I developed a severe case of diastasis recti with my second pregnancy. two more big babies and 30 yearslater, i now have a painful hernia. what should i do?

It should be fixed: You should see a general surgeon for evaluation and to have it repaired.

Stretch an tear: In diastasis recti the fascia between the abs is stretched out like a rubber sheet. After a certain point there is no more give and a tear develops. The tear is the hernia. Pulling the abs back together to remove the diastasis is somewhat painful and requires open surgery. The hernia can be fixed at the same time. A plastic surgeon will generally do this procedure.

DIASTASIS RECTUS: No surgery needed for this. Plastic surgeons do the surgery ( cash) insurance will not cover. High recurrence rate. It is not a hernia, as it was explained to you.

Two things : 1. Hernia is a hole in the abdominal wall through which abdominal contents can protrude. 2. Diastasis recti is when the connection between the rectus muscles (six pack) thins and spreads out. This looks like a long bulge in the middle between the umbilicus and breast bone only when you are doing a sit up, or participating in a limbo contest.