Scar Tissue and Adhesions

Scar Tissue and Adhesions and their effects on the body

Scar Tissue and Adhesions are the body’s own mechanism for healing areas which have been physically cut or torn in the body. They are areas of thick connective tissue – fascia – which are for the most part doing a good job in ‘holding things together’ after injury or surgery. Sometimes, however, too much scar tissue may develop, and it may pull on other areas, compress nerves, blood vessels and organs and restrict physical movement and physiological functioning. This will then develop into pain or dysfunction.

Scar tissue is most often caused by surgery or injury, but can also come about after inflammation, where the tissue has had to scar over to heal. This can happen internally as well as on the surface.

At the Trauma Recovery Clinic our aim is to release adhesions that have developed secondary to the initial scarring through gentle hands-on techiniques in which we tease apart stuck fibres.

Causes of scar tissue and adhesions

• Surgery – after any type of surgery, even keyhole surgery, there will be scar tissue or adhesions, internally if not externally

• Accidents and cuts

• Physical trauma involving internal bruising or tearing, including child birth

• Inflammation

• Burns

• Ulcers

Symptoms of excessive Scar Tissue and Adhesions

Around the scarring itself, there may be unwelcome sensations such as the following, which release through MFR can eliminate entirely:

• Pain. Scars often hurt, often when the weather changes (we have no idea why), and often when touched

• “Cotton wool” or “foggy” feeling around the scar

• Numbness

• A sense that the scarred area does not belong to the body

• A sense of dread at touching the scar

• ‘Valleys’, ‘ravines’ or ‘ridges’ where scar tissue is hardened

The release of Scar Tissue or Adhesions can prove to be the missing link in the following conditions and many more:

• Undiagnosed chronic pain or stiffness

• Abdominal pain

• Back pain

• Digestive problems such as IBS

• Breathing problems

• Menstrual problems

How old does a scar have to be?

For new scars, we ask that you obtain your surgeon’s consent for scar tissue release. In any case we do not treat scars that are less than 12 weeks old, and in the case of deeper scars or abdominal / visceral scars we wait much longer.

On the other hand, scars will still respond to releasing decades after they have been inflicted! We have treated caesarean scars which are twenty or thirty years old with great success, as well as internal abdominal adhesions, relieving symptoms several years after they first appeared. Equally, burns and scarring from childhood have been successfully released with accompanying beneficial results several decades on. Please do not hesitate to enquire about scar tissue release, however old the scar is.

Trauma Recovery Clinic approaches to scar tissue and adhesions

At the Trauma Recovery Clinic we use specific hands-on techniques in myofascial release and visceral manipulation for scar release and to treat internal adhesions. These are extremely gentle and involve releasing the fascia where appropriate. A more or less intense prickling may be felt where scar tissue is releasing. There is often significant difference both in the feeling around the scarring and in its appearance after the first session.

In normal circumstances between 4 and 6 55 minute treatments are required for the myofascial release of scar tissue.

Cosmetic treatment of Scar Tissue

We do not do scar tissue release primarily for cosmetic purposes, however scar tissue release can be cosmetically enhancing – a very fine side effect! “Bumps”,”ridges” and “valleys” of even very old scars are evened out so that the appearance of scarring is greatly reduced, often with only a very fine line remaining. Please try MFR before undergoing further surgery to “correct” scar tissue appearance – which can result in even more scar tissue!