Adhesions/ARD

What Are Adhesions?

An adhesion is a band of scar tissue that joins two internal body surfaces that are not usually connected. Organs or tissues within the body may stick (adhere) to other internal surfaces after injury. Adhesions may appear as thin sheets of tissue similar to plastic wrap, or as thick or thin fibrous bands. They may  also penetrate the skin and appear as typical scar tissue on the surface.

Some areas that are most often affected include:

  • the female reproductive organs
  • the intestinal or pelvic area
  • the heart region
  • the spine/ribs
  • the hand

Why do they develop?

As the body attempts to repair itself from various traumas, scar tissue is frequently the natural result. Internal scar tissue, or adhesions, most often result from the following causes:

  1. Surgery, particularly abdominal surgery. An estimated 90% of abdominal surgeries cause adhesions to develop. These may or may not become painful or problematic in other ways
  2. Internal infection
  3. Endometriosis (a chronic non-malignant condition that occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus.)
  4. Injury such as from an accident
  5. Radiation or chemotherapy treatment

What are the most common symptoms of adhesions?

If you’ve come to this site, you are most likely suffering from pain. Adhesions are not always painful, but pain is the most frequent symptom that causes patients to seek solutions.

Adhesions also may lead to a complex set of problems called Adhesion-Related Disorder (ARD). A person with ARD will usually experience one or more of the following symptoms:

  1. Chronic pain
  2. Urinary bladder dysfunction
  3. Dyspareunia (painful intercourse)
  4. Abnormal bowel function
  5. Pain during activity such as walking, sitting or lying in certain positions
  6. Nausea, vomiting, cramping, constipation
  7. Bowel obstruction or blockage.
  8. Emotional disorders such as depression, thoughts of suicide or hopelessness.
  9. Gynecological problems including infertility
  10. A higher rate of post-operative complications (leaks, wound infections, hemorrhages)
  11. Increased risk, complexity and complications during subsequent surgery.