Physiotherapist for abdominal seperation

Hi :)

When I was in hospital the physio came around and said I had a 4 finger ab seperation issue. She gave me some tubey grip to wear and some excercises but the excercises just seemed to be the normal ones that you get after a CS. However, I've noticed lately that I have seriously no ab muscles left! I hesitate to bend down and pick my son up off the floor because it's difficult and I've caught myself rolling out of bed rather than sitting up and doing those sorts of things. Previously I had quite strong abs. So I made a physio appointment next week. I've never been to one before - what should I expect? Did anyone else see a physio for post natal issues? I've had 2 babies in 15 months and 2 CS so I guess I shouldn't be surprised I'm feeling a bit blergh abdominal wise.

My abdominal muscles severely separated from rib cage to navel during my son's pregnancy and you could fit your entire hand in the gap. It was still just as long when I fell pregnant with my daughter and during that pregnancy the length increased and inch or two below my navel as well. It's still the same and I'm pregnant again so I don't expect it to get better any time soon, lol.

I got the tubey thing in hospital after my daughter and I LOVE it. It was the best thing after giving birth. I hate that feeling you get in your abdomen after birth where it feels like all your organs are just falling down again (which they probably are, lol), and found that the tubey thing was great to help with that feeling.

I saw a physio once or twice during my pregnancies, but the trouble I had with the exercises was that many of them I couldn't do because I also had nasty pelvic instability and the exercises were bad for that. Then all the exercises to help with the pelvic instability were bad for the tummy muscle separation *groan*.

During the later stages of pregnancy the separation causes me quite a bit of pain (like a tearing sensation) where the muscles meet under my ribs, and sometimes I get that pain even after the pregnancy. I've sometimes wondered if I could convince a doctor that the pain was bad enough that he'd refer me to a surgeon for the corrective surgery (so that it would be non-elective and covered with private health insurance), but I very much doubt it. The corrective surgery is basically like a tummy-tuck so I doubt private health insurance likes to cover it, LOL!

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I've sometimes wondered if I could convince a doctor that the pain was bad enough that he'd refer me to a surgeon for the corrective surgery (so that it would be non-elective and covered with private health insurance), but I very much doubt it. The corrective surgery is basically like a tummy-tuck so I doubt private health insurance likes to cover it, LOL!

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A GF of mine had tummy muscle separation as well. She did get a doctor to refer her to a surgeon and they fixed the separation, she also had a tummy tuck as well while she was under as and added bonus (may have been a bit of liposuction as well)...all under her PHI. It was covered under PHI as it was deemed medically necessary and not cosmetic:)

She was in the worst pain after the surgery, it took her a good 6mths to recover fully, she doesn't regret it all!

Yep, I had 7 finger separation after DD2 and I can see where the abdominals have separated during this pregnancy. Doing the exercises the physio game me I got it to a 1 finger separation before falling preg with this bubba.

I have been told with such a bad separation I am a candidate to have corrective surgery (and tummy tuck) as my muscles no longer keep my organs in the right place. I know the surgery will be horrible but having stomach muscles again would rock.


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Thanks ladies :)

Fire those of you that had the surgery, how long till you were back to normal again? Eg, able to do normal activities, running, sit ups, etc?

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I've read that the recovery can be pretty rough and can take quite a while (weeks/months). If I ever have to get it done I'm hoping it's not for at least 5-6 years after having this bub so I don't have the added stress of picking up kids and running around after them as they'll be at school during the day.

I also have a serious separation, but Im waiting until Im at my goal weight before the op, so its 100% the separation causing pain, not any excess kgs :)

Thought I'd post an update.....the physio recommended some Pilates based exercises and I've been going to her classes. It's absolutely working and I'm also getting a bit of toning elsewhere. Its lots of pelvic floor and ab work for me. So glad I bit the bullet and went.

Ive had tummy muscle separation since I had my third bub (but 3 kids in 2-and-half years will do that to ya lol). My poor stomach looks like a train wreck. I get that cone shape happening when I do sit ups and I have a pooch like all my organs are leaking through the separation. My appetite has increased to because my stomach can expand more. I get a little cranky when I lie down and hell0 - flat stomach!

Ive pretty much accepted surgery is in my near future once I 100% decide no more kids. My GP has pretty much said I'll need my muscle sown back together and I will get the excess skin removed while Im there.

Might go and see a physio though, anything I can do to try and minimise it is worth a try.

I had it bad after DD and again after DS (5-6cm) - I saw the hospital physio for a few weeks which helped a bit, but have since been doing reformer pilates (sometimes called clinical I think) so you used machines as well as mat work and is small classes (max 3 in mine) - and although I still have some flab at the front I can feel that the muscles behind are coming in and getting stronger (my back is so much better so I know I am using my stomach now not just back and shoulders for lifting) - I would recommend it to anyone - even if you may need surgery in the end am sure it can only help. There are certain exercises you shouldn't do when have separation so would recommend a physio and tailored classes.

ooh, where do you do your reformer pilates?

i had a 6 finger gap with DD, and who knows how big this time. not ready to work on it yet, but definitely will need to soon. i have already pulled muscle in my back just from coughing cos i don't have the tummy stability.

HotI - I do it at our local physio/osteo centre - my DH had been doing it for ages due to bad back, and I saw an osteo there due to back and shoulder issues and she said should do that to help with the separation which would in turn help back. There are definitely exercises you can do from very early - (they had me starting when in the hospital) - if you PM me your suburb I can ask at my place for a recommendation of someone in your area - there seem to be a fair few places about. Oh and I recommend using one of those tubi-grip things round your middle (I think you can get in pharmacies is like the stuff you put on your knees) - that helps alot in keeping things in and if are held together the muscle can start to knit back together plus helps with things like coughing (I know I used to dread coughing and hold myself if I knew one was coming).

i got a tubigrip with DD and wore it most of this pregnancy too. i saw the hospital physios when pregnant with DD and after. i know the early exercises to do, and managed to get my gap down to 2 finger gap before this pregnancy. i know i should start them again. i will PM you.

I really should be wearing the tubigrip, but it's just so hot :(