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What Causes Swelling Below An Incision Site Indicate?

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Posted on Wed, 9 Jul 2014
Question: I had a T12 burst fx & surgery to correct 11/12. The sx was very complicated as all the pieces of the disk were in my spinal column had to be removed one by one. Very thankful not to be paralyzed or worse. I had to wear a TLSO brace most of last year. I had follow up xrays, CTs etc every 3-4 weeks. Every visit I complained of the swelling & other sx below the incision. They had to use the anterior & posterior approach & the incision was about 14" originally. My left side swelling persists & it moves around. I have gained 50lbs & exercising makes it shift & hurt. My abdomen on left side is still numb but feeling at times. My Neurosursurgeons did a CT to check but didn't see anything. My Thoracic surgeons looked at the same CT & saw nothing. It is swollen over to my belly button which is now 1-2" to the right & has a bump on the left side. I just went to the Gastro MD & had a pelvic/abdominal CT, US of gallbladder which was negative, so had to have a Hait Scan. Everything was fine including lab & stool samples. Now what?
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Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (24 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Detailed below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

Can you please attach a photo of the scar and of the abdominal swelling?

From your description it sounds like you have a hernia in the incision area. Especially if the swelling is more visible when standing and/or coughing and less visible when lying down. It can happen that CT will be negative in case of hernia. That is why some experienced surgeon should examine your abdomen. And as you gained some weight, detecting such hernia can be hard.
Numbness in the scar area can be present up to a year after a surgery as this is the necessary time for nerve branches do regenerate.
I suggest you to consult general surgeon to see if hernia is not your main problem.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Note: For further inquiries on surgery procedure and its risks or complications book an appointment now
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Grzegorz Stanko

General Surgeon

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 5798 Questions

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What Causes Swelling Below An Incision Site Indicate?

Brief Answer: Detailed below. Detailed Answer: Hello! Thank you for the query. Can you please attach a photo of the scar and of the abdominal swelling? From your description it sounds like you have a hernia in the incision area. Especially if the swelling is more visible when standing and/or coughing and less visible when lying down. It can happen that CT will be negative in case of hernia. That is why some experienced surgeon should examine your abdomen. And as you gained some weight, detecting such hernia can be hard. Numbness in the scar area can be present up to a year after a surgery as this is the necessary time for nerve branches do regenerate. I suggest you to consult general surgeon to see if hernia is not your main problem. Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions. Regards.