This morning I had a surgeon from the Columbia Hernia Center tell me that my diastasis (the hole in my stomach that measures 4 to 4 1/2 finger widths in size) does not exist. I realize that hernia surgeons are not necessarily experts on diastasis recti, but being that hernias are significantly more likely to occur in those of us who suffer from a diastasis, I thought that surgeons specializing in hernia repair would be at least somewhat knowledgeable about the condition.
The first surgeon I went to a few weeks ago, unaffiliated with the Columbia Hernia Center, admitted that he did not know all that much about diastasis recti, but said that he saw it in patients all the time and knew that women who have it are more likely to suffer from hernias. He was very interested in the diastasis rehabilitation program I teach, took notes and asked questions as I discussed it with him, sounded eager to share the information with his patients, and even promised to do his own research on the effects of exercise on diastasis recti.
The only thing that upset me was that he pressured me into doing a V-up position (like a pilates 100) in order to “see” my diastasis. I told him I was really uncomfortable with it, as I know it’s so damaging, but he and my mother who accompanied me to the appointment said, “oh Sheryl, it’s just one time,” and so I did it. It felt horrible and looked even worse, seeing my muscles tremble as a hard bulge protruded down my midsection. He let me stop quickly, but it was long enough that it has stuck in my mind and is something I’ve thought about almost every day since. I liked the doctor though, and I don’t blame him for not being educated about diastasis recti. I’m happy that he is now aware of the types of things that make diastasis recti worse, and also now knows that there are exercises that can be used to improve the condition and make women less likely to re-open a surgically repaired hernia.
Today I went for a second opinion, hoping a surgeon from a “Hernia Center” might be more knowledgeable and able to answer some of my questions about diastasis recti from a medical perspective. What a waste of time and money. From the first couple of minutes I spent with the doctor, I was certain that I wouldn’t be using him as my surgeon, and decided that there was no way I was going to “show” this doctor my diastasis by doing more damaging movements.
When he asked me to lay down on his table, I turned to my side to lay down properly and then rotate onto my back. He was instructing me to lay straight back but I tried to explain to him why it’s damaging to do this. I could tell immediately he didn’t get it. We talked about the hernia, and when I started asking questions about the diastasis he told me to sit straight up so he could “see it.” I told him I didn’t want to do that, and instead said I’d show him how he could easily feel it. I showed him where to press into my belly, and said he’d immediately feel the separation as I contracted my recti muscles. He pressed into my belly for half a second, didn’t even give me an opportunity to contract, and said I didn’t have a diastasis.
I was in complete disbelief that I was having this conversation with a surgeon specializing in hernia repair, told him I certainly do have a diastasis, and he said, “Well there’s no diastasis that I can see.” Later he told me he didn’t mean to make little of diastasis recti, and that he doesn’t know everything there is to know about it, but knows it’s just a “cosmetic issue.” I almost jumped out of my chair. Just cosmetic???? Could this doctor really be this clueless as to the significant problems a diastasis could cause? I myself have suffered from so many and here I am listening to a surgeon tell me I don’t have a diastasis and that it doesn’t matter anyway, because it’s just cosmetic.
As if this appointment couldn’t get any more absurd, he then went on to give me some ridiculous speech about how the recti muscles (the 6 pack muscles) are just as strong when they’re separated because they go vertically and aren’t affected when the connective tissue holding the muscles together gets stretched out. He even got a little flustered and lost for words as he was trying to explain this, perhaps realizing that he was making absolutely no sense. He also lightly hit my leg as he said, in the most condescending way, that if I really think doing one sit up is going to be harmful to my body then I really don’t have much confidence in abdominal muscles, and particularly my own.
I walked out of the Columbia Hernia Center furious, frustrated, and in complete shock at how hard it is to find a doctor who can have a helpful, educated discussion with me about diastasis recti.
Have you encountered medical professionals who are similarly clueless when it comes to this condition? I should mention that my OBGYN and primary care physician also admitted that they really don’t know much about it. I’m on the hunt for a doctor who does. If you can help, please let me know.
I have found it frustrating as well. My OB didn’t seem to be too concerned about diastasis recti and I could never find a physical therapist (or get a referral) who had knowledge in the area. I found a few pilates instructors and personal trainers who said they had some knowledge, but I wasn’t totally confident they understood it. It’s hard to pay someone to teach you something when you feel like you know more about it than they do! A chiropractor suggested talking to a surgeon so I did, mostly because I have a slight hernia, however, he found the hernia isn’t significant enough to do surgery on. He was the most understanding of the condition of anyone, but said the results I am desiring would best be achieved with a tummy tuck (which I don’t want to do). He wasn’t necessarily recommending it, but just letting me know what the result could be. He did say core exercise could possibly help improve it as an alternative, but we didn’t get into specifics. It seems this is one of those things that is frequently misunderstood and overlooked, unfortunately, but I’m determined to keep working towards healing mine!
I JUST discovered I have diastasis recti. Thank goodnes for the web. I was doing my core strengthening exercises when it looked like an alien was getting ready to pop out of my stomach. But yep, I’m male — apparently we can get this too. My PT knows quite a bit so I called her and she recommended I use Kineso-tape to ‘hold things together’ until I go in to see her in a couple days. I’ll see how much more she can tell me once I meet with her. In the meantime, the Tupler method (google it) looks to be VERY promising! I ordered a kit for $85 + shipping. If anyone is interested in how this is all working as it plays out, let me know. If you are in the Washington, DC area, I can give you the contact info for my PT as well.
I’m not sure how my DR came to be, but from my research, it looks like I may have been born with it to some extent (all my childhood pics show a skinny kid, yet with a bit of a potbelly). Pile on years in the gym over-strengthening my Abdominals through my high-school and college years, then a desk job and 25 extra pounds through my 30s. Now at age 47 I decide to lose some weight and strengthen the core and viola, things start pulling apart on me.
So far, from everything I’ve absorbed, it does look like this condition is very fixable with PROPER exercise. Please do your research though; the wrong exercise will make it WORSE…
Good luck to all — I hope this is helpful…
Hi Ken, I know it’s upsetting to discover that you have a diastasis, but consider yourself lucky that you’ve now learned what I consider the most important part: Crunches and sit ups and so many traditional “core” exercises can be so damaging for women, men and even children. The first step for everyone needs to be strengthening the transverse muscle – the inner most layer of the abdominals – so that we can keep that muscle properly engaged during other movements and exercises. Without keeping this proper form, other more challenging positions and exercises may make the condition worse, weakening support for our organs, lower back, and potentially causing other serious problems.
I was personally trained by Julie Tupler and am a qualified Tupler Technique instructor so am very familiar with the program you ordered. The program can help you learn how to begin to strengthen the transverse muscle. Be careful though, about a few things. Through this program, you’ll be told to wear a splint which caused serious problems for me and other women I know who precisely followed the instructions. I’d recommend working very closely with your physical therapist and avoid the splint completely. My best advice is to learn how to build yourself a splint by strengthening your core muscles sufficiently – don’t rely on an external product to do this for you as it can do more harm than good. You’ll also need to learn how to get your muscles functioning synergistically – not just how to strengthen the transverse muscle in isolation. You’re at an advantage though since you’ve got what sounds like an educated, knowledgeable physical therapist. Hopefully he or she can help ensure that you don’t miss out on imperative exercises and techniques that will strengthen your core in a dynamic, functional way. I’d be happy to discuss any more of this with you if you have any questions or concerns. Best of luck!
It does seem like doctors have a lack of knowledge when it comes to diastasis recti. After having my daughter and losing most of the weight gained during pregnancy I noticed the bulge in my stomach and began googling it. I found out a lot of info that I wish I had known prior to pregnancy. When I asked my OBGYN he bascially brushed me off and told me I didn’t have one and only fat people get them. When I went to my physician for my annual check up he told me that I had a small one and it would only get worse by having more children. There really seems to be a lack of doctor’s out there who are educated in this matter and it is totally mind boggling since a lot of women suffer from this condition and yet no one has really come up with a solution to the problem especially in this day and age where they have answers to a lot of in-depth medical conditions – shocking and frustrating to say the least.
I am 74 years old, have been told for over 30 years(by male doctors) that my bulging belly was “just fat”. The rest of my body, legs, arms, behind, is slender. Finally, a nurse practitioner, at my first visit, told me I had a hernia, but surgery seemed to be a last resort. This past year it has gotten larger, so I saw a hernia specialist and was told it was a diastasis recti hernia. Medicare does not cover it, hospital costs would be over $18,000. The cost at his clinic would be $8,000, still prohibitive for me. Reading other posts, I have most of the symptoms common to this hernia…back pain, perpetual constipation,some incontinence, to say nothing of the embarrassment of looking 9 months pregnant at 74. Someone suggested a letter writing campaign, which I think is a great idea.If I had been told this years ago, before retirement, and before the hernia had gotten so large, I would have been able to pay the cost on my own, but it really should be covered by insurance.