Internal Scar Tissue

Scars illustrate how our body reacts to an injury. As the body tries to repair the injured site quickly, it tries to restore the tissue to its previous state. You must have observed that in case of an injury, inflammation is the first reaction of the tissue.

Externally, the injured tissue is usually replaced with a scar tissue, which looks different from the original tissue. Scar tissue has poor blood supply, and so it looks paler than the surrounding skin. Restoration of the tissue to the normal state depends upon the type of tissue involved and the severity of the damage caused.

A trauma or a surgery leads to the development of a scar tissue inside the body and it is most commonly found in the abdominal region. Even a heart attack leads to torn muscles and ligaments and can result in scarring of the heart tissue. Inflammatory diseases like irritable bowel syndrome can also cause scar tissue formation inside the body.

Most of the time, the person doesn't even know about the development of scar tissue in his body, because he never experiences any pain or discomfort. This means that a healthy human body is capable of repairing itself perfectly.

In some cases however, formation of a scar tissue leads to the formation of an adhesion, that connects two organs in the cavity, which were not originally joined. Adhesions usually connect two adjacent serous membranes (thin outer lining of the organs or cavities).

Lungs and heart in the chest cavity and organs in the abdominal cavity are all covered by serous membranes. An adhesion may generate extra pressure on some organs, affecting their functions and movement.

Sometimes, an organ may get attached to the wall of the abdominal cavity by an adhesion. Scar tissue developing on the diaphragm can lead to breathing problems. Adhesions and scar tissues can obstruct the bowel movement.

In some cases, adhesions can even lead to twisting of the reproductive organs or bending of the organs in the abdominal cavity, resulting in severe pain, digestion problems and fertility problems. Frequent pain is one of the main symptoms of adhesion and scar tissue formation.

Physical trauma, heart attack or surgeries, a sports injury, inflammatory diseases, infection or even radiation can lead to the formation of a scar tissue. Chances of developing an adhesion and a scar tissue are more when a person is suffering from chronic conditions. The treatment for the removal of the scar tissue usually involves surgery.

Steroid shots are sometimes helpful in controlling further growth of the tissue and associated pain. Adhesions can be detected with the help of ultrasound technology but it depends upon their thickness and location. About 93% of people develop adhesions after undergoing an abdominal surgery.

Adhesions can lead to various complications like leaks, wound infections, hemorrhages with adhesion-related perforations. Approximately 80% percent of women develop internal scar tissue after surgery and suffer from post-operative adhesions after gynecological surgeries of any kind.

Some suffer from the problem soon after the surgery while some suffer from the problem years after the surgery. Doctors may prescribe proper medications for scar tissue reduction, but they aren't always efficacious. Besides being ineffective, they can be expensive too. Take a look at the non surgical treatment options, for scar tissue reduction.

Doctors are sometimes confused to see adhesions growing and branching out like a vine. The exact reason of such type of growth is not yet known. Adhesions may go on entrapping everything in their path. With simple remedies, you can prevent such complications.

After consulting with your physician and a gym trainer, you can start exercising after the surgery. Proper exercises can definitely help reduce the scar tissue complications to some extent.

You can always opt for physical therapy. A physician or physiotherapist can help you focus on exercises and massage, taking into consideration the problem due to the scar tissue and adhesions developed inside your body.

You should willingly accept the changes in lifestyle, suggested by your doctor, to prevent the situation from worsening. For reducing scar tissue adhesions, doctors might ask you to stop drinking alcohol and avoid smoking completely.

The doctor might advise you to incorporate fiber rich food in your diet (for easy bowel movement) or he might ask you to avoid indulging in sexual intercourse for sometime, if fertility organs are twisted due to the scar tissue.

According to Ayurveda, Arjuna (terminalia arjuna), a cardiac stimulant, which is rejuvenating too, is prescribed for heart disease and angina and it can heal heart scar tissue after surgery. Ashwagandha (commonly known as ginseng root) also promotes proper healing of the injured tissues.

When none of the above remedies work and pain due to the scar tissue continues, laparoscopic surgery can be suggested by the doctor, for the removal of the scar tissue with adhesion symptoms. It is known as key-hole surgery, since only a small cut is required. Due to the small cut, risk of formation of new adhesion is quite low.

The surgery may last for two to four hours. Patients are discharged on the same day of the procedure and they can return to the routine activity within one week or so. This type of surgery involves some risks too. According to the available statistics, surgery to remove adhesions (adhesiolysis) can cause more adhesions to form, in around 70% of cases.

I hope that it is clear from the above article that you should immediately consult your doctor if you are experiencing severe pain due to a scar tissue or adhesion, as it can otherwise lead to more complications.