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skin sensitivity after c-section

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June 19th, 2008
I had a c-section 6 weeks ago and can't seems to find anyone who has had the same experience I've had. Maybe someone on here can help.
After having the c-section the skin on my stomach has become overly sensitive. I don't mean the incision. It starts about half an inch above the incision and goes up to my belly botton. It feels as though I have really bad sunburn. Having my clothes rub against it or anything touch that area is painful. It is a constant pain but every now and again I'll get real bad stabbing pains in that area as well.
I talked to my doctor about it and he said he has never heard anything like this before. He checked to make sure I didn't have a hernia and I don't. Then he said the only thing he can think is that it may be nerve damage. He told me to wait it out another month to see if it takes care of itself. If not we'll go from there.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this before?
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First Helper shelley5066
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Mabel
replied June 19th, 2008
Especially eHealthy
I did a Yahoo answers search on 'c-section skin' and came up with a whole lot of people who feel like their skin is burned around the incision (not the incision itself).
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shelley5066
replied June 19th, 2008
hmmm...I wonder if it's something that goes away with time. Cause honestly I can't take much more of it. Having to wear clothes is so painful, the waist band goes right across the most sensitive part. I'm gonna wait it out another 3 weeks and then talk to the doctor again about my options.
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motherofhighspiritedones
replied June 28th, 2008
Community Volunteer
Personally with my son, I had the opposite problem. Numbness. With my daughter as well. To this day its still numb but I do get a bit of a burning sensation around it too...its strange. It is also very sensitive to the touch, if I touch it or anything, it seems like it burns a bit worse. It could very well be nerve damage, but the only way to know for sure is to contact your Dr. Good luck and grats with your little one Smile
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ahenke
replied September 26th, 2008
sensitive skin
I was scanning the internet today because I too have extremely sensitive skin above my incision and below my belly button. My c-section was two weeks ago. My husband is a physician assistant student and he believes that perhaps the doctor nicked a nerve during the surgery. He believes that after time, the pain will subside.....hope we can all hold on as it hurts terribly. I have my doctors appointment in a couple of weeks and will replay with any new information.
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ahenke
replied September 26th, 2008
sensitive skin
I was scanning the internet today because I too have extremely sensitive skin above my incision and below my belly button. My c-section was two weeks ago. My husband is a physician assistant student and he believes that perhaps the doctor nicked a nerve during the surgery. He believes that after time, the pain will subside.....hope we can all hold on as it hurts terribly. I have my doctors appointment in a couple of weeks and will replay with any new information.
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shelley5066
replied September 26th, 2008
ahenke, thank you for that information. It is now months later and I am feeling tons better. Though the sensation has not fully gone away, it is much more managable. There is hope so just hang in there.
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slukic1972
replied December 31st, 2008
Shelley,

do you still have pain? Did you figured it out what it was?
I have the same one - mine went away at 8 weeks and return back at 4 months after I start working out (not sure if that matters)
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shelley5066
replied December 31st, 2008
slukic1972, the pain has considerable gotten better. At times I still get stabbing pains and a feeling as if I'm being sliced open again. Those pains are few and far between though.
I found out a few weeks ago that I am pregnant again with number 2. This one will also be a
c-section birth. I'm curious to see how things will turn out this time around.
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tolivias
replied October 21st, 2009
sore stomach
I have had two c-sections now and have had the same soreness.It eventually goes away. I've been putting lotion on my stomach and wear high brief underwear to cover my stomach. This helps some of the pain. Although it hurts putting the lotion on!
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jodylynn007
replied January 26th, 2010
Sensitive skin after c-section
I am dealing with the same issue, it is four weeks after my c-section birth. I have found that Dr. Palmer's soothing oil after a shower works well (also before bedtime it is helpful as bed sheets rubbing on the belly is painful). I have just been using a lot of lotion and trying to wear PJ's as much as possible.

Any thoughts from people about how long this will last?
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jensch
replied February 2nd, 2010
c section skin
This was my second c-section. I did not experience this with my first c-section, but it has been a noticeable difference with this one. At my six wk check-up, my doctor told me there may be nerve damage and it may take 3 to 6 months to heal. After 4 months there is still some sensitivity between incision and belly button. It was painful to the slightest touch at first, but now is more of a wierd dull sensation.
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chickmom
replied February 5th, 2010
Pregnant after C-section skin sensitivity
I too have extreme sensitive skin from my scar up to my belly button. its been 17 months since my daughter was born and it has not gotten any better. On top of the sensitivity, I also have to round patches right over my pelvis bones that are numb on the surface but extremely sensitive in the tissue below. I've learned to live with it but I'm worried that when I get pregnant again and my stomach is stretched out that its going to become extremely painful from the pressure of the baby. Has anyone been pregnant after having a c-section that causes the skin pain? Did the skin pain cause the pregnancy to be more uncomfortable or painful?
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mahogany
replied October 15th, 2010
I am on the internet righ now looking for a solution to this pain. I hope to find some sort of help but I am going on my 4th week with this pain. I have not found anything that can releve my pain. At this point I have turned to prayer...
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Eiiva
replied May 26th, 2011
SAME PROBLEM.
I HAD THAT SAME PROBLEM. HAD A C SECTION IN MAY 10 AND I STILL HAVE THE SENSITIVITY. MY DOC HAD PUT ME ON SOME MEDS THAT HELPED GET THE PAIN TO A TOLERANCE LEVEL.. SO NOW WITHOUT MEDS I AM ABLE TO WEAR SHIRTS AND PANTS AGAIN. BUT EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE I STILL GET THE STABBING PAIN, ALSO I CANT WEAR JEANS FOR TOO LONG. I TRIED ALMOST EVERYTHING YOU CAN POSSIBLY THINK OF TO GET RID OF THE PAIN. THE ONLY THING THAT WORKED WAS THE MEDS THAT TRICK YOUR NERVES...

HONESTLY THOUGH... I STILL AM SENSITIVE AND IF I HOLD MY SON AND HIS FOOT HITS MY STOMACH IT HURTS.. I JUST AM TAKING IT ONE DAY AT A TIME.. AND HOPING IT GOES AWAY.
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LadySheena
replied May 13th, 2012
sensitive skin after a C-Section
I just had my 3rs section in November and the sensitive skin didn't start till then. My Dr. Said that it is nerve damage and the nerves are trying to regenerate themselves. My 1st C was 11 years ago and the nnumbness never goes away my baby is almost 6 months and I don't think the soreness will either
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LadySheena
replied May 13th, 2012
I just had my 3rs section in November and the sensitiveskin didn't start till then. My Dr. Said that it is nerve damage and the nerves are trying to regenerate themselves. My 1st C was 11 years ago and the nnumbness never goes away my baby is almost 6 months and I don't thinkthe sorenp will eithwr
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