Imagine one morning you wake and begin to throw the covers off so you can rise to meet the day. Only on this morning you have a problem. Your arm doesn't work. In fact, the mere attempt to toss covers has left you in excruciating pain. You try to lift your arm to inspect it-figure out what is wrong- but your arm doesn't budge. This second attempt has again left you in severe pain. You begin to cry as you look down at your arm. What's wrong with it?
Imagine how devastated you would be to find bands of scar tissue had formed during the night and your arm is now adhered to the side of your torso. You, my friend, are stuck.
What would you do? Would you be aggravated at yourself for sleeping in the nude? After all, clothing would have created a barrier between the two surfaces preventing them from adhering to one another. You scold yourself. Why didn't you think of this before you went to bed? Would you be anxious to find a doctor who could free your arm from your torso or would you just make a decision to be very careful not to ever move that arm again?
Thank goodness, the above scenario is only imaginary. For those who suffer from adhesions, however, the above scenario is a rudimentary but simple way to explain adhesions.
When trauma (a blow to the abdomen or pelvic region) occurs, adhesions can develop. Surgery is also trauma to the body and the number one cause of adhesion formation. Endometriosis, PID, Crohn's disease, ovarian cysts, or any inflammatory condition is also a breeding ground for adhesion formation. In addition, radiation can cause adhesion formation. Simply put, internal organs that are designed to move freely within the abdominal cavity are now compromised by bands of scar tissue-adhesions. These bands of scar tissue can create a myriad of health problems: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, back pain, restriction of mobility, infertility, excruciating menstrual pain (that may be medically attributed solely to "endometriosis"), difficulty breathing, bowel obstructions, etc.
The adhesions sufferer, unfortunately, is an ill person who must educate him or her self. Adhesions surgery (adhesiolysis) is a tedious, risky, and often time consuming procedure which necessitates the surgeon who is well versed in this delicate and often controversial procedure. All too often the adhesions sufferer wakes from surgery only to find the pain has increased rather than decreased. (As happened twice in my daughter's case).
SprayShield is a product made by Coviden which is proving to be a highly successful adhesions barrier; a crucial element in adhesiolysis. Dr. Daniel Kruschinski provides the surgical approach at this link: AdhesionsSurgery
