.......this is what my GP has diagnosed re my abdomen....it's usually associated with a post partum state but can happen apparently anytime the abdomen gains fat and is unsupported....the abdominal muscle separates and is just held together by connective tissue.....there is no treatment except surgery which is considered cosmetic and therefore not covered under our health plan....not that I would have surgery anyway...I had always had such a flat abdomen, weight around 110 lbs, but my weight gain from Pred was all in my abdomen.....I looked/still look 9 months pregnant, even though have tapered to below 10 mg.....it's obviously very upsetting since it's permanent damage....
.....was wondering if anyone else has this from the Prednisone and how they cope with it....thank you......
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Doralouise77
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Separation of the Rectus Abdominis - I had this after pregnancy twice even with modest weight gain. It got 90% better with specific exercises and some do's and don't's regarding posture and movement from the physio. There's quite a lot online. Why is surgery considered the only treatment in your case, a very large separation? Of course weight loss, which will be really helped with a low carb diet, is a must to reduce the stress on it.
I have physio coming for a back problem and he said there's nothing that can be done, same as what my GP said.....but I didn't believe them and I've researched it and see there are exercises but didn't know how successful they were, thank you.....my weight is below pre Pred weight, I am very thin, but can't seem to lose from abdomen....am vegetarian, gluten free and low carb but just seem to lose from muscles now.....dietician has me on high protein but have a lot of nausea so proper nutrition is difficult sometimes, I eat what I can get down which isn't always the best...
Which specific exercises did you find helpful, thank you...
I can't remember exactly what the exercises were; 16 years ago. However, they will be found on sites for post pregnancy, these two are much like them all. It's a case of strengthening your other abdo and back muscles to support the unhappy ones without making the problem worse. Even if you can't properly mend it because the separation is large, at least you can make that whole area as good as you can to try to avoid problems. I would have thought the physio would be at least taking that approach.
As for the belly pooch, Pred causes redistribution of fat so what you do have, and you need some, likes to set up home in that area, the face and on the back at the base of the neck. it makes for a funny shape unfortunately.
Thanks Snazzy D for the links....I'm having a bad back problem at the moment, although that's definitely tied in with the abdomen so it's a horse and cart.....so I'm not up to much exercise at the moment....I have awful snaps in my mind of my abdomen flying open and spilling everything....I don't know how strong these connective bands are....
I'm in Canada, and when I googled it the page came up with local quotes for surgery!.... then when I researched more it said it wasn't covered by our provincial plan....which surprised me (but I definitely wouldn't have the surgery anyway) because it's hardly someone's fault or pride, like a face lift...I will ask physio again when they come, as I think it was just he couldn't be bothered....you get a 5 minute visit every 2 weeks!....I have some myopathy but until a back problem recently was doing/walking more.....I'm surprised my GP just glossed over it too (....well, no, I shouldn't be surprised.....)
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