The Chronic Pain Dilemma Post C-section
I am really surprised by the number of people suffering chronic pain post C-section. I see women with chronic pain daily, and it takes years for most to get an answer. Many don’t find relief until they’ve been referred to me. It’s really unfortunate, because many times the treatments are quick and easy -but what is worse is that all this suffering is totally preventable.
First let’s talk about the chronic pain issue. The main types of post C-section pain are nerve pain and muscle pain. Muscle pain is actually the most common cause of chronic pain overall. Muscle pain can happen spontaneously; however, it can also be triggered by surgery or childbirth. Add to that the hormonal changes of pregnancy and delivery, as well as the lack of sleep and the stress of caring for a newborn, and you have many of the ingredients to create a chronic pain condition.
This kind of muscle pain is called myofascial pain syndrome or MPS for short. It happens when a muscle tenses and contracts too much, forming tight bands that won’t go away. The spasms cause severe pain by reducing blood flow and squeezing nerves. After a C-section, MPS can affect the belly wall or it can affect the muscles of the pelvic floor.
MPS muscle pain can be very severe and can get worse with physical activity and sex. Some people describe it as the feeling of “a bowling ball” or a “fist” in the vagina, or like “my insides are coming out”. Some women say it feels like a squeezing or a cramping sensation. Everyone has a unique pain experience, so descriptions naturally can vary.
There are no specific tests for muscle pain or MPS, it is diagnosed by exam. It can be hard for someone who isn’t used to diagnosing muscle pain to know if the pain is coming from the belly or the pelvic floor. However, if you lay flat on your back, press on your belly, and lift your head off the bed and your pain is worse, then the belly wall is probably involved. The good news is once MPS is diagnosed most women respond to treatment very quickly.
Did you know that Chronic Pain is completely preventable? Here’s what we need to keep in mind when we consider Chronic Pain: First we have to acknowledge that Chronic Pain is the root problem that has sent us down the slippery slope to the current Opioid Addiction Crisis. Second, we know post C-section moms have a high incidence of chronic pain and unfortunately many go on to opioid abuse. Third, research shows that the chronic pain development process starts 8-10 days after an injury or surgery. So the first 7 days are the key in preventing Chronic Pain development and Opioid Addiction!
So how do we intervene to interrupt and ultimately derail the Chronic Pain development process? This has been our mission since I founded this business, and our research and development have led to the proven results we see from using cutting-edge cellular science to prevent the formation of Chronic Pain in our neurological pathways.
Our proprietary Rapid Recovery System utilizes FDA approved noninvasive sound, light and electron therapy that reaches the cellular level to reduce inflammation immediately, jump start healing, and eliminate pain in 3-5 days. When this system is used in the first 7-10 days after injury or surgery, it becomes the tool that can stop the potential both for Chronic Pain and Opioid Addiction! Our Rapid Recovery Center Practioners are currently licensed in 30 states and can even come to your home for treatments after surgery. The Rapid Recovery System has helped many local moms get back to what is most important – bonding, loving, and nurturing herself and her new baby, pain and drug-free!