Symptoms of Adhesion Disease

An adhesion typically forms after a surgery, when scar tissue joins two surfaces within the body that normally are not bound to each other. Symptoms of an adhesion vary depending on the parts of the body that are affected.

No Symptoms

• In most cases, an adhesion will produce no symptoms and therefore remain undiagnosed. Occasionally an adhesion is present at birth.

Types

• Adhesions commonly occur in the abdomen following abdominal surgery. Symptoms often result from obstruction of the bowel and include nausea, vomiting and pain in the abdomen. Symptoms are frequently noticed during stretching or exercising.

Time Frame

• When the small bowel suffers from an obstruction attributed to an adhesion, the symptoms include stomach cramping. This pain can be brief or last indefinitely, becoming worse when the person eats.

Warning

• If an adhesion blocks the bowel, pain is constant and severe, and bowel movements cease. The abdomen becomes distended from the buildup of gas. Risks are high for tearing of the bowel wall, which constitutes a serious medical emergency.

Effects

• Adhesions in the regions of the liver can precipitate pain when the person takes a deep breath. Adhesions near the vagina or uterus may bring about pain during sexual intercourse.