Diastasis recti in adult male

[Unregistered]

I've read pro's and con's on the decision of whether to get this surgically repaired. My husband is a 49-year old male with diastasis recti (separation of the abdominal muscles). The only time you can see it bulge is if he's lifting weights or doing something strenuous. The bulge is oblong and raises up about an inch or so from his abdomen during the time of straining, and runs a length of about 4-5 inches. It's scary looking-like something's going to burst if he holds the strain much longer. I can't stand to watch him bench press...I usually just walk away because it worries me.

Most of what I've read is on post-pregnancy women and occasionally newborns with this problem...very little about men. The little I've read says that most men who do get it surgically repaired do so for cosmetic reasons.

My only concern in not getting it done is that my husband works a very physical job and he loves to exercise and lift weights, though he's slacked off exercising considerably until we determine whether this was a hernia. Could his continuing to exert heavy stress on that area pose a potential health threat in the future?

[nancy29]

if it's a hernia he will make problems for himself with all that lifting but i can't believe he doesn't have pain after exercise. this has to be brought to a dr's attention so it can be diagnosed. if it doesn't have any ill effect on the body why have a surgical procedure. it bothers you more than your husband,as in most marriages, have drs. settle it once and for all.

[Unregistered]

I am a 62 year old white male who has diastasis recti. I have noticed that I have developed a stomach bulge which I attribute to that condition. I am in otherwise good shape and not overweight. Will abdominal exercises help to address the bulge? Are abdominal exercises likely to exacerbate the diastasis?

[corsair24]

I am a 61 year old adult male in good shape though 20 pounds overweight. I have a generally fit and firm body; most of my excess weight is in my neck, back and a basketball-shaped gut. I recently started trying to keep up with my wife in a hardbodies calisthenics class and was surprised at my lousy core strength. Leg lifts and crunches were especially difficult and painful. Last week I discovered the abrupt onset of the classic football-shaped bulge of diastasis recti - extending from my sternum down to my navel. It relaxes when the strain is removed and there is little discomfort from it. The question is - what now? Ignore it? Coddle myself? Work out more? Special exercises? Thanks!

[Unregistered]

Did you learn of any exercises to resolve this condition? I have it also.
Thanks.

[corsair24]

No, no recommendations from the professional community. You have probably Googled it yourself (took all of 30 seconds, huh?). My take is that there is no practical treatment for it - nothing a doctor can charge you for and expect the insurance to cover.

I have found ways to minimize it during exercise: The two top-to-bottom muscle banks really do operate independently of each other. The pop-out occurs when both belts of muscles are compressed at once. Thus, you can transfer the weight subtly between one belt and the other and nothing pops out. It takes a lot of attention, but it can be done - with difficulty at first and almost mindlessly later.

Again, I have found nothing that "cures" it except for a surgical resection of the gristly sheet that keeps the left and right vertical muscles sheets alinged. I'll post my progress here including anything new I learn about treatment. You do the same, okay?

[Unregistered]

Corsair,

Could you please provide more info on how to work the two muscle belts?

Thanks

[corsair24]

I am probably oversimplifying it: these are the vertical muscle belts that produce the "six-pack" abs that we guys are so fond of showing off (if we have them). They are kind of like a pair of broad suspenders that extend down over the stomach between the ribcage and the groin. They are strengthened by exercises such as sit ups and leg lifts.

In my case, they separated: the cartilege that keeps them together tore (painlessly!) and now they have spread apart a bit. It seems to make no diffference in my normal activities, but if I do a situp they tighten and compress, as they are supposed to do. The unnerving part is that a big wedge of my soft tissue (skin, fat, etc.) gets squeezed when this happens, and protrudes out between the two bands of muscle. If the two muscle belts were still connected side-by-side, this soft tissue would all stay concealed behind the super-spiffy muscle. Instead, it looks like I have a football embedded in my stomach facing up and down.

Truth be told, I feel lucky that this is just a vanity thing; it appears to cause no harm. But I am shedding a few dozen pounds just to be certain, so maybe it is a backhanded good thing, all told.

[Unregistered]

I was told I had a hernia and could only be fixed through surgery. But then I found and done some research on this. It showed only to happened to wemon. I was wandering if any of yours does exactly like mine. The only way it sows is when I am doing a situp or laying down and do a leg raise. It goes from the bottom of my ribs to the top of my naval. It looks like a football and is not in anyway painfull. If I am doing these two things and I tighten my stomach muscles real hard it seems to disappear. Thx for any help

[corsair24]

Bullseye! It sounds like you have exactly the same condition I have: the vertically-aligned "football" extending from the navel to the ribs, only apparent when you work your stomach muscles, not painful but ugly enough to scare the **** out of you the first time you see it. Is that about right?

I was also told that it could only be corrected surgically - and that the surgery is extensive, expensive and is considered vanity stuff (my insurance won't cover it). That's all I know.

What I don't know is whether it gets worse if left untreated or if there are any health issues with it. Google it: "diastasis recti". There's not much there. Bummer.