can anything make adhesions form faster?
From: International Adhesions Society (tracy.joslin@adhesions.org)
Wed Jan 14 07:26:45 2004
From: K NygrenSent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 6:21 AM
Subject: Re: can anything make adhesions form faster?
Ronda,
Please allow me to attempt to answer your question.
Adhesions begin forming even before the surgeons sew
your incision shut. They are the body tissues way of
protecting itself, but are often our worst enemies.
As I said, they begin forming immediately, but then
adhesion formation completes its process within the
two weeks following your surgery. Adhesions do NOT
continue to form after this initial insult on your
body. What can and most often does happen in people
is that the adhesions that have now formed attach
themselves, perhaps even to a location in your abdomen
totally opposite of where the adhesion is located.
This, and the strengthening of the adhesion tissue
is what continues to occur. These "unique" attachments
are what causes many of us pain. Doctors are right
when they say adhesions don't cause pain.....because
the tissue that is the basis of our adhesions isn't
where our pain comes from. Our pain comes from the
"unnatural" twistings and pullings that have occured
when our bowel has become attached to our bladder
(ex.) or our left kidney attached to our gallbladder
(ex.). These attachments are unnatural and the pain
is coming from that bladder which is being pulled or
that kidney that is being stretched across your
abdominal cavity. These ARE examples of what occurs
and these attachments are not limited to any particular
body parts. It can happen anywhere. But, the important
thing to know is that our pain is coming from those body
parts that are being twisted and pulled in unnatural ways.
As I have said, adhesions stop forming after approximately
that two week period. However, that is not to say that
these adhesions do not strengthen themselves over time
(that most definitely is what occurs). These bands that
have formed become stronger and stronger over time.
This strengthening is often what causes other problems
to occur down the road. A person could have their
appendix removed as a child, not suffer from any pain
over the years...or any other symptom for that matter,
yet at 45 years of age they suddenly develop a bowel
obstruction. Turns out that this obstruction is caused
by adhesions....from that childhood appendectomy (once
again an example). Almost everyone who undergoes surgery
develops adhesions afterward, but only a few develop
subsequent pain or other problems.
It is possible for new adhesions to form within the
abdominal cavity years down the road. How? One of
the causes of adhesions has been shown to be blunt
force trauma, which includes the damage caused by
having worn a seatbelt in an automobile accident.
You can also get adhesions from infection within
your abdominal cavity. But, as before, with both
of these known causes, the adhesions begin forming
immediately and stop a short period later. So, if
you have any of these things happen to you, in
addition to having the adhesions that formed following
your surgery, it is possible to have some new formation
at another point. I am also not saying don't wear
your seatbelts. Just because they can cause adhesion
formation doesn't mean you should put your life at
risk by not wearing them. I'd rather have adhesions
than be dead.
Now to cover your question about riding a horse.
No, riding a horse is not speeding up or causing new
adhesion formations. But, as I visualize myself riding
a horse I can picture your adhesions strengthening and
bonding themselves as a sort of defense mechanism to
protect themselves. As I said earlier it is in this
strengthening that the pain evolves from. I guess, if
it were me, I would try limiting my exposure to horseback
riding. Perhaps not going on such vigorous workouts
might cut down on the pain you are experiencing. Alter
your riding habits and take note of whether this effects
the way your body is reacting. But, avoiding this
activity could, indeed, prevent some of the strengthening
of these adhesions. It does not say, however, that the
adhesions wouldn't strengthen themselves on their own
over time.
This is a decision that only you can make. There are no
clear cut answers...no rights, no wrongs. Only you know
your body and its reactions.
I hope that this has helped you in some manner. I am
just trying to help you understand some of this process.
I have been around the IAS for over five years, but I
do not post much any more. Should you have any questions
feel free to contact me and I will do my best to assist
you. Should I not respond immediately, please understand
that I am often in the hospital and unable to answer
immediately but will do so as quickly as I can.
God Bless,
Karla
International Adhesions Society <tracy.joslin@adhesions.org> wrote:
Sender: "Tonya"
Subject: Re: Can anything make adhesions form faster?
Ronda, I ask that question often. The only answer I ever get, is the only
thing that speeds them up is actually removing them. Tonya
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