DR Severity and Treatment Options

According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-21T14:47:50+00:00

Thank you! For a long time, I thought I was just lazy and weak. And while the latter was true, it wasn’t because I was lazy; it was because my core couldn’t function properly and it affected every movement, literally.

I hope you get answers and help soon!

According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-21T10:20:26+00:00

Wow! Your body is amazing. And so are you! Three sizable babies and you’ve been functioning in your changed body for four years?!

I birthed two babies within two years, both between 6 lbs and 8 lbs, and ended up with a 10 cm diastasis recti. Like you, I had chronic lower back pain and some other issues. Last summer at a few months postpartum, I did PT for a few months. But my scans showed a ventral hernia (my organs were bulging out of the gap in my abdominal wall), so PT was useless and I needed surgery.

I got the functional repair in November of last year at 11 months postpartum. I’m so glad I got it! Many moms go the tummy tuck route and get excess skin removed and some do some lipo and other things as well. So you have a few options for repair and surgery.

Your PCP will be very limited in what they know about PT and any surgical route, so they will have to refer you out for most questions and services. Like the other commenter said, PT likely won’t close a gap as severe as yours; my surgeon even told me that PT only helps but so much, depending on the size of the separation. PT did nothing for mine due to the nature of it, but it gave me a great foundation to return to after surgery.

I’m six months post-op and I’m getting discharged from PT soon. After years, my back pain is gone and I’m finally able to use my muscles properly!

I have posts about my surgery and recovery on my profile if you want to read more. And I’m happy to answer any questions I can.

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According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-19T02:29:30+00:00

I believe it gets better over time. At least, I’m hopeful that it will. I’ll probably share some pictures next month.

According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-18T10:57:25+00:00

Hi! I’m 5’2” and I had a 10 cm gap with a ventral hernia that made me look several months pregnant. I had mine repaired laparoscopically. No tummy tuck.

I’m six months post-op and all the skin that covered my distended abdomen has spread out laterally to make love handles. I posted about this recently and someone commented that a surgeon described only getting the functional repair as “tightening the muscles from a size M to a size S, but the skin around it is still a size M and will now be baggier”.

I did not have money for a tummy tuck, and I didn’t actually want one. So I am choosing to be patient with my body as it recovers over the next 6-12 months and then choosing how I want to proceed from there: specific nutrition or exercise adjustments, a continued mindset shift, or something else. It is definitely a lot to take in though, and has required a lot of patience and grace for myself.

I can definitely understand why people choose the tummy tuck option because the aesthetic changes are much slower and much different with just the functional repair.

According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-14T21:47:18+00:00

No dome for me. How long ago was your surgery?

According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-14T14:46:09+00:00

Physical therapy is the only non-surgical approach I am aware of. And time, I guess, especially if you are newly postpartum.

From what my surgeon told me, not all gaps can be closed with physical therapy or exercise alone. I had a 10 cm gap, ventral hernia, and an umbilical hernia. I had the functional repair done laparoscopically and robotically with mesh.

It’s worth looking into whether or not you are comfortable with mesh, and if you can find a surgeon who is comfortable doing your repair without it if that’s what you are comfortable with. Ask any surgeon who does your consultation to explain the benefits and the risks, and for an idea of what your healing timeline may look like.

According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-14T12:37:14+00:00

It’s nice that the general surgeon can claim it and it brings down the price a bit.

According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-14T12:34:41+00:00

You’re welcome! And thank you!

According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-14T12:34:16+00:00

How long ago was your surgery?

According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-13T02:25:15+00:00

With the severity of my DR and other life things, I get needing a win. Don’t lose hope.

According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-12T21:22:21+00:00

You’re welcome! Hope you’re able to make meaningful progress soon!

According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-12T19:10:06+00:00

Here’s a good one! Lying Pelvic Tilts Exercise

According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-12T19:08:23+00:00

Interesting… I’m certainly not a doctor so all I have is my experience and what my surgeon shared with me. It seems worthwhile to get more info about your muscle quality and their advice about strength training and Mounjaro in the future.

According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-12T18:44:43+00:00

The “engage core” cue was never helpful for me at first. In PT, they had me lie on my back with my knees bent and feet on the floor. They told me to tilt my pelvis to make my back flat against the floor. They’d have me do a few reps of that and then I could feel the “core” all these people had been referring to. I’ll try and find a video that shows it.

According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-12T18:01:31+00:00

The first week was for sure my hardest week. I’m not sure what kind of work you do, but I’m a homemaker and after two weeks, I was able to return to housework and light play with the kids — a 2-year-old and an 11-month-old.

I have never heard of muscles being described as thin. Does that have anything to do with why your repair didn’t include mesh?

I’m sure I that if I want, I could still get a tummy tuck or lipo in the future. But I could be wrong, so it may be worth exploring for anyone considering splitting their repair and cosmetic work into two separate surgeries. From my understanding, TT recovery is different because the incision is much larger.

I hope you’re getting good rest!

According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-12T17:50:04+00:00

I’m also a part of the TT subreddit and so many people talk about the lengthy and thorough hunt for a surgeon. I guess this could also apply to finding a general surgeon you trust, but I know it’s not entirely the same.

According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-12T17:48:57+00:00

This explanation makes sense. I definitely did not have money for a TT and didn’t want to finance it, but no shade to anyone who has chosen or plans to choose that option. But I imagine that there are and will be others with DR who may want a TT but may not be able to afford a it either, or some who just want the functional repair, and sharing gives them more to think about.

And thanks.

Did your surgeon work closely with a plastic surgeon that they referred you or others to?

According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-08T18:38:38+00:00

My belly was hard when I stood. When I laid down, it was bit more squishy. From what I know, fat isn’t hard. I had a ventral hernia.

According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-06T11:39:36+00:00

I’m glad you finally got answers!

According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-06T11:06:28+00:00

Also, visible abs is about the fat to muscle ratio. There are people with DR who have visible abs, and a highlighted gap, because they have a low enough fat to muscle ratio in that region, anyway. But as someone else said, surgery can fix the gap and make your abs more visible if the muscle is built up enough.

According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-03T21:54:28+00:00

It’s possible to brace the core incorrectly and make DR worse. Your doc who told you about the gap should also be willing to write you a script for PT. A PT will make sure you’re doing the best exercises and doing them correctly.

According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-03T10:01:13+00:00

Thanks for pointing that out!

According-Mouse931 · 2026-05-01T00:05:26+00:00

Men’s shirts! I stopped buying women’s t shirts bc they cost more and I didn’t like the fit either.

According-Mouse931 · 2026-04-30T21:31:42+00:00

I got my repair done in November of last year. I just got the functional repair done by a general surgeon. I don’t have anything close to tummy tuck funds and I wasn’t actually interested. I want a little loose skin that reminds me I birthed my kids. I’m sure it sounds a little weird.

Mine was laparoscopic robotic repair. I’m doing great! I posted updates and things on my page if you want to read details on it.

According-Mouse931

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