paracetamol, before exercise. After exercise pain will improve and will get better at day after (the exercise has an analgesic effect).

stlouise profile image
stlouise in reply to xweeta

Hi thanks for your reply but I have been walking alot and it just makes it worse and no I don't have endometriosis so it is not related exercise only makes it worse.

Orangeflower profile image
Orangeflower

Hi again sorry to hear nothing seems to be working. Is it in the bowel the adhesions pain? Are you getting much help from the GP, a referral? When I had similar pain and problems the hospital did a test called a CT Enteroclysis where they see if the bowel is blocked by putting a fluid through the small bowel at the same time as a CT scan. I wonder if that might be helpful for you?

stlouise profile image
stlouise in reply to Orangeflower

No its not my bowel its where my appendix use to be .

stlouise profile image
stlouise

Does anyone suffer pain in abdomen like I do where nothing seems to work you've tried everything and it won't work. Please im not getting the help I need from doctors they are useless here.

thiebane profile image
thiebane in reply to stlouise

OMG. Your position is SO like mine! I only joined this site today. Appendix site, exercise worsens it. Also for me, back pain, pain down leg and even in foot! (pulling on nerve??) I'm waiting to go in for adhesiolysis but they've basically told me it won't work!! So, I am doing more research finding out if others have had success. I need a surgeon who believes. Finding some success stories on here! Wonder how lovetorun is now/ I also need to find a good surgeon - I like the sound of lovetorun's. Where are you up to now stlouise?

stlouise profile image
stlouise in reply to thiebane

Hi ive had a colonoscopy a few days ago they found nothing but I already knew it wasn't my bowel but they don't listen . I'm still suffering as we speak I have to go back to my doctor to see what he can do next . I try to take my mind off it by going for a wslk or something but it just plays up even more so over it . Let me know how you get on thiebane.

thiebane profile image
thiebane in reply to stlouise

will do ... it's hell and very lonely .... dreadful when you don't know what's wrong but you know it's something. I get scared thinking "this is it"! Speak again and also hope you make progress.

stlouise profile image
stlouise in reply to thiebane

Yeah keep me up to date and I will do the same . So frustrating though when its been going on for so long and you still can't find the cause it does my head in . Thiebane keep in touch k.

Kitkat7985 profile image
Kitkat7985 in reply to stlouise

Hi stlouise was wondering how you are doing now? I just joined today and your posts really pull at my heart strings because I feel your pain (literally). Just 8 months ago I was extremely Active and on the go, now I am bed and couch bound and on short term disability because I can't control my symptoms anymore at work. I've also been a champion competitive dancer most my life and can barely tolerate walking for too long let alone walking down the stairs. I never realized how much chronic pain can take away every aspect of your life... Originally I started having abdominal pain, nausea, and couldn't eat. Ended up eating baby food and in disability. First exploratory laparoscopy and my left ovary and tube were not seen. Second surgery a week later was open laparotomy: ovary adhered and pulling down on my posterior intestines with my tube twisted and knotted. Doc felt he could save them and repositioned them. Felt great for two months and back to work, symptoms returned again and now I'm right back to where I started. I have weird food aversions and can't even eat meat. I do best with bland dry snacks, baby food, high carb and sugary foods. Very weird :/ eat too much and it causes pain to flare up and to much abdominal pressure so I vomit. Scopolamine patch has been my life saver for nausea. Have seen so many specialists under the sun it makes me want to scream. GI says its GYN and to go back in due to adhesions. GYN says its GI. Did a cystoscopy to rule out IS which was negative (I'm assuming you did this as well). Doing pelvic PT internal and external work it hurts so freaking bad and not helping. Dry needling has started to help a little bit. Have you tried that? Seeing a pain specialist now that is trialing internal trigger point injections. Have you done these? GI put me on doxepin at night and it seemed to pick up my appetite for a little bit in addition to helping me sleep. It's also weird how heat either doesn't do anything or makes it worse, only ice helps.. Ugh. Sucks cuz adhesions don't show up on scans and docs are Afraid to touch me for a third surgery out of fear for messing up my fertility. I've done a ton of research about their stance. Sounds like there is a negative snowball effect with each surgery since every cut will cause an adhesion. Symptoms can resolve 100% but most the time it's only temporary, and then there's a chance the adhesions will involve additional organs so it can become life threatening. I get the feeling that I will most likely get more adhesions in the future and will only get surgery to remove them if an obstruction or what not. So frustrating omg. Not a lot of people understand what we go through either :/ I feel like a shell and can't get it under control. Weird how it gets worse with menstruation too. Has fascial work or abdominal external trigger point release helped you? Have they done a recent pelvic or abdominal ultrasound on you? Have you found anything that has helped ? I would love to follow you here in case you find any new ideas.

Orangeflower profile image
Orangeflower

Hi if it's after appendicitis and you're getting abdominal pain the adhesions would be in the bowel/colon as that's where the appendix was attached. Especially as you say it's in the same sort of area. The spasms and severe pain do sound like the bowel adhesions I had too. I think it would be best to go back see your GP and get a referral back to the surgeon who did your op. And get some pain relief- amytryptilline helped me.

stlouise profile image
stlouise in reply to Orangeflower

Hi thanks but amytryptilline doesn't work for me as my doctor has already tried it I have fibramyalgia as well which clashes with my abdomen pain and makes it worse and harder to control ive read up on adhesions and it says that the only way to get rid of it is by laparoscopy. Which my doctor has requested for I just hope it works.

Orangeflower profile image
Orangeflower

Hi that sounds good- that your doctor has requested a laproscopy. I say this as surgeons can sometimes be reluctant to operate unless it is an obstruction. I too had further surgeon (actually a laparotomy) which they did as an emergency for obstruction and removed adhesions and did a resection. I hope you can find some pain relief in the meantime which helps.

Orangeflower profile image
Orangeflower

Sorry I meant "further surgery"

conkercat profile image
conkercat

Hi, I too am experiencing severe right iliac fossa pain. I saw a surgeon last week who thinks I may have adhesions / an occult hernia or endometriosis but I have to wait another month for a laparoscopy which feels like a long time when the pain is so bad. I am usually a very active person but have to spend much of my day in bed with heat packs on my tummy. I also find hot baths help the pain. I made the decision to pay for a private consultation to speed things up. Hope you get some answers soon.

GracieSpoon profile image
GracieSpoon

I just had surgery a few days ago for the symptoms you described. The pain on my right side, both front and back, was pretty horrible and was getting worse. When I wasn't at work, I was home with a heating pad. My doctor and I assumed it was probably endometriosis, but when I had the surgery she found that I had fibroids and that my uterus had adhered to my bladder - no endometriosis. I'm three days out from surgery and feel so much better already. I can stand up straight without that pulling feeling and pain on the right side. I'm hopeful that is the end of the pain. Hope this might be helpful and you get the relief you need.

stlouise profile image
stlouise in reply to GracieSpoon

Thanks for that I will talk to my doctor about it as im still in pain and its getting worse im not eating properly now because of it . One question how long were you suffering for before you finally got the help and did it show up on your blood tests and scans.

AnnaRiley profile image
AnnaRiley

I have soarness on my right side near my scar from my apendix operation from over 30 years ago.

Had it checked with a cat scan test three years ago. nothing showed up.

I'm going to a doctor next week and one next month. i have a video for you to check. it helped me.

but I do want this cleared up soon. I've always sore or ahcy in that area.

Anna

abdominaladhesiontreatment....

stlouise profile image
stlouise in reply to AnnaRiley

Thanks for that I will have a look .

Hi stlouise

How did your surgery go? Did you find relief?

You may also like...

Adhesions discovered by laparoscopy

haven’t got endo but adhesions have almost identical symptoms. Anyone else have these and can give...

adhesion and pain management in pregnancy

Im wondering what to take for pain relief? It seems the only safe thing is paracetemol which...

Confused. Adhesions/pudendal neuralgia

stomach on the right where my pain is left sided in my pelvis. Could it be referred pain? I take...

Painful abdominal adhesions

Royal Free ) are refusing to to operate me;I have so far only had 2- one twenty years ago and one...

Adhesions and more...

years ago, and have had left sided pain ever since. I can't take hormones as I then get breast...