Repair of recti diastasis to decrease back pain

Repair of recti diastasis to decrease back pain

by Sandra
(Miami, Fl)

I want to add to this discussion that some women are unable to strengthen their core stomach muscles simply by exercising. This medical problem is caused by child birth which most often damages these muscles beyond repair with simple exercises.

Such damage is medically documented. When a woman has a large baby or multiple births, the resulting muscle injury causes the recti abdominus (the two front vertical stomach muscles) to stretch beyond use. This is called recti diastasis and can be repaired only by surgery.

The surgery is often called a tummy tuck. Most women don't realize the medical necessity of this surgery. Most insurance companies won't even cover the surgery calling it cosmetic in nature. Without the surgery, the muscles remain slack and often continue to deteriorate. Any resulting back pain only worsens as the woman ages.

This information needs to be added to any discussion about protecting yourself from lower back pain. It is important that women be educated about this medical problem and not be made to feel that they are merely vain for wanting the repair surgery.

And finally, it is imperative that we fight the insurance industry in this country that refuses to pay for such medically necessary surgery. I would guess that such decisions were made by males who have never suffered from this muscle injury.

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Repair of recti diastasis to decrease back pain

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Severe Back Pain
by: Deb

I have been suffering from severe back pain for 3 years and have pretty much missed the past 3 years of my childrens' lives (10 and 6 years old). I am on tons of pain meds for the back pain. Last week my insurance company denied my request for surgery to repair diastasis recti. My belly looks 12 months pregnant!!!!I look like I am about to pop, no kidding. And to top it off, I have a rectocele problem, so when I have a bowl movement, the resulting pressure only makes things worse! I am too young to give up, but most days I am ready to do so.

your wrong
by: Anonymous

your wrong diastasis recti can be fixed through excercize.. such as the tupler technique!!!!!

I feel your pain ladies
by: Anonymous

I am truly disgusted that this condition is not covered by insurance. I was forced into a c-section with my daughter, and have never been the same since. I never had back pain before the c-section. I am in pain all day, every day. My chronic back pain has caused everything from depression, anger, sadness, and irritability. I can't believe that this is something that insurance companies do not consider worth covering.

Treatment of Diastasis
by: Julie Tupler,RN

Hello,
I am a Registered Nurse and fitness instructor and author of Lose Your Mummy Tummy. I have the only research out there from Columbia University Program in Physical Therapy confirming the effectiveness of the Tupler Technique in treating diastasis recti. I have been working with women during and after pregnancy with this condition since 1990.

I have a free 30 minute film on the about diastasis page of my website, which will give you lots of information about a diastasis.

Here is the link

http://www.maternalfitness.com/diastasis.html

I will be starting an online support program in September. Please sign up for my newsletter so I can send you details about the program.

Julie Tupler, RN

Yes surgery helps! I HAVE MET WITH SOMEONE WHO HAD IT!
by: Elle

I am in the same boat as all you gals and i have heard the surgery is very worth it and necessary from an OBGYN that was petite and had two babies back to back. It is a shame that the insurance is the way it is, but I am starting a hunt to get this resolved for hopefully me and others. I am a yoga teacher who has had to put her life and career on hold because of constant muscle spasm in my back. Are you all experiencing that?

Abdominalplasty
by: Anonymous

I think that the insurance should cover abdominalplasty it can cause far more health problems than people think. My back hurts alot all the time and I didnt do anything to cause the problem except give life to my children. now i suffer from extreme backpain everyday. If I hold the skin up on my abd. my back feels much better but since I have more to do than walk around holding the streched skin what is there for a person to do??????

Any surgery success stories?
by: Anonymous

I'm in the same boat as all of you. I want to hear if the surgery it worth it......anyone?

Need Repair
by: Anonymous

I have been reading all the comments and it upsets me to no the insurance company will not cover this procedure. I have 2 children 9 and 20 and I have been suffering with this problem for years every since I had my 20 year old. I was told by my PCP that I had a hernia but she was incorrect. Because of all the cramping pain,lower back pain,constipation,and filling like something is tearing it cause me to go see a GS for some answers. I was told by the GS I had Recti Diastasis but he wasn't sure the cramping was coming from the recti diastasis and that I should make appt with Gastrologist to see if there something else going on with my stomach. So far all the test they have perform on me have came out normal. (Upper Eigastic,X-ray of the stomach to see were my food was going)I feel if I continue to have test to build a case just maybe I can get the insurance to cover the surgery that I am needing so badly (Recti Diastasis.

Pulled Back OUCH
by: Cindie

First of all I want to start out by saying that I am a very tiny person. I am 4'9" and I weigh about 119. I have had two babies, one is almost 4 and the other is a year and a half. I have now been to two plastic surgeons, two general surgeons, my GP, my OBGYN and a nurse practicener. I have AETNA for insurance and I have been denied so many times that I can't even count. I have about a 2 inch gap running from the bottom of my belly button to almost my sternum. I am in constant pain, and I have already suffered a hurniated belly button last December. I am having a hard time mentally accepting the fact this country's insurance company's can honestly say that this isn't something worth fixing. Right now I am suffering from a pulled muscle in my back, because my muscles in my back are always tense due to my lack of support in my midsection. I look at least 6 mts pregnant and I just wish I could get some help. I am desperate, I can only come up with 2500, for the abdominalplasty. I just wish there were something to be done!!!!

4 babies later...
by: Lisa

I had my 4th baby 6 months ago. Unfortunatley, I had many complications that led me to Mayo. I've been seeing a PT now for almost 3 months. She recently told me that I have a severe case of DR. She feels surgery might be the only way to fix it. Insurance companies need to see the whole picture...look at each case differently...and help us women who want our lives back. I'm so sad to think I might never be physically able to play with my kids the way I want to. The pain is there daily...and I'm often reduced to tears.

Having Surgery on Friday...
by: Jana

I too have diastasis recti and am going in for surgery on Friday. It is considered "cosmetic" in nature and my insurance will not pay for it. The following is a breakdown of my expenses for this surgery:
Surgeon - 4500
Surgery Center - 1600
Anesthesiologist - 1250
Labwork - 120
EKG - 45.00
Prescriptions - 100
Pathology - 100
Abdominal Binder - 50
Surgimend Mesh - 4000 - 9000 depends on size

So this surgery will cost me 12,000 plus. Almost every item must be paid in advance. The mesh used to sew the muscles back together is very pricey. I too believe the insurance companies should pay for this surgery. I have never been the same since the birth of my two large boys and would like to be able to function like I used to.
It is nice to know that there are others (though not too many) that understand what this is like. I hope my information helps and I wish you all the best in feeling better! Good luck to you all! Thanks!

Thank You
by: Anonymous

WOW!! Thank you so much to all of you! It is nice to hear that am not alone. I also have been asked if I am pregnent, or when I am due more times than I could count. For six years everyone says it will go away if I just lost weight, but it has not. I am ready to look into surgery and would really like to know if anyone has had any success with insurance payments. Though I am not in constant pain, but I do experience back pain and difficulty in any action that requires abdominals.
Good Luck to all of you!

They say it shouldn't hurt
by: Anonymous

Please help!!! I have a 5 and a half month old son, who is my first and the love of my life. He came into the world at 7 lb. 7 oz. by scheduled C-section and left me with what has now been diagnosed as severe recti diastasis. I am almost 40 and had previously had surgery to remove fibroids, thus the need for C-section. My main problem is that my distasis is extremely painful!!! Everyone talks of the mummy tummy and the unsightlyness but that is the least of my worries. I have a huge lump behind my belly button, which doctors assure me is not actually a hernia since that is no "tear" in the fascia. However, every day my belly gets bigger and tighter as the day goes on and I have excruciating pain down my midline, in my belly, in my pelvis and in my back. I look like I am six months pregnant while trying to support my internal organs (hanging forward), my son and myself with no functional stomache muscles. No wonder my back hurts LOL. Now the insurance company tells me they won't pay for the only surgery I am told will help, abdominoplasty. They say diastasis should not hurt, but mine does!!! Do you know why this may be? Could it be something else? Is there anything else I can do? I have done the Mommy BeFit exercises and yoga, to no avail. I am truly desperate. By the way I am down to 115 lbs. at 5'4" (lower than pre-baby) so excess weight or fat is not an issue.

Thanks in Advance

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Submitted by: Anonymous

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Please help!!! I have a 5 and a half month old son, who is my first and the love of my life. He came into the world at 7 lb. 7 oz. by scheduled C-section and left me with what has now been diagnosed as severe recti diastasis. I am almost 40 and had previously had surgery to remove fibroids, thus the need for C-section. My main problem is that my distasis is extremely painful!!! Everyone talks of the mummy tummy and the unsightlyness but that is the least of my worries. I have a huge lump behind my belly button, which doctors assure me is not actually a hernia since that is no "tear" in the fascia. However, every day my belly gets bigger and tighter as the day goes on and I have excruciating pain down my midline, in my belly, in my pelvis and in my back. I look like I am six months pregnant while trying to support my internal organs (hanging forward), my son and myself with no functional stomache muscles. No wonder my back hurts LOL. Now the insurance company tells me they won't pay for the only surgery I am told will help, abdominoplasty. They say diastasis should not hurt, but mine does!!! Do you know why this may be? Could it be something else? Is there anything else I can do? I have done the Mommy BeFit exercises and yoga, to no avail. I am truly desperate. By the way I am down to 115 lbs. at 5'4" (lower than pre-baby) so excess weight or fat is not an issue. Thanks in Advance

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11 years of diastasis
by: Anonymous

I am the mother of 3 girls. The oldest is 11, youngest 1 month. I have had diastasis for 11 years and I can tell you it never gets better. I have been asked if I am expecting for 11 years! very hard on my self esteem. As far as back pain, wow do I hear that! I have horrible back pain and some days I cant even get upright. going to fight insurance company! if anyone has any good tactics let me know

been there, hopeful to be out of it
by: Anonymous

The insurance companies, unfortunately, will proabably never cover this surgery. The coverage is getting worse, not better. I had horrible back pain and have had a terrible diastasis after 3 children in 4 years. My youngest was 3 years old, and I realized that no matter how many marathons I could run, My abs will never heal. I had a full tummy tuck, as a woman of normal weight and fair strenghth, and paid out of pocket (painful!). I'm so very weak in the abs, but at the end of the day, I no longer look 6 mos pregnant. The scarring is stil great, but I'm hopeful it will get better.

The surgery is painful and expensive, but we've got to realize that noone is going to help us. We have to do this ourselves.

Any success with appeals?
by: LG

I am crying reading this....everything each of you has shared I am experiencing too and NO ONE understands how debilitating and painful this is. I am in the process of crafting a Level 1 appeal to my insurance company. I have spent hours upon hours researching this condition and trying to gather case study data to include along with photos of my severely distended abdomen (I am 5' 5", 111 pounds, 1 year post-delivery just this past weekend with twins and an almost 3 year old) to share with my insurer along with a detailed letter of how this injury, this defect as a result of pregnancy has negatively impacted nearly every part of my life. I am wondering if any of you have attempted to appeal your insurance co's intital denial of coverage for the abdominoplasty. If so, what did you include in your packet of info and beyond that, have any of you sought a conference call or in-person meeting with the medical directors making the decisions on this at your insurance company? Would love to hear insight you may have. Thanks and best to all of you.

i feel the same
by: Anonymous

first i want you scuse my english.i deliver my girl before 32 months,and feel like i deliver now.the almost 3 year i was doctor by doctor,but nothing,they smile in my face like i'am crazy woman.Or i'am liar.they never beleve me with this pain on the back and abdomen.now when i reading this testimony i cry ,and i know it's real.because the last time when i see my familiy doctor she told me,to see one doctor psihiatrist.maybe my pain it's just in my mind ,it's not real.can you beleve that?ok thank's girls,because i have to share my problems,and i hope somtimes i have the money to make this surgery.if i have some news i contact you.bye.

Me too!
by: Michele

It has been 3 years since I had my almost 9 lbs. daugther, Sofia. I am also torn in my abs and very upset by the sight/feeling of this missing part. I was two weeks overdue and think that I was allowed to go to long. . .I am not even 5" tall! I workout three to four times a week and have a decent diet. . .but nothing, nothing ever changes in my stomach area. In fact, in the past three years I have lost more tightness in my abs and experience the same problem with looking several months pregnant, simply by taking a bite of food or a sip of water!! And I also feel not "put together" since I can never feel my core strength, no matter how hard I work. Glad to know this is a common problem and that others feel insurance should pay some or all of these expenses. . .they have enough money!!

diastasis
by: Anonymous

I had 2 pregnancies 2 years apart and my last baby was 9 pounds. I did not gain to much weight but maybe because I am 5 feet 1 inches tall my abdomen got destroyed. I have a 5 inches "gap" (diastasis) on my abdominus recti muscle. My daughter is 4 months old and I still look 5 months pregnant. I am going to see a surgeon this month to see if there is anything that I can do under my insurance. I will try to get them to pay for the repair because it is a medical problem. I have horrible lower back pain and I am currently on Physical Therapy and using of an abdominal binder.

Heather...have you had your surgery yet?
by: Melanie

Heather! I have the EXACT issues as you. Have you had your surgery yet? Has it helped??? I would love any feedback you might have!

Diastasis
by: Anonymous

I agree!! I have Diastasis, and I'm so angry that insurance will not cover this. I have been online reading countless testimonies of woman with this condition. It is a necessity.......I don't feel put together! I feel like I have no support. I do Pilates 4 times a week, but it never feels "right". I have lower back pain also!! How can we fight the insurance companies about this cause??

Diastasis Recti
by: Heather

Hi. I just had to comment on this. I have been diagnosed with Diastasis Recti. I have 2 children... a 2 yr old and an 8 month old. The back to back pregnancies is what caused this condition in me. I am 5'6" and have lost most of the baby weight and am down to 140lbs. My abdomen is distended to the size of a six-month pregnant woman and is completely disproportiate to the rest of my body, making wearing clothing nearly impossible. Aside from the self-esteem issues that go along with this condition (walking around looking pregnant when you are not), the health issues are a serious matter. The surgeon described it as a 'huge gap' between my ab muscles that can ONLY be fixed by surgery, which I am having this summer. It was quite a shock to me to find out that the insurance company will not pay for this surgery (in part or in full) because they claim that this condition is benign and causes no health problems....they feel the surgery is only done on people to improve their appeearance.

I wish the insurance executives who make these decisions could visit my bedroom when I wake up each morning in such back pain that I can barely get out of bed. I wish they could see me cringe in pain every time I have to pick up my children or the stroller. I wish they could see my upset at how I cannot do activities that I always have done because I fear something hitting my abdomen-where there are no muscles covering my organs which are protruding outward. If this condition happened to their wives or daughters and they could see first hand the health effect it has on a person, perhaps then they would deem the repair as being 'medically necessary'.

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Submitted by: Heather

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Hi. I just had to comment on this. I have been diagnosed with Diastasis Recti. I have 2 children... a 2 yr old and an 8 month old. The back to back pregnancies is what caused this condition in me. I am 5'6" and have lost most of the baby weight and am down to 140lbs. My abdomen is distended to the size of a six-month pregnant woman and is completely disproportiate to the rest of my body, making wearing clothing nearly impossible. Aside from the self-esteem issues that go along with this condition (walking around looking pregnant when you are not), the health issues are a serious matter. The surgeon described it as a 'huge gap' between my ab muscles that can ONLY be fixed by surgery, which I am having this summer. It was quite a shock to me to find out that the insurance company will not pay for this surgery (in part or in full) because they claim that this condition is benign and causes no health problems....they feel the surgery is only done on people to improve their appeearance. I wish the insurance executives who make these decisions could visit my bedroom when I wake up each morning in such back pain that I can barely get out of bed. I wish they could see me cringe in pain every time I have to pick up my children or the stroller. I wish they could see my upset at how I cannot do activities that I always have done because I fear something hitting my abdomen-where there are no muscles covering my organs which are protruding outward. If this condition happened to their wives or daughters and they could see first hand the health effect it has on a person, perhaps then they would deem the repair as being 'medically necessary'.

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