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Why does my surgery scar hurt years later?

Author

James Craig

Published Jan 07, 2026

In the early stages, scar tissue isn't always painful. This is because nerves in the area may have been destroyed along with healthy body tissues. But over time, scar tissue may become painful as nerve endings regenerate. Scar tissue can also become painful over the course of an internal disease.

Can scar tissue hurt years after surgery?

Scar tissue forms when the body heals from a wound. However, scar tissue is not the same as skin tissue. It is less elastic, which may lead to tightness, limited movement, and pain for some people. Scar tissue pain can occur years after an injury or surgery.

Can scar tissue cause chronic pain?

Scar tissue pain is a common condition that occurs when a small skin nerve is damaged or squeezed by the scar tissue. These painful scars may result in chronic pain in and around the scar area.

Can scar tissue become cancerous?

Abstract. The scar tissue carcinoma is a rare disease which arises from the floor of unstable scars, chronic fistulae, ulcera and radiation injuries.

What does pain from scar tissue feel like?

Scar tissue can have a local area of pain when touched or stretched or it can produce a referred pain that feel like that of a nerve which is a constant annoying burn that occasionally turns sharp.

20 related questions found

What is scar sarcoidosis?

Scar sarcoidosis is characterized by the onset of erythematous swelling and the development of papules and nodules within the original scars. In cases of cutaneous or subcutaneous swelling in the area of an old scar or beside a scar, a scar sarcoidosis is a possible differential diagnosis (1).

Can a scar reopen after years?

Can a c-section scar reopen after years? The short answer is: yes, a cesarean scar can reopen years after the operation.

Does scar tissue continue to grow?

Many scars become smaller, smoother, and less noticeable with time. But for about 10 percent of people, even minor injuries can create scars that are excessively large, raised, and dark in color. They extend far beyond the original injury to the skin and may continue to grow with time.

Is scar tissue a hard lump?

What are keloids? When skin is injured, fibrous tissue called scar tissue forms over the wound to repair and protect the injury. In some cases, extra scar tissue grows, forming smooth, hard growths called keloids. Keloids can be much larger than the original wound.

What are the 3 types of scars?

What are the different types of scars and treatment?

  • Keloid scars. These are thick, rounded, irregular clusters of scar tissue that grow at the site of a wound on the skin, but beyond the edges of the borders of the wound. ...
  • Hypertrophic scars. Hypertrophic scars are similar to keloid scars. ...
  • Contractures. ...
  • Adhesions.

How do you treat scar tissue pain?

Treatment to Break Up Scar Tissue

  1. Physical Therapy can be useful for breaking up scar tissue around a joint. ...
  2. Laser Therapy involves treatment that penetrates the skin and promotes the growth of healthy collagen. ...
  3. Corticosteroid Injections have shown to be effective for improving pain symptoms due to tissue scarring.

Why do old scars hurt?

In the early stages, scar tissue isn't always painful. This is because nerves in the area may have been destroyed along with healthy body tissues. But over time, scar tissue may become painful as nerve endings regenerate.

What is scar endometriosis?

Scar endometriosis is a rare disease, and is difficult to diagnose. The symptoms are nonspecific, typically involving abdominal wall pain at the incision site at the time of menstruation. It commonly follows obstetrical and gynecological surgeries.

Can internal stitches come to the surface years later?

It is rare but possible that a suture granuloma may occur several years following a surgery. The occurrence of delayed suture granulomas has varied about from 4 months to 7 years in the literature [3,7,8].

What does sarcoidosis look like?

A rash of red or reddish-purple bumps, usually located on the shins or ankles, which may be warm and tender to the touch. Disfiguring sores (lesions) on the nose, cheeks and ears. Areas of skin that are darker or lighter in color. Growths under the skin (nodules), particularly around scars or tattoos.

Why does my old hysterectomy scar itch?

The Connection Between Old Scars and Itching

Scars from burns, contractures, may make your skin stretch tightly. Healed burn scars may often trigger an itchy sensation due to the skin tightness.

What is excessive scar tissue?

A hypertrophic scar is a thick raised scar. It's an abnormal response to wound healing in which extra connective tissue forms within the original wound area. The result a raised scar. Normally, a small wound to the top layer of your skin heals nicely.

What are the symptoms of scar endometriosis?

Common signs and symptoms of endometriosis include:

  • Painful periods (dysmenorrhea). Pelvic pain and cramping may begin before and extend several days into a menstrual period. ...
  • Pain with intercourse. ...
  • Pain with bowel movements or urination. ...
  • Excessive bleeding. ...
  • Infertility. ...
  • Other signs and symptoms.

Is scar endometriosis life threatening?

While endometriosis is a painful condition that can affect your quality of life, it's not considered a fatal disease.

Is scar endometriosis cancerous?

Scar endometriosis is uncommon and defined as the presence of ectopic endometrial glands in abdominal soft tissues after a gynecological operation. Malignant transformation has been reported but remains rare.

Can scars cause nerve pain?

Scar tissue is both good and bad. It helps the nerve attach to nearby structures, but when the patient moves, pressure is placed on the nerve because the scar tissue can pull on the nerve. Even without movement, the scar tissue can reduce the nerve's blood supply. All of this can cause significant nerve pain.

Why does my healed cut still hurt?

Sometimes a scar is simply the visual reminder of the injury. In other cases, addressing scar tissue can be an important part of the healing process. Scar tissue formation may affect the ability of skin or muscle to move or cause ongoing pain or hyper-sensitivity.

Why do scars hurt when the weather changes?

Temperature – lower temperatures cause tissues to contract, putting pressure on nerves. Different tissues contract at different rates, for example scar tissue. This is why the site of a previous injury could experience pain in cold temperatures.

How many scars does the average person have?

Most people have at least one scar on their body and luckily, for the majority of us, it does not cause any real upset.

Why do scars get wider?

Widened scars result from excess tension perpendicular to the wound edges during the healing process. Scar widening usually occurs within the first 6 months of injury.