Understanding Adhesions
Adhesions are fibrous bands of scar tissues that form between tissues and organs, are a common yet often overlooked source of chronic pain. Adhesions forms as a result of the body’s repair process following surgery, trauma, infection, or inflammation. Instead of tissues and organs moving freely, adhesions cause the tissues to adhere together, leading to restricted movement and pain. These bands of scar tissues can form anywhere in the body but are most commonly found in the abdomen, pelvis, and chest.
How Adhesions Cause Pain
Adhesions can cause pain by:
• Restricting Movement: Adhesions limit the natural movement of organs and tissues, leading to discomfort and pain during everyday activities.
• Nerve Entrapment: Adhesions can trap nerves, causing chronic pain that can be severe and persistent.
• Organ Dysfunction: By pulling on organs and tissues, adhesions can disrupt their normal function, leading to pain and other symptoms.
Pain in the Chest
Chest adhesions often form after thoracic surgery or severe chest infections. They can cause:
• Restricted Lung Expansion: Adhesions between the lung and chest wall can restrict lung expansion, leading to breathing difficulties and chest pain.
• Cardiac Pain: Adhesions near the heart can lead to pain, especially if they restrict the heart’s movement.
Pain in the Abdomen
Abdominal adhesions are typically the result of abdominal surgeries, infections, or inflammatory conditions such as Crohn’s disease. Symptoms include:
• Chronic Abdominal Pain: Adhesions can cause persistent pain, often mistaken for other gastrointestinal issues.
• Bowel Obstruction: Severe adhesions can lead to bowel obstructions, causing severe pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Pain in the Pelvic Floor
Pelvic adhesions frequently occur due to gynecological surgeries, endometriosis, or pelvic inflammatory disease. They can lead to:
• Pelvic Pain: Adhesions can cause chronic pelvic pain, affecting daily activities and quality of life.
• Dyspareunia: Painful intercourse is a common symptom of pelvic adhesions.
• Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction: Adhesions can affect the normal function of the bladder and bowel, leading to additional discomfort.
Diagnosis
• CT Scans, MRI and Ultrasound: these imaging techniques usually cannot detect adhesions because they do not provide enough detail about soft tissue structures. Occasionally, an MRI might suggest the presence of adhesions, but it is not reliable.
Lab Tests
• Blood Tests: These tests are used to detect infections, inflammation, and other abnormalities but cannot identify adhesions. Other Laboratory Tests: Similar to blood tests, other lab tests like urinalysis or stool tests are not designed to detect adhesions and are not effective in diagnosing them.
Our Expert Evaluations: The Best Method to Detect Adhesions
• Medical History and Physical Examination: A thorough review of a patient’s medical history and a physical examination including inspection, soft tissues evaluation and trigger points palpation are the best methods to detect the presence of adhesions.
Manual Treatment for Adhesion-Related Issues
• Myofascial Release: This technique involves applying gentle, sustained pressure to the myofascial connective tissue to release restrictions and improve movement. It helps in reducing pain and improving lung function.
• Scar Tissue Mobilization: Specific techniques to soften and break down adhesions, restoring mobility and reducing pain.
• Visceral Manipulation: This gentle manual therapy technique focuses on the internal organs (viscera). By mobilizing the organs and the surrounding tissues. Visceral manipulation helps to improve organ function, reduce pain and improve bladder and bowel function.
Benefits of Manual Therapy for Adhesion-Related Issues
Manual therapy offers several benefits for individuals suffering from adhesion-related issues:
• Non-Invasive: Manual therapy is a non-surgical approach, making it a safe and effective option for many patients.
• Pain Relief: By breaking down adhesions and improving tissue mobility, manual therapy can significantly reduce pain.
• Improved Function: Restoring normal tissue and organ movement can lead to improved function and quality of life.
• Personalized Treatment: Manual therapy techniques can be tailored to address the specific needs and symptoms of each patient.
