Can Diastasis Recti Cause Pain Without a Hernia?

asked 2 years ago by MandieJ
Latest answer by Robert Whitfield, MD
Question viewed 6,520 times
Tags: diastasis recti, hernia

I have diastasis recti following pregnancy (2 1/2 years ago). It has worsened over time and I experience a soreness/pain in my abdomen that feels like bruising. I went to my PCP who sent me to see a general surgeon. She said I don't have a hernia, just go on a diet and do sit-ups. Needless to say I'm seeking a second opinion, this time from a plastic surgeon. Is it possible to have pain without a hernia or did the first surgeon just miss it in her very very brief examination?

9 answers to Can Diastasis Recti Cause Pain Without a Hernia?

Need abdominal wall reconstruction to ease the pain

I have repaired abdominal walls for this problem in the past and solved issues related to pain and pressure in the lower abdomen, constipation and urinary issues. You can do all the exercise in the world but the fact that the abdominal wall has been stretched to such a point that it cannot recover is the issue.

Robert Whitfield, MD
Milwaukee Plastic Surgeon

Rectus diastasis can be a cause of back pain and abdominal wall pain

It is absolutely possible to have discomfort in the abdominal wall from rectus diastasis without a true hernia. Separation of the rectus muscles in the midline can cause dysfunction of the whole abdominal wall. The fascia between the rectus muscles can stretch so that the muscles pull apart from each other and are no longer anchored together in the midline. When this is the case, the rectus muscles are not held out to the proper length and are not in the proper position to work well. Not... more

Elizabeth Lee, MD
Bay Area Plastic Surgeon

artfulsurgery.com

Diastasis recti cause pain without a hernia

Yes, it is possible to have pain with just a severe diastasis. But you still could have a hernia. Please go see a plastic surgeon and general surgeon to receive a firm diagnosis. From MIAMI Dr. B

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Symptomatic Diastasis Hernia

Diastasis Recti CAN be associated with heaviness and soreness even in the absence of a true ventral or umbilical hernia. But, sometimes BOTH can be present. While hernias are diagnosed much easier in thin individuals, feeling them in obese people may be a real challenge. An imaging study MAY be useful if you were intent on campaigning to convince your insurer to pay for a hernia repair. In the vast majority of cases, insurance companies will not pay for repair of a diastasis. You are wise... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Hernias can be missed

Depending on how thick the fat pad is in this area, it can be easy to miss small hernias by examination alone. If you are thin, this is much less likely than if you are over weight. If you have had prior surgery on your abdomen, laparoscopy, gall bladder, etc, this also increases your risk of having a hernia. An ultrasound or CT scan may be warrented to check into this further. Sit ups and crunches will not fix a diastasis. It is a great thing to do to strengthen your muscles and may... more

Daniel P. Markmann, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

DiscoverTheBeauty.com

Pain from Diastasis Recti

Separation of the rectus muscles, also called diastasis recti, is common with as a congenital condition, advancing age or after pregnancy. While the diastasis does not usually cause pain, it can cause discomfort and does cause contour deformities to the abdomen. During full abdominoplasty a plication or suturing is performed to repair the diastasis and improve the abdominal contour.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

Pain and diastasis

Diastasis is usually not associated with pain and one can easily miss a small umbilical hernia on a cursory exam especially if you are relatively over-weight as suggested by the recommendation to go on a diet. Exercising with a significant diastasis may only predisposed it to get worse due to the increased intra-abdominal pressure and the mal-alignment of the muscles. I would encourage a second opinion. Diastasis is a surgically-correctable condition. Of course this does not mean the advice... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Rectus diastasis is generally painless

While nothing in medicine is ever absolute, it would be very uncommon to have pain from a rectus diastasis alone. You might benefit from a CT scan to rule out other possible causes.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Diastasis of the abdominal muscles is not associated with pain

Diastasis is a natural separation of the sit-up muscles which can be accentuated by pregnancy. The separation is not a true hernia and nothing can be pinched or trapped within in. It is very unlikely that the diastasis you have is the cause of your abdominal pain and insurance companies do not consider repair of a diastasis of 'medical necessity'. You may wish to look deeper into the pain issue with your primary care physician, as it is best to sort this issue out before you consider a... more