Many of us have had surgery. The scar remaining on our skin will always remind us of this event. But what if the seam reminds of itself not only in appearance, but also in pain? The causes of this symptom can be both on the surface and deep in our body.
Sutures after surgery hurt: causes and how to get rid of pain
In some diseases, it is impossible to do exclusively with medical treatment, and you have to resort to operations. Surgery is itself a very risky process, because an invasion of the human internal environment is carried out. It is very important that this process is the least traumatic and that infection does not follow.
It took mankind whole millennia to develop methods for the most rapid healing of wounds and to prevent infections from entering the body. To do this, at the end of the operation, the surgeons suture using special suture material (catgut, vicryl), special needles. The nodes of the seam are also tied in a special way to avoid divergence of the edges of the wound.
However, such precautions do not always prevent postoperative problems and protect against pain in the suture area.
So why does the suture after surgery hurt?
Possible causes of pain at the suture site
To avoid severe pain and prevent tissue divergence, it is not recommended to strain, stretch the damaged area, try to comb it, although the pain may be accompanied by severe itching.
Often the suture hurts after abdominal surgery, this should be given great attention. If the pain is postoperative and subsides over time, then there is no reason for concern. It is enough to observe the processing rules recommended by the doctor, and also not to injure this part of the body. However, if the sutures hurt after surgery for a long time, a number of other factors may be causing this.
First of all, postoperative pain can be explained by tissue injury. The pains are quite long, but subside and eventually disappear altogether. Dates for each operation are individual, however, the completion of scar formation lasts an average year.
How is a scar formed?
In the formation of the scar there are four stages:
- In the first day, severe swelling is visible at the site of the suture, wound epithelization occurs. In this period, after surgery, the sutures hurt the most.
- In the first month, an active synthesis of collagen, an increase in blood supply, occurs at the site of the suture. This contributes to the fact that the scar becomes slightly swollen and acquires a bright pink color. During this period, special attention should be paid to processing.
- Within three months after this, the scar gradually contracts, the swelling subsides, and the filling of blood vessels decreases. The color of the scar becomes paler.
- At this stage, the scar heals, becomes thin. Healing ends in about a year. But throughout this time, you need to monitor the scar, take care of it.
Pathological pain
For example, granulomas, nodular formations may occur that arise due to the ingress of foreign particles into the wound or due to the use by surgeons of non-absorbable suture materials, which is practically not found in our time. Granuloma itself is not a danger, however, if it does not resolve for a long time, this may indicate inflammation. It is necessary to consult a doctor to establish the reasons that can be caused by surgery, and provoked by another disease.
Possible reaction to suture material. Each organism is individual, and even special threads can cause an inflammatory reaction in the body.
Infection from the outside is also possible. This can be facilitated by taking a bath at a time when the seam has not yet fused.
If the pain has passed, but after some time has arisen again, you need to remember whether you had to lift weights or do any other hard work, as this could contribute to the separation of the threads and secondary injury to the wound.
We examined the common causes of pain in the joints after surgery. Let us dwell in more detail on the most common cases.
Features of sutures in hernia surgery
Removing hernias is a fairly common operation. However, it can be carried out in various ways. With classical methods of hernioplasty, for example, using human tissues, a protrusion of internal organs is possible. Modern techniques can reduce the likelihood of relapse, they use special absorbable mesh. It should be understood that a flap of material alone cannot provoke inflammation and pain in the suture area. The seam hurts after surgery from a hernia only in some cases. This can only happen as a result of careless use of the net or as a result of infection in the wound.
How to deal with pain?
Suture hurts after surgery - what to do, how to care for it and reduce pain? Do not raise a panic. There are effective methods that can reduce pain.
- The main thing is hygiene. It is necessary to monitor the purity of the scar, treat with hydrogen peroxide, brilliant green, potassium permanganate. You can use sterile gauze wipes, fixing them with a band-aid. The dressing must be changed at least once a day. It is not recommended to apply cotton so that the fibers do not get on the wound.
- Avoid overvoltage, physical exertion.
- Do not wear tight clothing that could rub the seam.
- If pus appears or fluid is released, you should immediately visit a doctor.
- You can use ointments for quick healing of the scar.
- Avoid direct sunlight, the impact of which will make the scar more noticeable, in addition, this can cause complications.
Suture hurts after cesarean section
With a rather large incision, a wide area of tissues, nerves and blood vessels is damaged. After surgery, the sutures also hurt due to contractions of the uterus, which was damaged during cesarean section. This type of operation severely injures the body, and pain can be observed for a long time in the area of the suture.
In addition to all of the above, you need to take painkillers, which are usually prescribed by a doctor. If the cause of the pain is endometriosis, you need to deal with this particular problem.
After abdominal operations, adhesions can form, you need to see a doctor if there are symptoms of an adhesion process.
If the suture is sore for a long time after surgery
There are several reasons. Most likely, the pain is provoked by physical exertion. If the pain is gone after a short time after the disappearance of the surge, do not worry.
If no physically difficult work has been completed, and the seam hurts years after the operation, then it should be seen by the surgeon. The doctor will probably prescribe an ultrasound scan.
Surgery is stress for the body that becomes weakened and more vulnerable to infections. If the stitches hurt after the operation, this is completely normal, and there is no need to raise a panic in the very first days.
Summary
It’s completely normal for a finger to hurt after being cut. Sutures hurt after surgery, and this is also normal. The main thing is to comply with the prescriptions of doctors, monitor the condition of not only the seams, but also the whole organism. You need to eat right and enough, sleep a lot, monitor hygiene.
If all measures are taken, and the pain does not go away on an apparently healthy suture, you need to see a doctor to examine directly the organ on which the operation was performed.
In the event of uncharacteristic discharge from the wound, accompanied by pain, you do not need to try to get rid of the symptoms yourself by taking antibiotics or applying compresses. There is only one way - to go to the doctor. After all, this can be both the result of local inflammation of the skin, and the consequence of a serious wound infection, which can not be started in any case.
No need to be careless about your health. It’s better to be safe again, because it’s not always clear what is happening inside our body, why the suture after the operation hurts, because the reasons can be either those that were discussed above or completely different.
There are contraindications. It is necessary to consult with a specialist.