We all have physical scar
tissue. This healing process is so inherent to our daily lives that we take it
for granted. We see the scars form, they happen naturally—so what is the big
deal? Scar tissue is the body's way of repairing damaged tissues. Scar
tissue shortens muscle tissue, which shows up as immobility, irritability and
pain syndrome. Trigger points can be embedded in or around this scar tissue.
Trigger points create a type
of muscle stiffness and are the result of tiny contraction knots in muscle and
tissues where an area of the body is injured or overworked. Trigger points are
something traditional doctors ignore and could be some thing overlooked in your
case maybe for years. It is important to be knowledge empowered. If you have
pain it is healthier to eliminate the cause of the pain. Many pain management
techniques focus on masking pain rather than healing the body or helping the
body heal itself naturally.
The healing process and scar
formation can be initiated by something a simple as bumping into a corner of a
table. We walk away, ignore the pain and go on with our daily lives. Most of
the time this is not a problem—but some times this healing process triggers
scar that if left unaddressed over time will result in pain and physical limitation.
When tissues in the body are
interrupted by injury or impact, scar tissue forms as part of the healing
process. Scar tissue helps mend together the separated tissues. Adhesions are
scar tissues that form internally. Scar tissue is a dense fibrous connective
tissue that forms over and/or around a healed wound or cut and is the body's
way of repairing damaged tissues or of protecting surrounding tissues from
foreign bodies.
We are familiar with acne
scars, scars from cuts and scrapes, surgery. Internal adhesions form from
procedures such as caesarian and hysterectomy surgery. There are also bone
scars, as well as scars that form around breast implants and surgical mesh. Sometimes
adhesions are present at birth. One example of excessive internal formation of
scar tissue is a common complication that occurs in breast augmentation
patients, known as capsular contracture. Keloids and hypertrophic scars are examples of excessive scar tissue formation, which
happens externally.
Adhesion is the word used
to describe bands of fibrous tissue that grows to connect internal organs.
Adhesions can connect the loops of the intestines to each other, to nearby
organs or to the wall of the abdomen. They can pull sections of the intestines
out of place, which may block food from passing through the intestine. They
cause symptoms such as crampy abdominal pain, vomiting, bloating, an inability
to pass gas and constipation.
Some adhesions go away by
themselves. Surgery can remove adhesions, however surgery can increase the risk
of more adhesions. People who have experienced multiple back surgeries tend to
have more adhesions, which can create the pain they were hoping to escape. Bony
scar tissue, called a callus, will form on bone after a fracture.
While the degree of scar formation varies from person
to person, there are some distinguishing characteristics: Becomes hard and
non-pliable, Bands of fibers on or below the surface, Skin tightens or
shortens, when crossing a joint, this contracture may limit range of motion,
comprise function or cause deformity. Long-term effects the body’s formation of
scar tissue can set the stage for future problems.
Since scars and adhesions are composed primarily of
collagen, the scar tissue’s fibrosity prohibits adequate circulation,
collagenous tissue creates physical limitations, and the lack of blood flow and
lymph drainage occurring in scar tissue makes it vulnerable to dysfunction. The
scar’s surrounding structures may resulting abnormal stress by nerve
impingement, pain, numbness, limited range of motion and flexibility, postural
misalignment, muscle atrophy, tissue hypoxia, and an increased potential for
future injury. Some professionals and body workers believe that scar tissue is
the root of a majority of physical imbalances and recommend addressing scar
tissue early in its development to minimize secondary scar tissue issues.
When working with
the scar it is important to be aware of the healing stage of the scar.
Immediately after a wound heals, the scar is immature. The scar typically
appears red and is painful, itchy or sensitive as nerve endings heal. Exercise,
massage and heat application will have the greatest positive effect on an
immature scar.
A mature scar
tissue production, depending on the size and depth of the wound, will cease 3
to 18 months following wound healing. To reduce scar tissue in a mature scar a
more disciplined, vigorous approach is necessary is needed to be effective.
Scar tissue is not a permanent
fixture in the body. After the healing has taken place, the scar needs to be
remodeled so it can tolerate the stress and forces that the body
Typically, adhesions show no symptoms and go
undiagnosed. Most commonly, adhesions cause pain by pulling nerves, either
within an organ tied down by an adhesion or within the adhesion itself. Signs
and symptoms of adhesions are associated with the problems they cause rather
than from the adhesion directly.
•
Adhesions above the liver may cause pain with deep breathing.
•
Intestinal adhesions may cause pain due to obstruction during exercise or when stretching.
•
Adhesions involving the vagina or uterus may cause pain during intercourse.
•
Pericardial adhesions may cause chest pain.
•
It is important to note that not all pain is caused by
adhesions and not all adhesions cause pain.
•
Small bowel obstruction (intestinal blockage) due to adhesions
is a surgical emergency.
It is very possible work with your own adhesions and
scars. But I recommend that you consult with a physician, physical therapist,
massage therapist or Rolfer to create an action plan. Some adhesions are life
threatening especially in the abdomen. If you have had any kind of surgery I
highly recommend ongoing massage is an excellent treatment and preventative for
dealing with scar related trigger point pain.
Massage therapy can be performed during the initial immature
stages but a gentle approach is needed. Body workers can improve scar tissue
through specific techniques: Lymph
Drainage, Myofascial Release, Deep Transverse Friction, Stretching, and Heat
Application. Massage should
never be preformed on an open lesion. Some do it your self-techniques for
working with external scar tissue include:
Tip #1: Rub
Vitamin E oil on the scar. Vitamin E oil
is considered an extremely efficient way of detoxifying skin scars and makes
skin softer as well as lessening discolorations or scarring. As soon as the
skin discolorations are slackened off to lessen the skin scars use vitamin E
oil. Rub it on the parts of the skin with scars in a gradual spherical
movement. Allow the vitamin E oil to go through the skin before putting on hot
towel or cloth above the scarred area. This process will help slacken off the
skin all the more and as well as extricate the dead cells and tissues. When the
towel has cooled cleanse away the oil.
Tip #2: Use
baking soda for facial scars. Baking
soda is an alkaline material, which is detoxifying and rids contamination from
your body. Baking soda raises off dead skin cells permitting pores to be rinsed
and dirt free lessening scars or even eradicate them. It is simple to use
baking soda--blend a tablespoon of baking soda and a teaspoon of water then
thoroughly mix them until it turns into paste consistency. Put the mixture on
top of the scar and let it stay there for about two minutes before washing it
off with clean water.
Tip #3: Use
citrus juice compress for skin scars.
Citrus juices include elevated amounts of vitamin C that is useful in combating
free radicals as well as for detoxify dangerous infection from your body. Lemon
juice has the ability to eradicate dead and blemished skin cells to reduce and
detoxify scarred skin. Immerse a washcloth in a concentrated lemon juice and
place onto the skin for about 10-15 minutes or until the lemon juice had dried.
There are a number of
home remedies and natural products marketed to prevent the formation of scars
and to minimize the appearance of old scars. People are often interested in
preventing are hypertrophic scars. They're red and raised and can be painful or
cause limited movement in the affected area (called contractures). Hypertrophic
scars usually diminish somewhat over time. Home remedies used for preventing hypertrophic scars
Include:
1) Vitamin E--Vitamin E, or tocopherol, is a fat-soluble antioxidant. It's found
in capsule or liquid form at drugstores, grocery
stores, health food stores, and online. The oil is typically applied to the
affected area. Vitamin E has been shown to penetrate layers of the skin and
reduce the formation of free radicals that can interfere with healing. Vitamin
E also influences the production of collagen, a structural protein partially
responsible for the strength and elasticity of skin.
2) Onion Extract--Onion, or Allium cepa, is an ingredient in one of the
most popular scar gels found in drugstores. Onion extract has been found to
have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and regulate the formation
of collagen.
3) Topical Honey--Honey has been used as a dressing for burns and wounds
for centuries. Honey had antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and
could stimulate the growth of new tissue.
Honey is more promising as a wound dressing for skin ulcers and burns,
there isn't enough evidence to suggest that it can help with hypertrophic
scars.
Other home remedies often used
for scars, include aloe vera, gotu kola, vitamin C, and zinc.
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