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I have had 2 c-sections and then another abdominal surgery on the same scar line for a twisted ovary from a hemmorhagic ovarian cyst three years ago. I could tell that my recovery from my third surgery was not the same as from the first two. Pain began to increase about a year ago. I too went through all sorts of ultrasounds, CT scans, GI tests, etc. to rule out multiple problems. I always felt and the tests all pointed toward adhesions and ilio-inguinal entrapment. I was put on extended release morphine and medication for breakthrough pain. I had two nerve blocks done which helped for only about a week period. I was sent to a physical therapist who specializes in womens health. She was wonderful and did myofascial release which did help a great deal. When I am driving for extended periods it seems to aggravate it and I had to take a long trip last week due to a sick family member and the pain has returned to an unbearable level. I will be going back to the PT next week. I know that this is something I will have to deal with for the rest of my life. I saw a surgeon who did not want to do surgery since she said it can make the adhesions worse. My quesiton is, for flare ups what is a good medication regimen? My doctor put me on Cymbalta also but it makes me so dopey I don't like to take it. The heavy duty narcotics do help, but I don't want to have to take those. Has anyone found relief with muscle relaxants?

Hi Ladies, I first started to write into this site in November. I had 2 c-sections, the last one about 3 and 1/2 years ago now. Probably about 2 and a bit years ago, I noticed that hey, it shouldn't still be hurting so much. I mentioned it to the M.D's and they just said it was scar tissue. A couple months later, oh, it's adhesions, then they actually admitted, oh, there is a lump, but it'll probably go away on it's own. Then, well we can't take it out, it'll cause more problems if we do. Then, oh it's an abcess, oh now it's a cyst. Oh, now it's a tumor (because my mom had a wierd type of ovarian cancer). It's not until they finally did a biopsy in December that they found out it was an endometrioma. I tell you the pain has been debilitating! I've been on narcotics for over 7 months. I've had so much my stomach eroded and I was vomitting blood. I've had codeine, oxycodon, oxycontin, dilaudid, and now I'm on a fentanyl patch, which I have to use 2 of. Talk about ridiculous! I'm having surgery to remove it in 2 weeks. If this sounds like anyone else's story, just keep pushing, ask for tests and procedures and surgeries. It's not much of a life to be on narcotics! Not a way to raise a family! If you have adhesions, there's special guaze and sprays to use to help to prevent further adhesions from forming post-op. It's your body, if you don't like what a M.D. has to say ask for a referral,or go see another one! M.D.'s aren't aware, or sometimes don't seem to care about fixing the problem and are just as happy to prescribe narcotics. Just say no! Good luck to everyone.

Ann, I take muscle relaxants every day - it helps me with sleep and supposedly for the pain. I take zanaflex. I am also on methadone for pain. I've had every single test done. Every one. I've had nerve blocks and injections as well. Until they come up with something new, I just have to live with it. I wish you good luck:)

Cynthia...I had cryo-ablation done. This is the use of liquid CO2 to temporarily burn the nerve. We hit the ilioinguinal nerve, including the branch that runs across my abdomen. I still get the sharp pain in my right lower quadrant, but for the first time since my son was born I can wear jeans again!!! My pain mgt doc recommended repeating it to see if we can make the symptoms stay away a little bit longer. It should work for at least 6 months. It can be done on a permanent bases. If you have it done, make sure they use a nerve finder...it hurts like hell, but if they are able to reproduce your symptoms then you know they are in the right spot. Ann...cymbalta is an anti-depressant that can also help reduce nerve pain. Ask your doctor for lidoderm patches. They are extremely effect with reducing nerve pain. Liza

yes im having the same simtoms but not on left side on right side but i go through from the tests and doctors told me that this is cyst i go through from all medication but it become small but not totaly gone and even im trying to get pregnent from last 6 month but fail

Nikki -- First, let me say that I understand your frustration with the dr. saying you need another surgery (laproscopy). I went for years with endometriosis, and the doctors (because it's something you can't identify w/o a "lap") were all telling me it was in my head, until I finally collapsed in the dr.'s ofc from the pain. Second, I had a c-section almost 2 years ago -- the pain on my left side never really went completely away and increases during my menses. My advice to you is this -- while you may not want to "go under the knife" again, a laproscopy is TOTALLY different then being actually cut open, it heals quickly, and could possibly give you great relief. I was fortunate to have one (for my endometriosis -- several years before the c-section). I had gone for years with the endometriosis pain. It was like a miracle cure! I'm not saying it could definitely work for the c-section pain, but the doc saying that it's a possibility that it could relieve that c-section pain (that we all know hurts a GREAT DEAL), it's a chance I know I'd take if I had the chance. Hope this helps.

Mandi -- your doctor is full of it! I had endometriosis WITH GREAT PAIN for years (the docs said that it was all in my mind -- until after they found it through a laproscopy, which is pretty much the only way they CAN find it). Endometriosis is ACTUALLY when you have a cycle and it doesn't just go out of your body -- it can go into your body also and attach onto other organs. SOOOOOO, PLEASE go see a different doctor. Yours sounds like a quack (one of the same ones I saw from age 15 to age 25 -- yes, 10 years until they found it...and it DOES cause pain). Hope this helps.

I am experiencing similar symptoms. I am 8 months post c-section (my third) and have tenderness on the left side, right near my left ovary. I am also experiencing some lower back pain. I too had always had pain on the left and it has gotten substantially worse in the past 6 weeks. I am going to doctor tommorow (April 12th)

Many of you seem to be experiencing more extreme pain near/at menses...does anyone have more severe pain around ovulation? I'm sore most of the time but it's bearable, except at ovulation when it gets severe. My period is actually a good time for me? Anyone have anything similar? Thanks

I have suffered for 8 long yrs since my c-section and had several procedures done, trying to correct the problems. Pls don't give up on getting help and remember that there could be mutiple problems going on. Don't be afraid to share helpful hints with your Dr. when you learn something useful. In my case, after my surgery I had terrible pain continuously and swelling in my lower extremities. The doctor's told me there was nothing wrong but I knew it was not true. I walked around bent over for 2 yrs. My doctor had sent me for a second opinion from a urologist and he said there was nothing wrong (with a few insults attached). I didn't know what else to do, so I lived in terrible pain. Later, another doctor examined me and noticed that my uterus would not move on examination. I had corrective surgery done to fix the problem but the doctor did not test ahead of time to see what was going on inside. After surgery he told me that my bladder had been sewn to my uterus so it was in the wrong place and they had cut it by mistake. He said the adhesions were so bad that the had to remove parts of my muscle and put my organs back in order. They used some mesh material, placing it between each layer of organs and tissue, to try to keep things in place during the healing process. This helped cut down on more adhesions from the second surgery. If you have surgery done, pls tell your doctor to do this. The pain continued but the swelling subsided on one side. The doctor said the healing would take time and the pain would improve but it did not. I asked my doctor's if I could have a blood clot in my abdomen that could be putting pressure on my insides and causing swelling. By this time, I had several symptoms. I couldn't urinate properly, my back was going out on me, I had continued severe swelling in my leg and foot. The doctor did a test for blood clots but they only looked in my leg veins... all was clear. When my back got really bad, my family doctor sent me for a MRI which showed a ma__s in my abdomen over my colon area and pressure on my L5 nerve root. He sent me back to the OB for follow-up. The doctor did a CT scan and the ma__s showed again so he followed-up with a ultra-sound and decided it must have been something in my colon, then dismissed it. My guess is this kind of problem doesn't show on ultrasound. The pain continued so I went back again and again. At this point I had a lot of pain during ovulation and fleshy discharge during my periods. I also had discharge that came after the pain climaxed every month. It was like a mucous plug. The pain was so bad sometimes that I could not sit down. Finally he said, they'd better do surgery again because the pain was so bad and they were not sure what was wrong. As it turned out, I had adnomyosis in the lining of my uterus so they removed it. This was the cause of the discharge. My ovary was glued to my abdominal wall due to the adhesions so they sc___ped it out as well. After the surgery I was optimistic but sure enough, the pain continued. It seemed to be right where my ovary was. I went to the doctor and he referred me to a plastic surgeon who said I just needed to heal so I thought, the pain must be from where they cut my ovary out and it would heal and I would finally be better. A few months pa__sed and the pain continued. I decided to stop the pain meds I was taking and when I did, the pain got out of control. I ended up in the emergency room. I was lucky this time to have had a fever because when they did the CT scan and saw the ma__s again, they thought it must be an absess from the colon. I begged to differ and told them I knew the reason for my low grade fever and I was sure the ma__s in my abdomen was blood, not puss. I was scared of any additional procedures and talked with the doctor about a laproscopy. He actually told me that in my case, a laproscopy could be dangerous. He said they are not as safe as they may seem especially if you have adhesions. Regardless, they insisted on draining the ma__s and I was terrified they would punture something by mistake. I asked the doctor if this could be blood and he thought not. The doctor was great. He drained the ma__s and sure enough it was a large ma__s of blood, about the size of a mango. He was surprised that I seemed to know what was going on with my own body. I still don't understand how it happened in the first place but I believe it's been the source of most of my pain all along. Eight long years. I don't know if it will bleed again, but now if have some relief. My point is, don't give up and if you feel something is wrong, you are probaby right. Insist on test if you can afford it and don't be afraid to ask questions. If the doctor insults you, he's not the doctor for you. Go find another. You shouldn't have to live in constant pain. The things that helped me were the corrective surgery (which I would caution unless you have a good surgeon and he knows what he's doing. You don't want to make it worse. Adhesions are from scarring.), Realizing the adhesions can cause your organs to be in the wrong place and very stressed, MRI, CT scan, mess used in the surgery, not a__suming all my problems were caused by the adhesions and dismissing them, Cordrin Tape (steriod tape) used on my scar for healing after surgery (I had a history of Keloid scarring), pure Vitamin E, pure Tea Tree Oil, pure Emu Oil, and homeopathics for bruising, nerve damage and healing. I hope this is helpful for someone. Good Luck!

Hi. It is great to find this sight. My 3rd c-section was 4 1/2 years ago. I have lots of abdominal pain especially is it is pushed in. I have a feeling of heaviness in my lower abdomin. I had an ultra sound done a month ago. They said they couldn't find my left ovary ...there was too many shadows. Then they said I had a small fibroid. I then went to an ob/gyn and they did the procedure where they insert saline into your uterus to see where the fibroid is located. They said I had no fibroid. I have had increased heavy bleeding. Sometimes I have my period 2 times a month. I feel like I am always crampy. At the second ultra sound they did find my left ovary but again said it was surrounded by shadows which made it difficult to see. I know after my second c-section they said I had a lot of scar tissue inside. But I do not think they removed any of it. They had said they were going to, but had forgotten. This doctor recommended getting a hysterectomy since I wasn't having any more children (they had advised me not to). He said that would take care of my pain and bleeding. I want to get another opinion. Has anyone else had this recommendation? Thanks!

I've had three c-sections. The last was almost 5 years ago. I also started having pain on the left pelvic area -- most severely beginning last August. For months Drs. didn't know what to do with me. I was given a several tests: pelvic ultra sound, colonoscopy, two CATs and an MRI. One radiologist said he saw a ma__s, but the surgeon was very pessimistic. Adhesions were ruled out because he believed they don't cause pain. I was given every kind of pain killer -- but how can you take those and care for three small children? In late March, I developed a painful umbilical hernia. This got me surgery time. I had surgery April 20th. Surgeon found an abnormal amount of scar tissue on my left fallopian tubes, which he cleaned up. He removed my appendix because apparently it was big and long and creeping over into the right side. He also found that my uterus was attached to my abdominal wall. This he could not fix. Of course he also fixed my hernia. I am still recovering and hope that this will ease my pain. I cannot believe how many women suffer from the same disorder. With so many c-sections being done I think we will see more of this. And I hope this brings some "cure" or at least sympathy from doctors. The pain is real.

For those who may have or have Post C-Section Endometriosis: I am reporting back to let everyone know that after 9 months of pain, I finally found a ob/gyn willing to do surgery and to take out the ball in my lower right abdomen (that was endometrial tissue) and he also did a laparoscopy just to make sure the endo had not implanted anywhere else. I too was a bit hesitant to go under the knife again, but the relief in pain is HUGE. There is no doubt that this is what I had to do and it took being aggressive and getting multiple opinions to get treated. So please insist, your pain is real. Get friends and family to be involved and give you moral support and come to doc visits if you can as it can be hard to be aggressive when you are in pain. Good luck and hope everyone gets better soon..

Hi I had surgery march 25th 2005 and my left and right side is buring me and it hurts. I had a hernia and they said I had a hole in my cavity lining where the fatty is and the herina poped up after 3 years ago another long story so they did what you call a herina repair with mesh and I will tell you its killing me I cant take take the buring. if anyone is getting a mesh find out other options before geting surgery the mesh thing is horrible if anyone knows why Iam feeling buring please let me know since the surgens dont know why. contact me @ hotdiamondck1@yahoo.com thank you

I had my last c-section March 1st. Two weeks post I began to experience burning, shocking pain on the left side. It was about a 8/10 on the pain scale but was also intermittant. Fortunatly, I have a very good friend who is an anesthesiologist and diagnosed it as nerve pain (ilioinguinal). He did some research and found this to be very rare but is seen in males who are post hernia repair. No where did he find it in reference to a c-section. He referred me to the pain clinic where I had an injection of a numbing agent and a steroid. My pain decreased over the next week and now I am pain free. My pain doctor stated that the sooner you can treat nerve pain the better. My OB said she had never had this happen in 18 years of practice. I hope this helps some of you all. Please feel free to email me if you would like any further details of my treatment. ctgrissett@aol

i too have the burning pain but on my right side and ONLY when exercising/stretching. I had the baby on feb 21st and this is my second ceserean. I also have an upper protrusion/bloating/swelling right under my rib cage that makes me look like I am still pregnant...it doesn't feel soft though...it feels hard...does anyone have any advice?