Post-surgery adhesions

Triathlon Forum
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I am trying to educate myself about these because I think there’s a good chance I have them.
A search for “adhesions” here mostly turns up attaching tubulars to wheels, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t Slowtwitchers that haven’t had abdominal adhesions or have them and don’t know it. Perhaps my experience could help them; maybe their experience can help me.

My brief history:
Aug, 2002: I learn of triathlon, jump in and haven’t looked back; races from oly to ironman distance since
Aug, 2008: a very successful IMC in spite of a small but increasingly hard to ignore hernia
Oct, 2008: Laparoscopic hernia repair. Typical recovery period.
Feb, 2009: Competed very strongly in a half marathon.
Spring, 2009: Training for 2009 tri season went well until something didn’t feel right in my abdomen - always worst while cycling.
I assumed I had overtrained and done myself and injury. Saw family doc who diagnosed rectus abdominis tendinitis.
Summer, 2009: Time off - no improvement. Upon reflection I think tendinitis diagnosis is incorrect.
Fall, 2009: Started light running, light core exercises. No improvement, in fact felt worse. Backed off all activity.
Oct, 2009: Consulted a sports doc who consulted with other sports docs, consensus: sports hernia. Treatment: physio; also saw an athletic therapist who issued a core strengthening/stretching regime. (Ironically, I learn only now stretching can worsen adhesions.) Zero improvement over the coming months.
Winter, 2009/2010 - July, 2010: The following cycle repeats: Weeks of light core exercise, stretching, light running, some experimental (ie, very light) riding; zero improvement (in fact slight relapses); abandonment of activity due to depression in the face of said zero improvement.
July, 2010: Revist sports doc. CT scan ordered and performed. Results pending (I will update when I get results - unforch not til after Sept 9). In the meantime I research. Also, numerous visits to massage therapists over above period.

A summary of my symptoms:
Abdomen feels crowded, especially when I’m in a bent over position, like when in an aero bike position. Impossible to exert any power on the bike, or even cycle comfortably. Certain stretches seem overly uncomfortable and never get easier over time. It seems there is a mass present in several locations.

I dig around the net. Finally come up with the correct medical term: “adhesions”. According to the info I’ve found, adhesions are common following abdominal surgery. They can form in anywhere from unnoticeable to unignorable to life-threatening quantity. Unfortunately, they don’t go away on their own …ever. There are lots of web sites about this topic - a couple of useful ones:

Adhesions at Wikipedia
more info and non-surgical treatment (The Wurn Technique) …I wish I lived closer to these folks

I’m hoping to hear experiences of others who have had adhesions, what they have done to treat them, how successful it was, etc.
Surgery doesn’t sound like a good option as it just produces more adhesions. Thank you.

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I’ve seen several adhesions but nothing like what you describe. I’m surprised you waited that long for CT scan. I hope its not something more serious.

Talking about adhesions: when they’re close to the surface of the skin, like surgery scars, then a massage therapist can improve them using cross-fiber friction, and light tapotment, until they’re unnoticable. It takes several sessions, but it does work. Deep tissue massage of the abdomen is not advised because it causes discomfort in the GI tract.

If your doctor thinks that massage would help, then get with an experience therapist. I would avoid a sport massage therapist, since that style is much rougher than the normal crossfiber and tapotement needed here. A good therapist will listen to your Doc, and will provide feedback. Often if the Doc thinks it will help, the Doc can actually write a prescription for massage, and the therapist will be paid by the insurance company.

Good luck, and remember to comunicate with your doctor.

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Thanks for the info. These are excellent avenues to explore.

RE the CT scan. It was actually fast …for these parts. The hospital phoned just 10 days after the doc ordered the scan. I was expecting a much longer wait. MRIs are a good 4 months around here.