Q: I had a C-section about a year ago, but my scar still sometimes hurts, itches and even smells. What’s going on?
If you’ve had a cesarean section, you may have expected your wound to be healed and relatively pain-free after a few months. But an estimated 7 to 18 percent of people develop chronic scar pain after a C-section, and symptoms like numbness, itching and odor can be common, too — sometimes for months or even years after the surgery.
About 30 percent of births are via C-section, said Katie Kelly, a pelvic floor physical therapist in New Brunswick, Canada. That’s “a lot of women who could potentially have issues,” she said.
Here’s what may cause scar-related symptoms, and what to do about them.
Soon After Surgery
During the six to eight weeks after a C-section, it’s common to experience pain, soreness and itching around the incision site, said Ashley Rawlins, a physical therapist in Dallas who specializes in pelvic and obstetric health. “Our body is warning us, ‘Hey, be careful,’” Dr. Rawlins said, so that we move cautiously and don’t disrupt the healing process.
Itching can arise, too, because the body produces itch-inducing chemicals called histamines, Dr. Rawlins said, which increase blood flow to the wound and facilitate healing. Some people can also have allergic reactions to the disinfectants or adhesives used during surgery, said Dr. Angela Lamb, a dermatologist at Mount Sinai Dermatology in New York City, so if the itching is intense or your skin is red and blistery, consult your doctor.
If your incision smells bad during the first six to eight weeks after surgery, it’s possible that you have an infection, Dr. Lamb said. This could either be a bacterial infection of the wound itself, or a yeast infection of the tissue surrounding it, she added. Call your doctor to make sure everything is healing properly, she recommended.