diastasis, anyone?

[spu]

After my 4th child (first pregnancy was twins!), I have extreme diastasis, from top to bottom. It's getting so bad that even sleeping on my side hurts. I've read everything online about exercises to do (even the splinting method, which actually pulls the muscles more apart) and read about exercises not to do. My concern is nothing is working, obviously, since the muscles are so split, and I'm feeling like they may really need to be sewn back together again if I'm ever to become active and workout again. I was a nationally certified fitness instructor for 20 years, and now I'm unable to comfortably and safely do even basic abdominal exercises.

Anyone out there have diastasis repaired? Apparently, insurance may cover it, but not the costs of the plastics dr who would also do an abdominalplasty, so it would cost about $7500 which is insane. But I am afraid of further harm if I do nothing.

In the meantime, I have a binder, which is gigantic, and started wearing shapewear, which is a nightmare.

i'd love to hear any experiences.
thanks!

[frontierpsych]

I had mine surgically repaired, along with a few hernias. Tricare covered the whole thing.

[spu]

did they do an abdominalplasty as well? how long was your recovery? are you glad you went in?

[herbalshakti]

You might be interested in checkin out:

http://www.befitmom.com/
and the book "Exercise After Pregnancy" by Helen Byrne

I really resonated with Helen's approach though I did dscover Julie Tuplers information first.

which is

"Loose Your Mummy Tummy" by Julie Tupler

both cover diastasis and have dvds that go over most of the fundamental exercises.

From my experience they really do work, it just takes being consistent.

I've had two really big babies (not twins) and my diastasis is almost completely gone.

Wearing a splint should help pull the muscles together not apart, which really makes a difference in everyday activities until you really are able to engage your transverse which might take a while if the split is big at the moment.

[bcblondie]

I have it! I don't remember how bad it was immediately after birth but it's improved a lot. Still just under a fingerwidth to go. But by looking at me you'd think I was 6 months pregnant, especially after I eat. I can't hold my belly in! I hate it! (and yes I've lost all the baby weight. It's definately the diastasis)

I want surgery but I don't think it's covered by my blue cross, nor do I think they'd recommend it since my separation is small. But it bothers me
I've been doing my core exercises but the separation remains

I think the problem with splints is that they do the work FOR the muscles.. You have to stregnthen the muscle so that it stays that way on it's own.

I personally feel that for me, that tissue between the muscle is ripped, and it's not going to heal any more than it has. It makes me sad

I hope you find something that works. And if you do, let us know

[spu]

Originally Posted by bcblondie

I have it! I don't remember how bad it was immediately after birth but it's improved a lot. Still just under a fingerwidth to go. But by looking at me you'd think I was 6 months pregnant, especially after I eat. I can't hold my belly in! I hate it! (and yes I've lost all the baby weight. It's definately the diastasis)

I want surgery but I don't think it's covered by my blue cross, nor do I think they'd recommend it since my separation is small. But it bothers me
I've been doing my core exercises but the separation remains

I think the problem with splints is that they do the work FOR the muscles.. You have to stregnthen the muscle so that it stays that way on it's own.

I personally feel that for me, that tissue between the muscle is ripped, and it's not going to heal any more than it has. It makes me sad

I hope you find something that works. And if you do, let us know

that's exactly how I feel, and I'm on blue cross too. I'm small, with a big pot belly. Plus, it hurts to sleep on my side since everything 'falls out' and raking, shoveling, making the bed, pretty much anything that involves bending or twisting, hurts like crazy.

I read that splinting while exercising still exercises the muscles, but when the splint is removed, the 'strengthened' muscle will actually exacerbate the problem, pulling the rectus abdominals apart even more.

so frustrating. and I can't justify the 7500k for something that should be covered by insurance, and I'm afraid of infection, etc., or what if it comes out worse!

[bcblondie]

In your case I think the money would be more justified than mine. I don't have the pain when doing daily chores that you do. I know what you mean by everything "falling out" though when you sleep. That's why I mostly sleep on my front.
But anyways. I think considering the pain you are in, you could maybe talk to your dh and see if you could round up teh funds? It took a while but we saved up the money for me to get Lasik next week, because I've absolutely had it with my glasses. A total cost of about $1800, which I almost didn't bother trying for, but "eventually" was better than "never", and here we are!
Otherwise call the blue cross to double check that it's not covered in medically necessary situations like this. Maybe if you had a doctor's note that said it was necessary, they'd cover it. And if it is, let me know! Because I'll do it too. I haven't researched but from what I understand, it's pretty basic. They go in there and sew it shut! I don't think there would be much chance of it being unsuccessful, or worse than it is now. Infection is possible, but treatable.

[RosemaryS-F]

I used lose your mummy tummy within the first months and I have to say, I have no more separation. The little pooch that is there is all me I used the splint during all exercise (especially babywearing) but what I actually used was an adjustable waist trimmer from the drugstore.

[bcblondie]

Originally Posted by RosemaryS-F

I used lose your mummy tummy within the first months and I have to say, I have no more separation. The little pooch that is there is all me I used the splint during all exercise (especially babywearing) but what I actually used was an adjustable waist trimmer from the drugstore.

Really?! I want this now! Where'd you buy it?
The DVD I mean.

[zoebird]

in addition to the two texts/videos mentioned by the PP, i also recommend learning mula and uddiyana bandha--yoga techniques called the abdominal locks.

if after a few months of consistent movement in this area you don't see any action, i would look towards getting a repair.

good luck with it!

[herbalshakti]

yes, I once again emphasis sticking to doing the exercises. It is comforting to know that if you absolutely must, surgery is an option, but I really do feel that it is one of the most gratifying experiences to return your body back to strength & health on your own. Many of us has have experienced our diastasis diminishing but it does take persistence. If your experiencing pain than I really do suggest the splint to support you until your able to engage your transverse in your daily activities. Surgery is costly and dangerous despite how casual our society has become about it, I personally don't feel comfortable with the idea.

But I do understand feeling uncomfortable in one's own body. After the birth of my large son, I could barely breathe and I did have a few fingerbreadth spaced diastasis but as I mentioned this is pretty much gone (less that half a finger space left) all from doing the special exercises prescribed in the above mentioned literature and I'm not done. Are you able to tell how much of a space you have?

you can perform the sefl test by clicking here and scrolling down

[GoBecGo]

Hi,

I hate to wake up and thus kind of hijack, but you ladies all seem to know a lot!

I had a baby 8.5 weeks ago. On the day of it being 8weeks i went for a run. Previous to the run i had had the occasional twinge behind my bellybutton, of a kind of burning, especially when i lifted or twisted (once a day or so when i am babywearing). Following the run i initially felt fine but since then i have had a constant burning ache where my rectus muscle should be coming together - from about 2 inches above my navel to an inch below it. I had done the self test and there was only a fingers breadth of a gap there so i assumed i was ok to run. I tried to do the self test again this morning but putting my finger into the gap is very very painful, the edges of the muscle feel raw almost.

If i sit still for a period i get to being pain free but the pain is much worse then when i start to move again.

So, i am assuming i have pulled my rectus muscle apart again because it wasn't properly healed, and because the core strength needed to run was a bit beyond me still? Is that likely? I can't see my own doctor until later in the week.

What should i do? I'm not running again, obviously! It was only 1 mile and very slow but it's hilly round here so there were bits of 5% incline...

Will it heal up again if i stick to normal activities? Is there anything "normal" i should avoid? I lift DD2 alot and i babywear, but she's only 11lbs...

Any advice would be great.

[bcblondie]

Hmm... It does sound like you pulled something . I wish I could advise you on what activities to avoid. But I'm not that much of an expert.

[tobysdog]

I am a male and have had it for a year and half due to a ruptured appendix.  The surgery required an 11" incision and with my stomach swelling afterwards I now have a large bulge.  I was referred to a plastic surgeon (covered by insurance) who used multiple layers of stiches to bring my muscles together but it didn't work.  He told me to go back to a regular surgeon to get mesh put in but the two that I saw refused.  They both told me to do situps but after doing them with a hundred pounds, it made the problem worse.  I feel bad for you and wish you the best.  I will keep looking to get some help.