2 weeks post c section limited movement in one leg

[LL1991]

Hi,

Just looking for some reassurance (hopefully!) regarding recovery from my c-section. Tomorrow will be 2 weeks post surgery and I've been quite mobile since early on, husband has already gone back to work 3 days a week (self-employed so no rest for the wicked) and I've been looking after baby myself for those days no problem. The bassinet in the kitchen is high enough that I can pick baby up and put him down easily and have been since I got home on day 3. I'm still careful about lifting things heavier than baby, the only housework I've done is laundry.

My concern is that I occasionally get pain around the right side of my scar when I get up and sit down and that I can't lift my right leg any higher than 2 inches from the ground, the left leg is absolutely fine!
To climb the stairs I climb by bending my left leg and my right foot just follows, no bending. I also struggle to get into bed and am still sleeping on the recliner downstairs - I tried to lay in bed yesterday and did manage it but it hurt to lay out completely flat and I felt my stitches pull on the right side so gave up on my side and could only get into my husband's side of the bed!

I'm getting into bed tonight as I'm worried that lying on the recliner is not allowing me to lie completely flat which I don't want to be an issue in the long term but my biggest concern is bending my right knee to lift that leg - I just can't. I feel the stitches pull and when I've pushed myself too far it's felt like I've ripped flesh under the wound! I can keep my leg straight and kick out to the front back and side, just not bend my knee to lift my leg up.

Has anyone else experienced this? Do you just magically wake up one day and you can lift your leg fine? I'm really worried I'll never be able to get on a bike or climb stairs normally again! Midwives and health visitors just keep saying to give it time but even they admit they've not really heard of it before! I just want to know I'm going to recover from this as the longer it's an issue the more I worry I'm healing wrong!

Also, how long until you could lower yourself into bed normally, none of this lowering yourself down on your elbow malarkey! And how long until you had a bath, I'm nervous I'll wash my insides if I do it too soon 😅

Thanks in advance, hoping someone is able to shed light on a similar experience as I can't find anything elsewhere on the internet!!

Lucy x

Sounds like you need to see someone who can do a proper neuro examination - either GP/obstetrician/anaesthetist.

Do you have the number for the delivery ward? I would give them a call and one of the anaesthetists will call you back. I had problems (not like your leg, but nerve probs post spinal block) and they got the anaesthetist during my section to call me back, I had to go in for tests. Hope this is an option for you!

I felt more tightness at the right of my incision for a good few months, I was told it's because that's where the surgeon finishes the stitching so it's usually tighter and more sore on that side.

I didn't feel any weakness in my legs or anything but I think that was listed as an effect of the spinal anaesthetic. Are you still under community midwives? Ask them or your HV.

It’s major surgery, you aren’t going to be up and about in a couple of weeks. After two weeks I could just about shuffle a couple of hundred metres to the bottom of the street and back. It took me months to be able to move normally again, and five years on I still have permanent pain in the lower part of my stomach. Some days are worse than others but it’s permanently damaged - it’s not unusual for women to have permanent nerve damage after c section.

My bladder didn't work after my C section! It was fine after a couple of weeks but I was on a catheter for 11 days and back to hospital twice. They said with the pulling and roughness of what happens inside during the section, nerves can go into shock and take a while to recover. You are very soon after the section and it sounds like you are doing a hell of a lot.

Take it easier, and like others said call the ward or ask for referral.

Congratulations on your lovely baby and I hope you're all sorted soon