It has been a month since my cesarean section, and the skin around the incision still hurts. Why is that?

Generally speaking, cesarean section refers to a surgical procedure in which a baby is delivered through an incision in the mother's abdomen and uterus. If the abdominal skin near the incision site still hurts a month after the cesarean section, it might be caused by incomplete wound healing, muscle tension, scar hyperplasia, nerve damage, or wound infection. If discomfort occurs, timely medical consultation is recommended for standardized treatment under a physician's guidance. The specific causes are analyzed as follows:

1. Incomplete wound healing

Following a cesarean section, the wound requires time to heal, involving the skin layer, muscle layer, fat layer, and deeper tissues. While the skin surface may have healed, deeper tissues might still be recovering, which could cause localized pain. Proper wound cleaning and care should be maintained in daily life, and strenuous activities should be avoided to promote complete healing.

2. Muscle tension

After a cesarean section, the abdominal muscles and tissues need time to recover. Muscle tension may cause pain near the incision site. Regular gentle abdominal muscle relaxation exercises such as deep breathing and mild stretching can help relieve muscle tension. Physical therapies, such as

3. Scar hyperplasia

Scar hyperplasia is associated with infection and changes in local skin tension. During the healing process after a cesarean section, scars may become hypertrophic, causing localized pain and possibly mild itching. Treatment with medications such as human epidermal growth factor gel, heparin sodium cream, or asiaticoside cream may be required under a physician's advice.

4. Nerve damage

Nerves in the abdominal wall may be damaged during a cesarean section and require time to recover. Pain may occur during this recovery process, possibly accompanied by localized numbness. It is recommended to follow medical advice regarding the use of medications such as mecobalamin tablets, granisetron tablets, and vitamin B1 tablets.

5. Wound infection

Inadequate postoperative care may lead to infection, causing inflammation of the surrounding tissues and resulting in pain, possibly accompanied by redness, swelling, exudation, fever, or abscess formation. Treatment with medications such as cefixime capsules, amoxicillin capsules, or levofloxacin tablets may be administered under a physician's guidance.

In daily life, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating light meals, getting adequate rest, keeping the affected area clean, and performing proper care routines are important. Applying heat compresses or massage may help relax the muscles.