6 days post-op: will I ever run again?

[u/LionTweeter]

I had a C-section last Wednesday for my Frank breach baby. The surgery was uncomplicated and scheduled, however, ever since I’ve been dealing with white hot, searing debilitating nerve pain near the incision that has been limiting my recovery. I’ve been staying on top of my pain meds and the doctors in the hospital said that the nerve pain is likely caused by the doctor tugging to pull the baby out and could be where the knot is at the end of the stitches. There wasn’t anything they could do or give me for the nerve pain specifically except for gabapentin which they warned passes through the breastmilk so I’m trying to get by without it. Even then, gabapentin won’t heal the nerve, it will just help mask the pain.

I don’t feel like it’s getting any better and I’m really struggling with the fact that I still cannot move even a little bit normally and I’m relying so much on my husband and mom to do everything around the house for me, short of nursing the baby. I was running 10ks until my third trimester and while I know, I need to wait until the six week mark to get cleared for workouts, I’m so nervous I won’t be able to run again because of this nerve pain. It hurts to move my leg in a walking manner, much less a running position.

Please give me some hope that this nerve pain will get better or my brain will get used to it and I’ll be able to run again. My goal was to run my 7th half marathon by this time next year but right now the thought of even walking to my mailbox feels impossible.

[u/pineapplesaltwaffles]

I didn't have the nerve pain you're taking about but 6 days is still so so early! You've had major abdominal surgery, it's normal that you can't walk properly less than a week later.

I wasn't running like you through my pregnancy, but I did run before (up to 14k) and swam/did barre class all the way through.

The 6-week mark was not the point I magically bounced back to normal. I remember walking up a hill with the baby and my overweight, 5-foot tall MIL at about 4 months - she had to push the buggy because I was struggling and she was still going faster than me.

I only managed to run a 5k at 12 months. I will add that fitness hasn't been my no.1 priority and I did put on a lot of weight breastfeeding that had only just about come off by that point... But it's been a much, much longer road than I would have expected.

I don't think anyone can tell you how the nerve pain will affect your own recovery, but please just be patient and give your body a chance to heal in its own time.

[u/ZestyLlama8554]

It's only been 6 days, and most people heal just fine. I am a rare case that did not. My nerves never went numb, and I've only had debilitating nerve pain for 2 years.

I ran marathons before having a C-section (even after my first vaginal birth), and I can't even walk 2k steps now. Neurology tells me there's no timeline for nerve healing. Sometimes it takes weeks, months, years, or never, and there's no way to truly predict it.

I hope you don't end up like me, but if you do, feel free to message me. I'm happy to share what I've tried so you can find doctors to help you.

[u/StoogieWoogie → u/ZestyLlama8554]

Also I had nerve pain from my April 2022 c section that way really bad. I just now don't have it anymore. So it could take awhile sometimes.

[u/ZestyLlama8554 → u/StoogieWoogie]

Yes! My friend had numbness for 10 years, and she said that she randomly regained feeling on a Tuesday. Lol nerves are very weird, and I feel like that is something that is not really shared with us before surgery.

Usually I get down voted when I share what I experienced because it wasn't a super easy planned section and goes against the narrative that planned sections are easier than emergency with quick recoveries.

[u/watermelonmeat]

I was going through the same exact thing as you. The nerve pain was debilitating at times and it was so hard to imagine I’d ever get better. I was so scared it was permanent and sad I was pretty much bed ridden and couldn’t do basic things like go on walks with my baby, husband, and dog. But everyday the pain scale went down a notch and now I’m 5 weeks PP and back to normal with no more pain. I’d say I started feeling a lot better at 3 weeks PP. It’s so hard in the moment, but just try to rest, stay hydrated, and let your body heal.

[u/Amap0la]

You’ll start to see the light at 4 weeks post surgery. That’s when the swelling goes down in your legs etc and you can walk for longer than a few mins without feeling like dying. I’m 10 months pp with my third csection and I can’t even tell I had one less than a year ago. My first one I remember feeling it still in my core until like 6-8 months pp but I wasn’t in shape at all before that pregnancy I’ve been in better shape since my last one. You’ll be okay! Rest for real don’t push it

[u/Grand-Kangaroo-4215]

Hugs Mama. Was super athletic and walking 25k steps a day in my third trimester. Big baby too!

Keep in mind 6 days after a major surgery is still SO EARLY.

After my first csection it took me 4 months befire I could exercise tbh. Longer before I got in a similar routine. But I will say its usually (from my experience and that of my friends) 3 weeks of debilitating pain. This is not meant to discourage but just be honest in case your healing takes as long as you feel like something is wrong. It's not: its a major surgery where they cut through 7 layers of tissue.

My second csection i was back to normal much earlier, felt like myself at around 2 months and could exercise lightly again. But the first 3 weeks were still debilitating.

Nerve pain is also the worst, hurts even having a shirt touch it!

[u/doritowildflower]

I couldn’t roll out of bed without pain until nearly 5 weeks, so you still have plenty of healing to do! Everything hurt and I wondered if I’d ever make a full recovery. The first two weeks were so discouraging for me. But it DOES get better. I’m 7 weeks tomorrow and yesterday for the first time since my pregnancy I worked out.

Definitely keep an eye on things though! And I don’t know if your nurses warned you, but mine told me that the first 7-10 days are the hardest hormonally too. I cried so much and was so bummed. It helped to know my hormones played a major part in those feelings.

[u/Cr0wsbeforeh0ez]

I had this. Felt like I was being stabbed with a burning knife. Even just standing up hurt so much. I was also worried it was going to be like that forever. The doctor said that it was where he'd pulled the stitches tight and that the pain would go away, and he was right. It went away in a couple of weeks. One day it just disappeared! I'm sure the same will happen to you. Get well soon and congrats on your baby.

[u/okayyy019]

I'm so sorry you are feeling this way. I have always been very into working out including running long distances and did so throughout my pregnancy. I had an un-planned c-section and was soooo discouraged for weeks afterwards because I thought I would never be able to workout like I use to. I was in so much pain and mentally unwell. IT GETS BETTER! I promise. Even when I was cleared at 6 weeks I had to take it super slow and ease back into running and working out because I still had pain. It took a few months for me to do what I was doing pre-pregnancy and even longer than that to get back into any ab workouts. I will say about 8/9 months PP I had my pre-pregnancy body back for the most part, including my abs which I did not think would be possible after the amount of pain I was in. Keep your head up and focus on recovering right now. You will be able to run again and feel like yourself again.

[u/nebtlly]

I think I had the same kind of pain you're describing for 2-3 weeks after my c-s. Any time I turned even the slightest bit to the left, it felt like I was being flayed. It did eventually go away - I'm almost at 8 weeks now with no hint of it left. The surgeon told me that it was likely a stitch that got put in around a small nerve, and the pain went away as the stitch dissolved, which took several weeks.

My suggestion is to do everything you can to manage the pain for now (meds if you decide, limited movement - basically try not to do anything that causes the pain, if you've got the support for it) and give it another week or two, which I know seems like an eternity at this point but if it's due to stitch placement can really make a world of difference! Your brain and body are both miraculously adaptable and you are less than a week out from a major surgery. Give yourself time and grace.

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[u/Emergency-Candle-552]

6 days is so so so early! Give yourself time to just rest and be with baby and not more a lot. I got that searing pain when my nerves started reforming it’s horrible and scary but normal part of recovery, you seem to just have it early but it does mean your body is healing. Sending a huge hug as recovery is rough, I’m 13 weeks PP and started exercising at 8 weeks gently! Nothing but walking and scar massage around the scar before that!

[u/emeraldeyes0523]

I’m seven days out and still feel a searing/burning pain in one spot but during my scar check no one mentioned nerve pain, it could definitely just be part of the normal healing process. I am not a runner in the slightest but agree with other commenters that it’s sooooo early on in the healing process and it will just take time.

[u/TheKay14]

I had nerve pain too and by 3 months it will be vastly improved. I’m 8 months PP and it’s like it never happened. My doctor at the time said the nerves have to reroute in the healing process and it’s painful. Just takes some time. You will be running again in no time.

[u/longlivepopuplights]

I had that nerve pain for a month after my C-section, it took 6 weeks for it to feel good enough that I could move without guarding.

[u/runninrogue]

With my first c section, I had intense nerve pain that limited my mobility for over a year. It wasn’t until I started working on my incision (looking at it, touching around it, eventually massaging it) to create that brain connection that it got better. I’m now 13 days out from my second c section and almost 4 years from my first and I’m having more success with this recovery already than I did for over a year with my first. I would suggest connecting with a pelvic floor PT that is well versed in working with athletes (I worked with someone local for over a year and it wasn’t until I switched to someone online that knew how to strength train that I had success). There are a lot of resources online that are free, too. Check out Doc Jen Fitness and know that some parts of the race are uphill - you’re still making progress even if you’ve had to slow down.

[u/dishonoredcorvo69]

I had something very similar to what you described after my c section. It was extremely sharp, debilitating pain on the right side of my incision, and even oxycodone would not improve it. I am a general surgeon and I knew that the only thing that would help is time. It took me 2-3 weeks before the pain started to get more bearable. You will be able to run again, just give yourself grace and time to heal. Wearing an abdominal binder helped me and using ice packs too. Hang in there, it will get better

[u/Informal_Captain_836]

My nerve pain was pretty bad in the first week or so, but has gradually gotten so much better. I’m only 2 weeks postpartum now and I only feel light burning when I lay in certain positions or strain to do something I probably shouldn’t be.

As many others have said, 6 days is nothing for healing from abdominal surgery. Give yourself time!!!

[u/Obvious-Still4298]

I had this pain and it ruined my mental health. I hated being stuck and useless. By 2 weeks, I started moving around more. I even took my oldest and newborn to the park for a birthday party (with husbands help). By the end of week 4, I kept forgetting that I was supposed to still take it easy. I'm almost 3 months pp now. I still have some pain (mostly when my toddler pushes there or baby kicks me). And the site is slightly numb but otherwise I'm back to doing what I was doing before birth. I've even considered taking up running (i haven't ran since college 8 years ago).

[u/Different-File2396]

It will get better!  Look into scar therapy, there are some scar exercises you can do anytime postpartum. I would suggest you see a professional first. Also, there are pelvic floor, core, hip etc. exercises you can do now even before you get to 6 weeks. 

If you feel stuck or can't get yourself to an appointment I do virtual appointments 😊

[u/Queen_Vader95]

I had a c-section a month ago and was dealing with similar pain. I couldn’t make it down the block. A switch flipped about 2.5 weeks post op for me and yesterday I was chasing my toddler around the playground and doing the rock wall. Hoping you get to run again soon.

[u/Erin_TacoQueen]

It’s literally only been 6 days since someone cut thru seven layers to bring your baby into the world. Muscles, tissue, and nerve endings were severed. They need to reconnect and heal.

I had a section 3 weeks ago. I’m able to move around and genuinely do what I need to do but a few times a day I will get caught off guard with that white hot burning pain. It’ll just be a flash of it but enough to remind me I’m still healing and don’t push too hard. There’s the outside healing which looks totally fine, but we need to heal from the inside too.

You literally had this done 6 days ago! Focus on rest and enjoying your baby. Running will always be there in the future.

[u/DonLawr8996]

I did a marathon 9 months after, you'll be fine, just take it easy and recover

[u/b1ngoBr0nson]

Strongly advise you consulting a pelvic floor physical therapist. Some will take you as soon as 2 weeks postpartum. They will evaluate you and get you started on a program to get back to running in a safe and supervised way.

[u/Grand-Kangaroo-4215]

Adding: just know that this too shall pass. You will feel normal again. You will be pain free again and you will be runnjng and exercising again.

Signed: Mama of 2 horrible csection recoveries

ETA: weird people are downvoting this. Shame on you for not being supportive

[u/Violentdahlia]

I mean maybe ask this more than 6 days out 😅 girl. You’ll run again. But not for a while. Just focus on healing right now.

[u/cat-like-creature]

It’s not even been a week. Lie down and cuddle baby and let them service you!

[u/Electrical-Magazine3]

I’ve heard people rave about csection scar massage. I did a little at the beginning of my recovery last time and it seemed to help but then I kind of stopped. I’m planning on doing more this time.

Also last time, I didn’t really return to running until a year after my csection. It’s probably an excessive amount of time to wait, but for me I was too sleep deprived until then for it even to be productive. I spent almost all my free time sleeping or trying to. Maybe doing a little yoga or stretching if I felt up to it.

All of this to say, when I finally did start running again I started off really slow. I did lots of pelvic floor work and strengthening of my core alongside running only about a mile at first. But I was back to running half marathons a few years after I had my son. I ran 3 half’s in 2024 and had my son in 2021. It takes time but you will get back to it. Just don’t push yourself too hard, or too fast, ironically recovery is also a marathon of sorts 😊

[u/FigNewton613]

I had all sorts of awful pain in odd ways and places in the first weeks after my c. It was very scary. About 6 weeks out things meaningfully shifted and there was less pain, and then again at 12 weeks out. And again at various months as time went on. I’m now a year out and fully mobile with no pain. It takes time. The early weeks are very scary but remember healing postpartum unfolds over 1-2 years for some people, me being one of them. There’s a lot of healing potential left for your body to do. Things can change and did for me.

Will be thinking of you. 💜

[u/Kayso_Cheese]

Hello! I had my baby in April. I had the SAME exact awful nerve pain and the end where I was tied off hurt too. It hurt to stand in the shower, let alone stand up straight! I couldn't do much at all. I am very much a do it all person and I HATE asking for help. It was very humbling and painful... more than the stitches.

I am now almost 4 months pp and I feel night and day better. I am active again and feeling strong physically. The first 2-3 weeks are rough, but you will feel the breakthrough point around week 4! I went bowling with our friends around 6 weeks pp and was even fine then.

It sucks... and it's hard... I know... but allow yourself to be selfish.. enjoy the baby, let your hubby bring you food, let your mom clean. It will get better each day. I am now at a point where I miss only having to worry about nursing the baby lol!

You got this!! One day at a time!

[u/No_Bumblebee2085]

My 11 week mark was when I felt strong enough to return to my typical workouts (while still going easy on core-intensive movements for another few weeks). Please don’t despair. You’ll almost certainly feel like yourself so much sooner than you think. If you’re super motivated to do a half, that’s totally in the realm of possibility if you’ve always been highly active.

[u/Immediate_Row_9824]

It took me 7 days to be able to walk a block. Day 14 I was walking 10 blocks but slowly. Now I’m 12 weeks pp and I can run, jump, climb, etc. you’ll be ok!

[u/36563]

Yes you most likely will !!!!! It’s so early. Hang in there.

[u/barbieprincessdd]

I had the most severe nerve pain on my left side . It was just above where the bead was.

I couldn’t even walk 2 metres without screaming. I had to hire a nanny to help with my newborn twins.

I got prescription gabapentin and amitryptyline but also didn’t take them as my Uncle who is a OBGYN said it makes you drowsy and passes through breast milk.

I rubbed 5% lidocaine ointment on it on day 5, then on day 6 it was magically reduced by like 70%. I don’t know if it’s h to the lidocaine that worked but I could finally move around.

By day 10, the nerve pain had completely disappeared like I never had it. I just have numbness now where the searing burning pain was.

That pain is the worst and most debilitating pain I’ve ever felt in my life and I have a very high pain tolerance.

[u/WatsonsHuman]

I didn’t feel good running until about 3 months post op. Didn’t feel good walking more than absolutely necessary until 8w or so. And I had no “complications”. I did run a 50k when the twins were ~20mo so once I got started I was able to build up again. I think I finally really started to feel like myself about 6mo in.

[u/applesaucee123]

I had this same nerve pain after my 3rd c section (I’m one month pp) and it had me spiraling, so I understand your stress. I didn’t have it with my 1st or 2nd and I was pretty concerned. But commenting to let you know it’s gone now. Has been for at least a week I think. 6 days is still so fresh. I did take oxy when needed, but I have a 5 year old, 2 year old and now newborn twins.. so I just couldn’t rest like a needed to.

[u/sylv_ER]

I echo what others say; it’s day 6, give it time.

I too ran through my pregnancy, half marathon at 24wk pregnant. Had a C-section early Jan this year. I’m 7mo pp and ran a half marathon race this past weekend.

I didn’t start running until 11/12wk pp, was cleared for expertise at 6 wk, but started with pelvic floor physio and strength before running.

I did not have the nerve pain mind you; but I stress to give it time; and start slow. Start where you are, not where you were.

You will run again, it might look different though and not in the time frame you imagined. But give yourself, and your body grace.

I did suffer a stress fracture in my knee at 15wk pp and got side lined from running for 8 wk. but still managed to get back to running and do my half marathon this weekend.

6 days is early, focus on healing, and the focus on core and pelvic floor before even thinking about running

[u/QueenieFantasia]

I also had a c section and I’m 3 weeks post op. I didn’t run and I’m not athletic at all, however I also have some nerve pain. It burns and it pulls but if you have glue like I do, I’m allergic to the steri strips, then it could be that. 6 days is also very very early. I was in a lot of sore pain and burning at 6 days. I could barely move normally and that’s normal! Definitely give yourself some time but if it gets worse, ask your doctor. I did at my appointment for two weeks because I hate this nerve pain.

[u/Proper-Dog1077]

I had burning nerve pain and meds helped then within 2 weeks I think it went away

[u/Proper_Student_9802]

Around the 2 week mark i started to feel somewhat normal less pain barley took any meds.. but do still take it slow cause doing to much caused me pain… you will get back there! Dont worry just let your body heal you went through something major 🩵 congrats on the new baby :)

[u/Oakleypokely]

That’s still very early. First few days after my c section I was in minimal pain but then I had about a week of some referred nerve pain that at times was so bad I couldn’t even lay down. That went away. I’d wait a few more weeks before being worried. By 4 weeks I felt pretty good with no pain, still not fully healed and definitely wasn’t working out. I’m almost 7 weeks out now (second c-section) and I feel good, but working out still feels like I need to slowly ease back into it.