Does anyone have a 3rd degree tear that still hurts years later?

[Fourbears]

i had DC2 in summer 2008. I suffered a 3rd degree tear that was stitched up in theatre. The doctors I've seen have all said it's healed really well but it still hurts at times, especially when I'm really tired or unwell with something else, like at the moment I'm getting over a migraine. It feels like a constant ache, not dissimilar to when it happened really. Just wondered if anyone else gets this and what do you do that helps if anything?

Thanks!

Anyone?

I have this, but my 4th degree tear was only 19 months ago. I find its my episiotomy scar which throbs the most, and is worse when i have my period so its definitely hormonal as well as when i've overdone things. I also have a prolapse which feels heavy and achy when i've overdone it.

craving That sounds so painful, you poor thing! I hadn't thought of a hormonal factor. That's interesting, I am premenstrual at the moment. Are you going to have surgery? Obvs don't answer that if you don't want.

BeerTricks I haven't seen a gynae about it since six weeks after. I don't want to bother them with it, it's quite intermittent really. Just wondered if many people had it. Maybe it's nerve damage or something.

Hi.
So sorry to hear this. I've had 3 operations to repair birth injuries caused when I had DD in September 2010. The longest I went between surgeries was 7 months, and things were certainly still painful from that operation.

I think you should see a specialist gynae who deals in pelvic floor repairs and birth injuries - not a bog standard gynae, but a specialist one. It may well be some nerve damage, scar tissue might be pulling, or there might be something else going on. Please don't think that you shouldn't 'bother' them - it's not right that you should still be in pain and it is their job to sort you (and me, and other women like us) out.

You might find these threads helpful - there are lots of lovely people on them who have had all sorts of experiences with birth injuries and repair surgery:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/1688913-Pt-7-Feb13-Any-old-prolapse-Uterus-womb-prolapse-rectocele-cystocele-enterocele-urethrocele-incontinence-pelvic-floor-anterior-and-posterior-repair-TVT-etc

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/1597449-Calling-all-Raggedies-the-THIRD-Ragged-Bits-thread-Childbirth-injuries-sphincter-problems-fistulae-all-welcome

XX

I had a skin tag removed from my perrenium a couple of months ago after seeing a couple of gynae consultants.

I was offered perrennial refashion and there was talk of trying ring pessaries for the prolapse at the same time but I've not had either yet as we were planning on having another baby, and i'm now a few weeks pregnant. I will wait until this baby (which will be elcs) is born and see what sort of mess my body is left in and decide on what surgery is right then.

I can live with this for 9 months (plus a bit more) but not long term, it should not affect day to day life on a long term basis when something simple may be able to help or fix thigs.

Thank you cardamom. I'm so sorry you've had such a very hard time. How are you now?

I don't know about me. My injury certainly is not 'that bad' ifykwim. No scar tissue visible, everything looks the same as it ever did apparently, no incontinence, except a bit of stress urinary, can have sex ok. It just hurts sometimes

I will ask for a referral if I have pain for much longer. Do you think pelvic floor exercises would help? Thanks for the links. Will pop over there and have a read, but I do feel a bit of a fraud as everyone has it so much worse. Thanks again x

Congratulations on your pregnancy craving! Wishing you all the best with the baby and having the surgery. No one told me about all the problems us women can have after birth - our poor bits!

You are not a fraud!!!!! Never think that. When you say you have a bit of stress incontinence, what do you mean? How much? How often? And when?

Pelvic floor exercises might well help - both with the incontinence and with the pain. A referral to specialist women's health physio might be a good idea. And I still think you should see a gynae. Get it all checked out.

Thanks for asking after. I'm still recovering from my last operation, which was in February. On paper it's a long time ago, but things are still swollen and painful, and there are still some deep stitches that are yet to dissolve. It's still early days, but things are looking hopeful (although I'm still paranoid!!).

Congratulations Craving. Lovely, lovely news xx.

Hope you feel better soon cardamom. It sounds like you've had a big operation. Hope that's the last one you need and that it all resolves well.

The stress incontinence is better than it was, but it still happens with coughing and sneezing. Hard when I've got a cold! The heavy duty pads come out then! I think pelvic floor exercises are the way to go.

My perinium isn't hurting at the moment so maybe getting better from the migraine has helped. It does seem to hurt only when I'm rundown or ill. Would love to know the mechanism behind that!

I will definitely bear in mind all you've said and will see someone if it continues. Thank you for the sympathy - I was feeling a bit sorry for myself last night! Take good care xx