What is this?
An Appendectomy is the surgical removal of the Appendix. This small pouch is part of the large intestine but its’ function is largely unknown. Sometimes, your Appendix can get inflamed and swell. This causes severe pain and there is the possibility of it bursting. This is known as Appendicitis and more commonly affects children and young adults. If the appendix bursts, it can cause Peritonitis which is a serious infection within the abdomen. In order to avoid the possibility of a burst appendix, infected organs are usually removed.
What happens next?
Removal of the appendix does not appear to have any negative effects. This operation is one of the most common in the UK and is often performed with keyhole surgery. Recovery is swift in most cases and the patient only spends a short amount of time in hospital.
The resulting scar(s) from this operation, as well as other abdominal surgeries, can lead to what is known as abdominal adhesions. This is a situation where scar tissue binds layers and structures together during its’ formation. Because there are so many important structures within the abdominal cavity it can get very congested. Scar tissue can develop many years after the original surgery and sometimes causes problems that are completely unrelated to the appendix.
How can manual therapy help?
Scars can take up to two years to fully form and mature. Your body will constantly be adapting and changing as it deals with the trauma of the operation and development of this new tissue. Therefore, any restrictions or discomfort arising from internal or external scarring may be felt months or years after your operation. This is where Scarwork™ therapy can help you. These slow and gentle massage techniques help to soften and stretch the scar tissue that may be attached to other internal structures or just pulling from the surface. It can also help if the scar is sensitive, stuck down or lumpy.
If you think that your abdominal surgery scarring is affecting your mobility or causing you discomfort, please get in touch for a confidential chat.