Where have all my ab muscles gone?

I thought I killed myself last night getting up off the couch. I lifted with my stomach muscles instead of my legs and literally heard something rip. Dan said it was an ab muscle. They are stretching and expanding and I need to lift with my legs from now on. I seriously thought I had ripped my stomach open I was in so much pain. My eye winced and I started to tear up. It took a good 10 minutes or so of sitting still, breathing and rubbing it until I could be coherent again and not have stabbing pains running through my abdomen. Yikes! Where have all my ab muscles gone???? Wow. I don't think I have felt anything that piercing before in my life. Remind me not to do that one again!