Over did it on the core strengthening!

I am very disappointed!  I stepped up my core workout, figuring no pain no gain, and now I am having a lot of upper abdominal pain which the nurse practitioner thinks is from excising too much!  It is weird because I can tell the exercise soreness in the lower abs, but the upper ab. pain/cramping I have now feels different from that.  It is also different from other pain I've experienced so far in my recovery.  I really took it easy on the abs at first, but I guess I got greedy.  I am so much closer than I've been in years to a healthy body that I don't want to wait any longer!!  I am about 10 weeks out.  I'd love to hear from people who are further along than me...how long before you could really work your abs?  

When was the workout?