Some Answers to Your Questions

How would I know if I have adhesions?

Adhesions aren’t always symptomatic, but they can be the cause of chronic abdominal pain and pelvic pain, bowel obstruction, painful intercourse and even infertility in women. If the source of your pain is undiagnosed, we recommend that you consult with one of our specialists in complex abdominal and pelvic pain disorders.

What are adhesions?

Adhesions have often been called the “hidden illness” because they’re often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. In fact, you may have never even heard of the term “adhesions” but it is a painful, distressful and even debilitating condition that is quite common. They can be caused by many conditions, including surgery, trauma and injury.

What causes adhesions?

It occurs when the body tries to heal or repair itself and it’s fairly normal after surgery, an infection, trauma or radiation therapy. Because the body can’t tell the difference between the cells in one organ and another, the organs can become interconnected. For example, loops of intestines can join other intestines to the walls of the abdomen, creating a painful entanglement.

How to diagnose adhesions?

Clinical suspicion and experience from the doctors at CAPPS. There are no tests to diagnose adhesions.

What can be done to control my pain while I am waiting to have surgery?

Our pain specialists are available to provide you with a customized approach to the management of your pain, which may include physical therapy, medications and counseling. Our goal is not to have you endure more pain, but to bring it under control using multiple approaches.

Should I be on a special diet?

In many cases, dietary changes can help you achieve some measure of pain relief. Our CAPPS dietician will be happy to work with you to review your current diet and make recommendations for changing it, if needed.

Are there any medications or products available to treat adhesions?

Unfortunately, no. Because CAPPS can have many causes, it would be difficult if not impossible to create a medication that could address all the possibilities.

What do you do differently to treat adhesions?

There are many different approaches. At the Center for Complex Abdominal and Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CAPPS) at Celebration Health, one successful approach is to use a Harmonic Scalpel that reduces the adhesions with heated humidified carbon dioxide.

What test do you use to diagnose adhesions?

Direct observation of the region is the only way to determine with certainty that there are adhesions. Usually, minimally invasive explorative surgery is used, since X-rays, CT scans and MRIs can’t detect them.