37 Years Old, EXTREME Back and Neck Pain, MAJOR Diastasis Recti... Repair Needed - Alpharetta, GA

I am blessed with 3 children... 3 large babies! They're all in the 10lb zone even having them a week early and while it looked nice during pregnancy, I carried them all out front. My ab muscles were torn apart. My OB during my c-section attempted to sew my abs back together a bit while I was open anyway but my third just ripped them apart again- this time the separation was almost up to my rib cage. Shortly after delivering my 3rd child, I was rear-ended. I spent 20 months with a chiropractor, spine specialist and physical therapist trying to recover but was unsuccessful. I wasn't thrilled with the stretched out skin and always looking pregnant, especially being someone that takes fitness seriously so in addition to all of the doctors, I began working on diastasis recti healing programs. While I found one that helped reduce the separation, nothing seemed to really do the trick. At the point when my spine specialist recommended I go in for nerve burning treatments for the pain, my husband and I decided to look into a tummy tuck (if they're going to have to do major abdominal repair, I may as well get the look I want too;-) I was afraid and skeptical- especially after visiting multiple surgeons and getting little assurance that they believed the abdominal repair would help my back. However, when we met with Dr. Alderman, she "got it." She seemed to really hear what I was looking for in my Mommy Makeover but also heard my questions and desires for my ab muscles to be back in the front, not on the side and my theory on how it might help my back. She agreed. The surgery was no joke- I'm not going to candy coat that but within days, I was off the pain medicine... everything! I'd been taking prescription nerve medicine, muscle relaxers and pain medicine for over a year for my back and neck in addition to having to use lidocaine cream to sleep at night. Post surgery, I haven't had to use ANY of the medications I was using before to treat my back and neck pain. Having such an amazing surgeon help my body get the muscles back in the right spot and distribute the core strain has been a game changer. The pain (which I was warned about and afraid of) was worth it. I have three smaller children (6, 3, 2) and the childcare was a concern and tough to work out but now I'm a better mom as a result. Glad I did this.