Did you know that the scar from having a c-section can cause layers of underlying tissue in the area to adhere or stick together? These adhesions can result in a number of problems such as:
Pain and sensitivity around your scar
The sensation that your incisional area is being pulled when you stand up straight or reach overhead
Difficulty with using your abdominal muscles, contributing to potential low back pain development
Referred pain to your urethra and clitoris
Difficulty with bladder control
What Can You Do About These Problems?
One of the keys to reduce or prevent these problems is scar massage! Scar massage can help the scar move and stretch like the skin surrounding it as well as reduce adhesions in the underlying tissue.
Scar massage can typically begin after your 6-week post-delivery OB-GYN follow-up. If you’ve recently had a c-section, make sure that you check with your OB-GYN to ensure that your incision is fully healed before trying any scar massage at home.
Scar Desensitization
If you’ve had a c-section, one aspect of caring for your c-section scar is desensitization of the incisional area. Women often experience sensitive skin around their incision following a c-section. This can limit a woman’s tolerance for wearing pants with a tighter waistband or having a shirt rubbing over the area. When this happens, it can be helpful to perform desensitization techniques to retrain your nervous system to be more tolerant of varying pressures or clothing textures around the area of your c-section.
To work on decreasing the sensitivity of your incisional area, follow these steps:
Place two fingers on a spot above, below, or to the side of your scar
Keep your fingers there and with minimal pressure, make small and gentle circles over your skin
Slowly work your way around your scar
Perform for 3-5 minutes a couple times a day
You may also the perform the desensitization technique described above with objects of different textures, especially if you find that your incisional area is sensitive to different textures of clothing. Start by using soft materials such as a piece of silky fabric or a fuzzy cotton ball. As this feels more comfortable, you can use rougher textures such as soft velcro, denim fabric or a loofah.
Beginning Scar Massage
When beginning massage techniques for your c-section scar, it is important to start gently. Depending on the sensitivity of your incisional area, you may experience some discomfort when performing scar massage—it shouldn’t feel like torture though!
When I start performing scar massage, I don’t typically start directly over the scar. I start by working on the surrounding tissue.
You can do this easily at home by placing 2 fingers on an area of skin near your scar and, while maintaining a light pressure on the skin, use your fingers to slowly push your skin in different directions. Move your skin up/down, left/right, and right diagonal/left diagonal. Perform for 3-5 minutes a couple times a day.
As you do this, you might feel areas of restriction where it is harder to move your skin in certain directions. If you find an area of increased restriction, spend a little more moving the skin in this direction for maximum benefit.
Side note—it’s never too late to start working on improving the mobility of your c-section scar! If you had a c-section years ago and still have some discomfort or pulling related to your scar, you too would likely benefit from scar massage!
Advanced Scar Massage
Once you are comfortable with the beginning c-section scar massage techniques, you can move onto more advanced techniques. This involves direct massage of your incision site and should only be done once you have ensured that your incision is fully healed as you do not want to harm your healing incision. Perform a combination of these techniques for 3-5 minutes a couple times a day.
The first technique shown involves pulling your scar in a horizontal direction. To do this, place a finger on each end of your scar and gently pull your fingers apart, stretching the scar tissue. You can also perform this in a vertical direction by placing a finger above and below your scar and gently pulling your fingers away from each other.
The second technique shown involves placing two fingers on your scar and gently pulling your scar upwards. You can also push your scar downwards or move it side to side. It is important to move your scar in all directions to ensure good scar mobility.
The third technique shown involves pushing your scar downwards with one hand and pulling it upwards with the other hand. Be sure to also reverse which direction your hands are pushing your scar to make sure that it moves well in all directions.
If your scar sensitivity and pain does not improve as you recover from your c-section, please consider seeing a physical therapist for assessment and treatment of your scar.
Thank you!
Don’t hesitate in reaching out to me with any questions that you might have!
Email: emily@rxdpt.com
Phone: (989)318-3839
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