Muscle strain/pain after abdominal exercises 2 years post op TT?

Question

I recently started getting into shape to prepare for basic training (military). After 2 weeks of exercising, I found myself in pain after doing sit-ups. I had a full tummy tuck 2+ years ago. The pain feels like a burning/pulling sensation on the lower left side right at/under my incision. Doctor ruled out hernia. It seems to get better with rest but my concern is, what can this be? I would hate for this to cause me complications later or hinder my training in the military. Is it just a strain?

Jason Hess, MD · Answer

Tenderness and burning following abdominoplasty may rarely occur years after surgery. It should resolve without any intervention and with time.  My first pursuit would be to rule out a hernia as your surgeon did.  Then consider an anti inflammatory like ibuprofen.  Rest and time should resolve it.  It would be extraordinarily unlikely to break a suture from a rectus fascia plication 2 years following surgery.  I have not seen this in my experience.I hope it is simply a muscle sprain and will unlikely create any long term issues.

Robert H. Hunsaker, MD · Answer

Almost certainly a local issue such as strain though there can be subtle more internal hernias unrelated to surgery. The time line is short enough that treating it as a strain for now makes the most sense.

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