I am passionate about supporting women who have abdominal pain resulting from inflammation and surgery and helping them to reconnect with their bodies in a gentle and sensitive way.
Carina
Therapeutic Bodywork
Scar Tissue Therapy
Scar tissue work aims to redress the health of the scar tissue itself, creating greater elasticity, improving blood and nerve supply and improving integration with surrounding tissues. In the treatment we will also consider the broader implications of the injury, inflammation or surgery on the body and make postural soft tissue adjustments as they present themselves.
The body's ability to regenerate and heal after injury, trauma, disease and surgical procedures is extraordinary, our adaptive capacity is incredible, but when it reaches it's limit, we experience pain. Scars are tougher and tighter than original tissue because they have a function of creating stability. However, it can also lead to tensional restriction as it reduces the versatility of the lines of movement that can occur around it.
The proliferation of scarring can be haphazard and may be influenced by infection, prolonged inflammation or a limited time for full healing to take place. This can lead to more significant interruption of the fascial network and can lead to
- Pain and restriction
- Interruption of organ function, particularly in the case of abdominal adhesions
- An effect on nerve function, causing numbness, pain and sensitivity.
- Restricted lymphatic function, causing swelling and oedema.
- A significant influence on your posture and range or quality of movement.
Abdominal Adhesion Therapy
Abdominal Adhesions
Largely speaking, abdominal adhesions will occur after abdominal surgery. However, they can also occur as a result of inflammatory diseases such as IBD, Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis and endometriosis. Abdominal Adhesions can take a long time to diagnose as mostly they present as abdominal pain which can often be referred so can be difficult to pin down. Other than pain, adhesions can also result in functional infertility as fertilized eggs may be restricted in reaching the uterus, they can also lead to other complications in pregnancy. In severe cases, adhesions can also lead to bowel obstruction. (See below)
Does treatment to abdominal adhesions work?
If you are experiencing problems with the integration of your scar tissue, particularly if it is post surgery, you most likely have some doubts in your mind about the effectiveness of hands on therapy to bring about change. Many surgeons will tell you that the only option for removing abdominal adhesions is further surgery, this is risky and quite scary for many people and I have seen enough success with non-invasive techniques to say that for the some people it is avoidable. Connecting with the adhesions with a slow permissive pressure can reduce the impact of adhered fibres in the viscera, it can improve glide, function and motility between organs and have an enormous impact on the experience of abdominal pain, it can prevent the further development of adhesions by promoting tissue health, hydration and positive organisation of tissues. It also gives you the chance to reclaim your abdominal space, to reconnect and reinhabit an area of your body that you might have disconnected from throughout the process of surgery or illness.
During the process, we work together, and I will always provide you with a safe, trauma informed space in which you can enquire, connect, and release. You can read more in my blog here
I would recommend a 1 1/4 hour appointment for all scar tissue therapy - bookings can be made here.
It's very important that I don't make unrealisistic claims about this work, each case is nuanced and I treat people, not conditions so I always approach my work with humility. But it feels equally important not to keep success a secret if it can offer a lifeline to another woman in pain. I am grateful to Nicola for sharing her story, which you can read below...
Having finally being diagnosed with endometriosis at the age of 23 after countless medical investigations I underwent my first of many surgeries to remove endometriosis deposits, ovarian cysts and divide scar tissue created by both the endometriosis and surgical adhesions. All of these surgeries gave relief for about 12 months but the endometriosis always resurfaced angrier than ever and determined to curtail the active life that I so enjoyed; destroying all thoughts of ever being able to start a family . In 2020 I made the decision to undergo a total hysterectomy. I knew that this was not a guaranteed cure but it was the last option open having pursued all other medication and surgical avenues. After just 2 years the disease had returned and pain from surgical adhesions once again was beginning to take over my life. Further surgery was not an option I was willing to pursue, so I began to search for alternative approaches to manage the pain. I had seen a documentary on TV which mentioned myofascial release therapy. This was something I had never heard of and assumed would not be available in deepest, darkest Herefordshire! A quick internet search later and I discovered Carina. To say that she has brought quality back into my life is no lie. From first contact Carina's knowledge and insights have been a revelation. In our initial email correspondence Carina was optimistic that myofascial release therapy could help my situation and, at this stage, I was willing to try anything! At the first session Carina took time to listen to my journey before undertaking a full assessment to look for outward signs of a lack of alignment. I never realised that the body could tell someone so much from just observing postural imbalances. The treatments themselves have been so useful. Tracking and releasing tightness within the fascia at a pace that my body allows has enabled me to enjoy a much better quality of life; resuming an exercise regime to which I only dreamed I would be able to return. I still experience endometriosis flares but these tend to last for shorter periods of time and require less pain relief. The sessions have given me a much greater understanding of the ways in which tissues in the body interact at different levels and have enabled me to actively listen to my body rather than just hearing the pain. Carina's patience, expertise and kindness shine through in all of her work. She has a gift that is shared with a calm and gentle manner; working with the body and person as a whole. I would thoroughly recommend anyone experiencing similar issues to arrange some sessions with Carina. I leave each session totally relaxed, calm and with abdominal tightness noticeably relaxed.
Signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction include:
- Crampy abdominal pain that comes and goes
- Loss of appetite
- Constipation
- Vomiting
- Inability to have a bowel movement or pass gas
- Swelling of the abdomen
Because of the serious complications that can develop from intestinal obstruction, seek immediate medical care if you have severe abdominal pain or other symptoms of intestinal obstruction