C section recovery

I know I know! I'm only 9 days post partum, but my stitches feel really sore..... It's sore in the muscles round them when I pee and I'm so scared of ripping them or pulling them apart. O clean them everyday and then lie and air them out. I was just wondering realistically when people started to feel like they were well on their way to recovery! I'm sick of having my partner help me in and out of bed, the sofa, handing me the baby etc ...