Ripped an Internal Stitch

[TristanKaylee]

I'm over 3 weeks post op, and since mid week last week I have been experiencing massive sharp pain just up of my large incision site. (the extraction area) this pain is so intense it paralizes me instantly. i would describe it as a sharp searing pain as if im slowly being stabbed with a sword. It primarilly occurs when sitting, getting up to stand or lying down, but can also happen if turn or step quickly.
My Dr. believes that i simply popped one of the internal stitches in my Abdominal wall, and assured me its common and he's seen it before. He quoted me a healing time of about a week, and not to worry...
Since then, the pain has only gotten worse, and more frequent though i have been on mostly bed rest and very light ammounts of movement. Additionally i have been using a compression sleeve to keep the muscles closer togeather for quicker healing.
Has anyone else experienced this, and if so how long was your healing time and do you have any tips for dealing with the pain. its been almost a week with increased pain levels with no end in sight. Im getting very worried.
Thank You

[MELR]

Did he say it has popped or will pop?

My surgeon (and some others) perform a deep stitch into the muscle at the extraction site. It is very painful and can take up to 6 weeks to "pop", which it is supposed to, if that is the type of stitch your surgeon used. There will also probably be a "dent" in that area until it pops. Once it pops, it will feel much better, immediately. Mine popped after just two weeks but it was quite painful. I recommend wearing an abdominal binder which helps tremendously and pain meds.

I'm not sure if this is the pain your are having but mine did hurt tremendously when moving or shifting from one position to another or when going from a sitting position to trying to stand. Again, an abdominal binder would probably help you either way.

Hope you are feeling better soon. Good luck.

[bmiller140]

Could this be your gallbladder? If you have one, you may want to get a blood test and even an ultrasound.

[TristanKaylee]

Had my gallblader out years ago. also too low to be gallbladder. i can tell its the abdominal muscle

[Sari]

My stitch in that muscle is bothering me as well, they said it would go away in a week or two. My surgeons PA said that your muscle is moving and pulling on that stitch, well that is in my case. Hopefully your pain will subside soon! I was told to lightly massage it and that might help relax the muscle as it heals and break up some of the scar tissue.

[niamh]

I had that kind of searing pain on twisting, bending, shifting from lying to sitting or sitting to standing, sneezing and coughing. It was very intense, but only transient with each of those movements. My surgeon explained it was where the internal stitch in the muscle was pulling against the muscle tissue with certain activities. Not all surgeons do the internal stitch, so lots of people here on the forum don't have that experience. Mine lasted about a month or a bit longer, gradually getting less painful as time went by. It was usually worst in the mornings getting out of bed - I figured that maybe new tissue was growing around the stitch while still overnight and then was disrupted when I moved in the morning. Anyway, it stopped ultimately and no problems since.

[TristanKaylee]

Sounds almost exactly the same though a bit more frequent for me. though i have to say your morning experience sounds similar. its paralizes me on the spot, and it takes every inch of willpower not to scream. i cant imagine that every morning for a month...God bless you. I have a very high pain threshold too...im super glad its over for you, i wish this on no one...

[niamh]

I slept in a semi-reclined position with lots and lots of pillows, so i didn't have to get up from being completely flat. I also learned how to use my arms to pull and push myself up without engaging my stomach muscles. The worst ever pain was one morning when the cat jumped up onto my stomach when I was asleep. I did scream, and threw her off me forcibly, then burst into wailing sobs for about 5 minutes. Not trying to scare you or anything - and it definitely went away. You'll be fine!! Good luck

[TristanKaylee]

4 weeks still suffering. I'd love some prayers.
Thank you

[Terps]

Just said prayers for you! Hope you are feeling better real soon.

Hugs!

[TristanKaylee]

Thank you, and ill pray for a smooth surgery for you..congrats

[Sleeve15]

Hi Tristan, I hope you're still out there! I was just curious how long it ended up being for you before the pain disappeared. I'm 4 weeks post op. I had this feeling about two weeks ago for a few days then things got better. Now yesterday, out of nowhere it's struck again and it is sooooo excruciating it hurts to even take a deep breath sometimes. I talked to my surgeon at my two week check up, he said same thing, the internal stich to the abdominal wall should dissolve around 4-5 weeks which should eliminate this pain but it's hard not to worry that it's not something worse. I've had three kids, gallbladder removed, hysterectomy and NOTHING touches this pain. I broke down in tears last night, not sure if it was the pain or frustration that got to me but I just lay in bed on a heating pad praying it ends soon. I know we all heal differently but Just curious when you finally got relief?

[TristanKaylee]

it took 4 weeks for this pain to go away. I know it's terrible. One thing that helped me soooo much was a cloth back brace with velcro. You wrap it around your stomach and velcro it on the opposite side of the pain. Needs to be the cloth stretchy one, as the one with the plastic supports inside helped, but hurt even more while bending and getting up from bed. The pain relief with the brace was immesurable. I hope this helps you, and you find relief quicker than I did.

[Udesirekye]

I'm at that very same stage now. A little over 3 weeks post op. Started having the pains a lil more than a week after op and it still hurts like hell! It get a little less intense sometimes and I've also learned how to use my arms and leg muscles but it still hurts and I go back to work Monday. It's Thursday night now. I hope it's not ad bad or get worse when I go back to work. I don't understand the point of the stitching there and what exactly is stitched. I'm just curious because I forgot to ask my doc and I can't find anything online explaining or mentioning this part of the surgery.

[Lisa73me]

Thoughts, prayers, & big hugs! <3