Introduction
Scar tissue treatment can be necessary for those that have chronic pain and tightness. Scar tissue tightness is the least looked at reasons for treating chronic pain and tightness.
Chronic tight scars can cause potential chronic pain and tightness. Find out the 4 common location presentations that can cause one to have issues.
How can scars cause chronic pain?
Usually assumptions are made about scars based on the way they look. A scar can look thin and small. It may seem harmless. However, the reality is different. You need to actually assess it via palpation. By using your hands to feel, you will understand how the scar can feel under the skin.
Your hands can feel the thickness of the scar. They can also determine how wide, long, and deep the scar is. Also, you can actually feel how stuck the scar is. What do I mean by stuck? It literally means that it is sticking to tissues such as the fascia.
As a therapist, I have palpated enough scars to know that I need to trust my hands. I cannot just rely on my eyes to judge the scar.
The thicker, wider, and longer the scar is, the more likely it is to keep a patient’s condition chronic. The deeper and more stuck it is, the greater the likelihood.
Scar tissue treatment is necessary when I assess the scar is very stuck. Stuck scar tissue can irritate nerves and other pain sensitive structures such as fascia, bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons.
Treating chronically tight scars can result in excruciating temporary pain and discomfort. The sensation is usually described by patients as burning and pulling.
The tighter the scar, the more discomfort can ensue during treatment. How long can this process take? The first treatment, is generally the most uncomfortable one but as the scar become more mobile, the discomfort tends to become less.
Typically, we advise patients to accommodate for 4 initial treatments. These treatments are for once a week over 4 weeks. This is to give a better idea of treatment progress. After the 4 we reassess and we can decide on an ongoing treatment plan afterwards.
Over time, what can happen is that as the scar is more relaxed, the patients symptoms tend to become better.
Scar tissue treatment is definitely uncomfortable but one must look at the overall future benefits. these benefits can be longer term. It can include, significant decrease in pain and discomfort and improved flexibility and mobility.
What are common locations?
- Direct location. This is a scar that is directly in/on the area of complaint. For example, someone who has had knee surgery and they are having chronic knee pain and tightness. The scar from the surgery can become immobile causing pain and discomfort of the area.
- Location opposite of location of complaint. Pain in the front of the thigh can occur. However, the actual root cause is a scar in the back of the thigh. A very fascinating presentation but one that I have seen in the past.
- Cesarean scars. A thickened, tight cesarean scar can cause issues in the abdominal, groin and upper thigh area. It can also be a reason for lower back and mid-back pain. The reason for this is that, a thickened, stuck cesarean scar can impact the posture of a patient. Usually, the scar “pulls” the patient forward into more of a slouched position. This posture makes the muscles of your lower back and mid-back work harder, to keep you upright. Thus, the pain in the mid-back and lower back.
These are 3 of the 4 common locations. Watch the video to find out what the 4th location is. If you have tried muscular-based treatments with minimal results, it is time for scar tissue treatment. You may also have received negative results via Western diagnostics.
Contact us and we can give you more details about scar tissue treatment.
More resources
Considering deep tissue massage to treat a scar that is causing you pain? Here is a video that can answer your questions. Looking for tips on managing your pain? This is our Pain Relief Fitness site. We have tips that can be helpful.
