United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi,

Well, after 17 days and the sterstrips not budging, Dr. Nath told us to force Alyssa's steristrips off. They were loose, but not going to come off without some help. The scar is looking really good and healing really well. I can't seem to remember if we are supposed to start the scar massage right now, or to wait a while longer? I will email Dr. Nath but just thougth I'd check in here too. Also, what type of creams/oils have you used? I used Vitamin E in the past and that seemed to work as her other scars are barely visible, but just thought I'd see what else is out there?

Alyssa is doing so wonderul. She is truly amazing. She just takes it all in stride and just keeps talking about what she is going to do when her splint comes off. She wants to rollerskate so bad and it breaks my heart that she can't and won't be able to for quite some time. But she is a trooper and doesn't get upset by it.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions. It's been awhile since I have had to do the scar massage.

Jody Gallette

We have used vitamin e, Mederma, and have started using scar treatment patches on the one scar by Matthew's ankle (after one day it looks a lot better).
Cindy

Hi Jody - glad to hear things are going well. If the incisions are open even in the least bit then you can't do scar massage. If they are perfectly closed then you can. In my training I was taught six weeks post surgery.

If vitamin E works for you then use it. They don't recommend it anymore because children may be allergic to the oil they put it in - usually wheat germ oil.

Mederma has been used by many with good results. But it is very expensive. And I heard from a scar therapist just yesterday that many kids have reaction from mederma... maia hasn't though (the kid that usually reacts to anything!).

Other people have reported using cocoa butter - like the kind you use on pregnancy stretch marks, with good results.

And in the health food store they have this oil mixture called Scargo - but we haven't used it because Maia can't have anything with camphor in it.

About the rollerskating....can she roller skate in the house on the carpeting?? LOL LOL

Tell Alyssa, we say hi....and hope you guys have a great weekend!
-francine

hello, my ot does scar massage by stretching the scar for a few seconds with small amount of pressure. At first, my daughter hated it. But as it was stretched at home and ot and of course a lot of distraction, she got use to it. This avoid building up of keloids. Since she suffers from eczema, I have been careful with the lotions. I use coco butter mixed with vitamin e and also a gel patch given to me by the ot. I have told about vitaflex from GNC that is used for stretch marks but works wonders on scars. Also, I was told about mederma but that I should not use on a baby under 2years. I emailed mederma co and am waiting for their response. Good Luck.- (p.s.: Francine, so Maia eczema is okay with the mederma??)

Yes - believe it or not - she's ok with the mederma.

She's seriously NOT ok with Vitamin E of any sort or cocoa butter of any sort.

And she's even more seriously NOT ok with the gel patches - tried 3 kinds.

Mederma is the winner. I'm using it on all her scars.

BTW - I forgot - did we discuss Protopic for the Eczema? it's working really well - has its downsides like everything else but it can shift a breakout in a day or so.

The stretching by the way is a fascia release technique - FYI - it is CONTRAINDICATED ON PRIMARY SURGERY SCARS (as per Dr. Nath) - don't want to possibly damage the grafts in any way. Thank God I double checked with him before I did scar relief massage on Maia after her primary!

have a nice weekend,
francine

by the way - if you want to understand why your daughter hated the scar massage you have the perfect opportunity to have it done on you after your c-section. It'll be a good learning experience for you! I did it on my knee after surgery and I was frightfully surprised - I'm glad I had that experience.

If you find a pregnancy massage therapist - they are usually trained in c-section scar relief - ask first though. Actually - you can go to this site to find one in your area if you don't already know one

http://www.napmt.org
national association for pregnancy massage therapists

francine, thanks for thinking about me and my c-section. I will check out the site. Also, I have given protopic for both girls. But I hate to say that they do not benefit from it.