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Bowel Adhesions

Bowel adhesions can cause chronic pain and dysfunction. Bowel adhesions form after trauma to the tissues, caused by the body's inflammatory response to tissue damage. As the body's tissues heal, bowel adhesions are formed. The tissues begin to shrink, which results in restricted function of the bowel. Adhesions create more mechanical irritation, perpetuating the cycle of bowel adhesion formation. Bowel adhesions tend to persist long after the original trauma has healed, attaching to nerves, muscles, and other neighboring structures. Bowel adhesions usually form following surgery, inflammation, trauma, or radiation therapy treatment.

Bowel Adhesions form naturally.Bowel adhesions form naturally.
They may cause problems near sites of
former surgery, inflammation, or trauma.

Many people experience decreased function or increased tissue tension following injury, inflammation, surgery, or infection. Like scars that form on the skin, bowel adhesions create “internal scars.” They may become painful and inhibit proper function by adhering tissues and organs that are designed to move freely. When bowel adhesions form, pain and inconsistent bowel movements may result.

Surgeries are a major cause of bowel adhesions and scarring. Some surgeries that may cause bowel adhesions or scars to form in and around the bowel include:

Inflammation or infections often cause bowel adhesions. Some that may cause bowel adhesions include:

Adhesion-causing traumas include falls, accidents, or physical or sexual abuse. Radiation therapy can cause significant bowel adhesions at or near the sites of cancer treatment. Inflammation following trauma or radiation therapy may cause bowel adhesions to spread to neighboring organs unless they are removed or diminished by a surgeon, or a physical therapist trained to treat them. Symptoms sometimes appear far from the site of the original trauma.

We have helped many people who suffer from ongoing bowel adhesions and pain. Our directors spent years studying techniques and developing protocols to restore patients' bodies to a state of balance, harmony, and increased function. Our treatment sessions are individualized and last approximately one hour, based on individual needs. Treatment is one-on-one, and is in private treatment rooms. From your first visit, we use a "hands-on" approach to treat your symptoms. For more detailed information on treatment, visit our “ what treatment is like ” webpage.