Anyone hear of Abdominus Rectus Seperation?
I was just reading about this and it fits me. Its a seperation of a muscle that goes across the abdomen, happens a lot in women who have had c-sections or were overweight during pregnancy-which was me. The website I was on said that it was correctible if it was caught within the first 6 weeks after pregnancy and an exercise plan was put in place. Well, I'm just about 3 years past pregnancy and I'm wondering if this is something that I now have to live with. It makes me look like I'm still pregnant and its just plain horrible to look at.
Is there anyone familiar with this? Who knows if there is a way to correct it this long after the damage was done? I'm going to my doctors tomorrow and I plan on asking her, but just curious if anyone else has dealt with it. Thanks! Avalon:twirly: |
I hope your doctor had good news and was able to recommend something to help.
I'm not sure if this will help, but I found these references from Storknet. Quote:
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Suzanne, this is excellent information! Thanks so much for it! I'll try the exercises plus the ones that my doctor told me about. She said that although it would leave a heck of a scar, surgery would not be major, just a matter of stitching the muscle back together again. Not sure I would want to go that route, but I'll see how the exercises go first.
Thanks so much!! Avalon |
Please don't put off doing the exercises, they are really good and will make some difference to your appearance if not the RA separation. BUT as you say it has been 3 years since you gave birth you won't be able to fully correct this without surgery.
The good news is that, generally, this separation has few, usually minimal, physical side effects (further pregnancies cause the most problems as this muscle is vital to stabilise the new bump). The bad news is that it does make regaining a flat stomach nigh on impossible. If you really want flat abs then the surgery is a must and the scarring a necessary evil. I am sorry to be a damp squib, but I would hate to read about your supposed 'failure' in 6 months time. Good luck with the exercises, tummy flattening knickers, and the possibility of corrective surgery! Stef |
Stef, don't worry about being a "damp squib":lol: . I know that the exercises will be my first shot. I've been advised to give them 4-6 weeks and if I don't see any improvement then maybe a physical therapist will help. At this point in my life I'm not expecting a perfectly flat belly-heck, I never had one before I had kids:dizzy: and I'm not planning on putting on any bikinis again in this lifetime I would probably put up with the scar as the necessary evil:devil:
My main concern about undergoing surgery is the cost. It would be a fight to get insurance to cover it as they would probably consider it cosmetic surgery. Additional pregnancies aren't likely to occur... at least not in my present marriage. We have 4 kids between us and have decided thats enough. Thanks so much for your input!! I really appreciate it! Its so nice to finally have something to go on! Blessings, Avalon |
I'll check out the PT route for you. I am in contact with a couple in the US via a fitness forum. One of the ladies there will be able to give me some info on this and I'll pass it on to you.
This might save you some time and cash or it will give you some information on which to base your choice of PT! Back ASAP, Stefxxx |
Hi Avalon,
Sorry to take so long... A PT will not be able to make a difference to your separation, although she wil be able to show you some very specific exercises for the abs that are quite time consuming to describe in writing! For instance you can do normal crunches but use your hands to push the separated muscles back together as they separate during the exercise. This sounds easy but can be difficult to do well, so a PT could show you. Apart from that, your stuck with the separated muscles, but that shouldn't cause you too much trouble except that your tummy will never flatten out as much as it would without it! Good luck, Stef |
Stef,
Thanks so much for looking into it. I guess unless I want to do the surgery route, I'm stuck with what I have. I'm sure that weight loss will help a great deal. I'll only go through life looking 6 months pregnant instead of 8;) I'm glad that it won't do me much harm physically. I'm just disappointed that I may never see a size 10 again. Oh well, thems the breaks. I do appreciate your looking into it for me! Blessings, Avalon |
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