Adhesions – Prevention – Natural Treatments

What can cause adhesions:

Abdominal pains can be a cause for concern, however most of the time, stomach pains are a result of consuming or drinking tainted foods. Abdominal pains can also be the signs of more serious conditions such as appendicitis or adhesions which occasionally can become a more serious outcome of past surgery of all kinds. Adhesions are scars that form within the body after surgery as part of the healing process, they can also develop after infection or any other inflammatory process, such as Endometriosis (a condition in which the uterine lining becomes implanted outside of the uterus), diverticulitis, common gynecologic procedures such as curettage, cesarean section, and hysterectomy in fact any type of surgery can result in adhesions.

It is important to note that internal scar tissue is different from normal external scar tissue. Internal scar tissue will often create tethers, barriers and adhesions to internal body structures which can then result in the internal organs being pushed and pulled out of place resulting in pain. Surgery in the pelvic area are among the leading causes of post-operative pelvic pain, infertility, and small bowel obstruction.

Pelvic adhesions

Signs and symptoms of adhesions:

For many people adhesions will cause no symptoms during their lifetime. If the adhesions cause partial or complete intestinal obstructionof the intestines, the symptoms one would feel would depend on the degree and the location of the obstruction.

Gripping type cramps in the abdominal region when standing up or bending or stretching, this is usually caused by the pulling of the organs that have been fused together, usually these would be the first signs that you may have adhesions. Other symptoms can include vomiting, constipation, bloating or inability to pass gas.

Inconsistent bowel movement, you can sometimes be constipated and other times experiencing loose stools as a result of adhesions binding to the intestines. The intestines are not static, they are constantly working to expel wastes, adhesions attached to the intestines can hinder the natural function of the intestines.

If you have any of these symptoms you should seek urgent medical treatment, this could indicate a more serious side of adhesions resulting in complete intestinal blockage which is a life threatening condition.

To determine if your condition is related to adhesions your doctor will perform a physical exam and may order some of these tests:

• Blood and urine tests

• Ultrasound —a test that uses sound waves to visualize the inside of the body

• CT scan —a type of x-ray that uses a computer to make pictures of the inside of the body

• MRI scan —a test that uses magnetic waves to make pictures of the inside of the body

Other factors that need to be looked into for stomach pain diagnosis is whether the pain comes as a stabbing sensation, a cramping or a burning feeling in order to identify any other disease or disorder they may be associated with.

Steps you can take to help prevent adhesions:

It has been common practice in recent times for Gynecologists to perform Cesarean sections to deliver babies more for convenience rather than necessity, if you want to avoid developing adhesions in later life have your baby naturally.

• Question seriously whether abdominal surgery is necessary in your particular case

• If you have to have surgery question your surgeon about procedures he takes to minimize adhesions.

• Methods to prevent adhesions include using biodegradable membranes or gels to separate organs at the end of surgery or performing laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery, which reduces the size of the incision and handling of the organs.

Natural methods of treatment for adhesions:

• Wurn Technique – Learn about this individualized, hands-on form of physical therapy-a simple but revolutionary technique that can solve female infertility, pain, and adhesions.

• Chinese Herbal medicine for adhesions. Chinese Herbal medicine has been known to treat many medical conditions untreatable by Western medicine, if you are reluctant to go under the knife and your condition is not critical it could be worth investigating.