Help Pain Running After C-section

[Hesburger]

Hello All,

Went out to attempt the first c25k session earlier and had to stop after 6/7 strides due to pains in my groin.

I was an avid runner before I had my 2nd c-section and am feeling so frustrated and disappointed. My go has said it happens but not committed to any sort of time scale. Everything I read online says you are fully healed at 6 weeks I've been walking briskly and am getting really low.

Has anyone else had issues like these? Has anyone got any tips or ideas?

I haven't had a section but as no-one else has answered I went on the Run Mummy Run Facebook page and had a look. The main thing seems to be that everyone is different and it takes time! Obviously your ligaments have all stretched in pregnancy and running being high impact can cause problems. Some people have kept walking and swimming and started doing strength exercises before running, focusing on pelvic floor, hips and core muscles. Some did this at the gym, or went to Pilates and one women saw a post-natal specialist physio for assessment and advice. A midwife who is a runner and had a section posted that she recommends waiting 12 weeks before running, doing other strengthening exercise first. Hope some of that is helpful to you.

Thank you so much for getting back to me. Going to try out some Pilates and carry on brisk walking.

Panicking that I won't get out again. Hopefully strengthening my core and pelvis will help. It feels like the round ligament pain in pregnancy so will give a try.

Will check out the fb group too. Thanks again.

You're welcome! Don't panic, I'm sure you'll get there!

How many weeks ago was your c section? You are definitely not healed enough at 6 weeks for running (although there will always be the people that say they had a c section then ran the next day ).

I know it’s only anecdotal, but I started gently running at 4 months after my first c section. It was so painful I had to stop and leave it a few more weeks. Second time round I was able to jog/walk comfortably for about half an hour at 12 weeks PP. I was told by my GP that the earliest I could run was 12 weeks, and to take it extremely carefully. Every woman is different, then every c section is different.

How long ago was your section? Sounds like quite early days.

Am not a runner but remember the frustration of recovery.

Also check for diastasis recti. I had this and used Mutu System to recover.

It takes 18 months for scar tissue to fully knit internally, that is why they recommend 18 months between births if you have had a c section and want to vbac.

Add to that hormone relaxed connective tissue and you are more likely to injure yourself if you over do it.

You need to build up slowly, you will get there. Try lower impact exercise or gym based exercise first like cross trainers/bikes/step machines.