Having a hysterectomy is painful physically, emotionally and mentally. The fear of surgery and wondering how your life will change in the aftermath may have kept you up at nights. If you have pelvic pain after your hysterectomy, you may be wondering why you are still suffering and if there is anything you can do about it.
A hysterectomy occurs when a woman’s uterus needs to be surgically removed. In some cases, the ovaries and fallopian tubes are also taken out. There are many reasons why a woman might need this procedure, which may include chronic pelvic pain, uncontrollable vaginal bleeding, fibroid/tumor growth, uterine prolapse, endometriosis and adenomyosis.
Of course we hope and plan for the best, but the body is an amazing and unpredictable thing. We can do everything the doctor says to aid the healing process, but sometimes complications occur. Maybe you’re now suffering from pelvic adhesions after hysterectomy. These occur when scar tissue in the abdominal cavity gets "stuck" to pelvic or abdominal organs. You have a slippery, clear membrane called a peritoneum that covers the inside of the abdomen and your pelvic organs (except the ovaries). When this gets injured, it gets inflamed and produces a sticky scar tissue called a fibrin matrix. While these scars usually dissolve, sometimes they don’t and they develop into adhesions.
This condition can range from being slightly uncomfortable to extremely painful. If an adhesion occurs in the bowel and creates an obstruction, this could be a severe problem and will have symptoms of cramping, nausea, bloating or vomiting. This issue needs immediate medical care.
Other indications of pelvic adhesions may include pelvic pain. Since your organs and abdominal wall are now connected by the scar tissue, when you move or bend over, you may feel pain and pulling. You may also have pain during intercourse called dyspareunia.
If you are feeling any of the above issues of pain or discomfort, make an appointment to see your doctor. There are several things he or she may do to ease your pelvic pain after hysterectomy:
If you haven’t had a hysterectomy yet and are concerned about whether or not you will develop adhesions after your surgery, share your concerns with your doctor. There are several preventative measures (such as laparoscopic surgery, using sutures that are less likely to cause adhesions and incorporating “adhesion barriers” during surgery) to reduce the risk of this unwanted complication.
