r/Adhesions

Hey everybody.

Im still on my PT journey trying to figure out why I get sharp pain when my bladder starts to fill or theres pressure on my tummy.

At first my PT thought my abs were too tight, but because I always had an intuition that it was something about my bladder, I asked my PT to feel internally while putting pressure externally and was finally able to determine that it’s my Levator ani (most likely my pubococcygeus) muscle that is spasming in response to bladder excursion. My running theory is that hypermobility combined with pelvic guarding from chronic pain and my bout of mono last fall caused injury via inflammation to my fascia. Fascia is the went muscle coating which is the only structure between the bladder and the LA. Myofascial mobilization of the LA flares my symptoms for a few days, so I’ve been hoping weekly sessions would work… eventually.

This week I was researching for fascial healing timelines (seems to be longer than muscle :/), and came across a reference to pelvic adhesions which are internal scar tissue that can bind organs. These are really common in endo, for big surgeries and big pelvic infections. I do not have endo, but I did have an abdominal laparoscopy last year, and abundant inflammation from yeast and allergies to the extent that I take low dose naltrexone for vulvodynia pain. Granted, my laparoscopy was not near my bladder, and I don’t know if skin deep yeast infections and allergies can cause fascial injury let alone adhesions.

Seems like treatment for adhesions is… lacking, and the PT I’m doing is probably the best shot at mobilizing the bladder and muscles for pain relief. I’m just wondering if I should try to find someone who specializes in adhesions and could give me more insights into whats possible for healing connective tissue just generally.

Has anyone dealt with anything remotely similar? I’m all ears.

I’m 52 and have had recurrent SBOs, most likely from adhesions after major abdominal surgeries due to cancer in early childhood.

The SBOs have become more frequent as I’ve gotten older, and I was hospitalized again last week with a partial obstruction that resolved without surgery. But it came very close to surgery which, frankly, I’m terrified of and of what could go wrong, especially after researching.

I’m already familiar with the dietary recommendations, so I’m specifically curious about the physical side. Has anyone with recurrent adhesive SBOs been advised to try stretching, yoga, regular walking, abdominal massage, heat, or particular exercises as prevention?

Care team has told me these can ultimately be pretty random, but I’d love to hear whether anyone’s doctor, surgeon, GI doctor, etc. has recommended something physical that seems to help.