Pain around biggest incision after ab workout?
on 11/1/15 7:39 am
Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this. For months after surgery, I had a lot of muscle pain right underneath my biggest incision (to the right and just above my belly button). My surgeon said this was expected because that's the one the stapler went through. It slowly improved. But now I've been working out with a personal trainer for the last few months, and every time I do an ab workout, the next day I have a resurgence of pain in that same area. I know my doc had to cut through (and sew up) muscle to get the stapler in, but it's been 6 months now. Is there any chance I'm doing damage or risking a hernia?
The other day I did part of a bootcamp class and had a very similar pain from these "rope climb sit ups" (shudder). I still have it a couple days later but I think it's just a stitch in my side from working out muscles. The way they grow is by tearing and then repairing, which is why they get sore. So you are probably just gaining some ab muscles.
If you're doc had to cut through and then sew up muscle (or the fascia that covers it) then you're going to feel this for months! Months!! Take it from someone who just had muscle repair done 4 months ago.
Now I'm back in the gym working out and the pain is INTENSE from doing any ab exercise at all. Not just after but during. If feels like I'm ripping things apart. I'm not (and you're not) but it's going to take a long time to improve.
As long as you waited the appropriate amount of time post-op before starting exericse, you are not risking doing any damage or creating a hernia.
on 11/2/15 12:46 pm
Thanks Tracy! I was cleared for strength training at 4 weeks, so I hope that means I'm well past the point of doing any damage.