C-Section Pain

  • Any ladies out there have pain where their c-section incision was while exercising? Additionally, do you not feel ab workouts in your lower abs at all? My c-section was over a year ago, and I have been doing some ab work...and I feel NOTHING! But then a few hours post workout, my incision throbs and burns. Just wondering if this is normal or if I should go see a doctor.
  • I have had 2 csections in the past 2.5 years without any of the pain that you mentioned. I would contact your ob/gyn to make sure that there is nothing serious going on! Good luck....
  • Really? Ugh... I know they cut me differently on the inside, but since I am no medical expert, I am not sure how that would affect it. Thanks for the advice!
  • I had mine 5 months ago and it is numb most of the time. However, I still get sharp stabbing/stinging pains often. Mine got infected though, so I dont know if it has something to do with it.
  • Oh wow, that had to be awful. The whole C-Section process hurt enough in itself, I cannot imagine it having been infected. Mine actually healed very nicely. I just dont have a lot of feeling there. You know how normally when you do an ab workout you feel the burn? I don't feel anything. Then hours later the pain is in my incision. It's frustrating. I don't know what is going on.
  • I had a c-section 4 years ago and when I started working out my incision site was sore to the touch. However, it stopped shortly after I began exercising regularly. Every now and then I'll notice slight soreness.
  • Yea, my mom had an ovarian cyst when she was pregnant with me, and had abdominal surgery (obviously not the same, but close enough). She told me she had soreness/tenderness for years afterwards, so that alleviates my concerns somewhat. Sometimes it's hard to recognize that giving birth that way truly is major surgery. It was all a big blur to me.
  • It is not unusual to have incisional pain with and after exercise. Lots of people get some adhesions at the incision site, and they get pulled and stretched. In general, this is not bad as it helps to break it up. I agree it is reasonable to check in with your doctor to make sure that this is all that is happening. Ice, or mild pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetominophen should relieve it too.
    Keep doing the ab work, that will help strengthen them back to normal. Don't forget that planks are even more effective (when done right with using the abs) than crunches!
  • Quote: I had mine 5 months ago and it is numb most of the time. However, I still get sharp stabbing/stinging pains often. Mine got infected though, so I dont know if it has something to do with it.

    i had my baby about 5 months ago too and i also get that numbing feeling from time to time... i only get a sharp/ stinging pain once in awhile but mine was not infected sooo maybe its just the incision in general....
  • I had mine in mid-June, and every now and then have a slight ache after I've been exercising a little harder, but mostly it is just kinda numb. But mine was closed up a little differently due to an infection I had at the end of my pregnancy, so I don't know if that has anything to do with it.
  • I never really had much pain after 8 weeks or so, so I can't speak to that but I do know there are specific exercises you can do to engage your lower abdominal muscles and pull them back together. Google "mummy tummy" and you should find some ideas. Some ab exercises can actually make the separation (and resulting "pooch") worse so it's worth looking into.
  • Quote: Don't forget that planks are even more effective (when done right with using the abs) than crunches!
    I'm terrible at planks, lol. I have been doing them though. I also do standing abs workouts. It helps me feel like I am using proper technique. Thanks for the advice!