Bummed - inguinal hernia

[Looton]

Had a 2 week cough, went to the Dr, found an inguinal hernia. I tell myself it's from coughing but I tend to push my limit heavy lifting.

Anybody with experience please help. Dr wants me to get the surgery and mesh implant. Never mentioned the much higher percentage on post operative pain. 20-30% have serious pain years after.

Post herniorraphy pain syndrome;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inguinodynia

From Wikipedia:
Surgical correction of inguinal hernias is called a hernia repair. It is currently NOT recommended in minimally symptomatic hernias, for which watchful waiting is advised, due to the risk of post herniorraphy pain syndrome.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inguinal_hernia

[2nd_chance]

Getting mine repaired in January.

[Iceman1800]

Had one on my left side. Open cut, mesh installed. Recovered just fine and still lifting.

[Looton]

Had one on my left side. Open cut, mesh installed. Recovered just fine and still lifting.

That's why I want the surgery. I want the mesh so I can lift again. I almost want the other side done at the same time so it doesn't happen again.
Just don't want chronic pain. Rather do high reps and cardio.
Thanks for the replies - rep to all!

[yettiatcpg]

good buddy of mine ignored his and didn't treat it for about 4 years. he wound up getting it fixed and having a blood infection. died the next day after surgery. I tend to believe its one of the most over looked injuries that's deadly.

[Corbi]

Have not experienced a inguinal hernia but did have surgery this past tuesday to repair a Hiatal Hernia, didn't read up on everything that could possibly go wrong simply because sometimes ignornace is bliss.

[Iceman1800]

Have not experienced a inguinal hernia but did have surgery this past tuesday to repair a Hiatal Hernia, didn't read up on everything that could possibly go wrong simply because sometimes ignornace is bliss.

keep the fiber intake high. Pain meds plug you up and that internal pressure will be brutal

[Looton]

Have not experienced a inguinal hernia but did have surgery this past tuesday to repair a Hiatal Hernia, didn't read up on everything that could possibly go wrong simply because sometimes ignornace is bliss.

There's damn sound wisdom in that. If it works, don't fix it.

For future searches, however, mesh has serious risk;
http://www.noinsurancesurgery.com/he...ernia-mesh.htm
Think I'll go after McVay or Basinni repairs which requires an experienced surgeon.

Hope your surgery heals fine. Will you lift again soon?
Reps to all!

[Corbi]

keep the fiber intake high. Pain meds plug you up and that internal pressure will be brutal

I was passing small amounts of gas and that was it, finally yesterday I took milk of magnesia...what the Dr recommended, and within 4-5 hrs the damn broke. Yep pain meds especially the morphine plug me up everytime.

There's damn sound wisdom in that. If it works, don't fix it.

For future searches, however, mesh has serious risk;
http://www.noinsurancesurgery.com/he...ernia-mesh.htm
Think I'll go after McVay or Basinni repairs which requires an experienced surgeon.

Hope your surgery heals fine. Will you lift again soon?
Reps to all!

I'll be lifting next week, light weights only but I fully expect by January to be back to my routine and better than ever.

[Looton]

I was passing small amounts of gas and that was it, finally yesterday I took milk of magnesia...what the Dr recommended, and within 4-5 hrs the damn broke. Yep pain meds especially the morphine plug me up everytime.



I'll be lifting next week, light weights only but I fully expect by January to be back to my routine and better than ever.

Wow, even the laproscopic mesh hernia surgery says 3-4 weeks until moderate lifting. Hiatal Hernia must be different.

[HoustonTXMuscle]

Have day surgery scheduled this Tuesday for mine. Am so tired of doing nothing but Tri & Bi exercises and walking on the TM for the last 2 weeks. Surgeon told me when I inquired that I should be back to normal by Christmas. I replied: Great! His retort was "normal" by the standard of most of your peers...NOT YOU! Went on to tell me that it'll be 4 to 5 weeks before I can get back to leg curls, squats, lunges and SLDLs. Two of my buds at the gym have used the same surgeon and cautioned me to go on soup and soft foods starting tomorrows.

[Corbi]

Two of my buds at the gym have used the same surgeon and cautioned me to go on soup and soft foods starting tomorrows.

Been on that diet since weds, jello, beef broth, pudding, etc. made some lipton noodle soup last night and that went down fine.

[HoustonTXMuscle]

Been on that diet since weds, jello, beef broth, pudding, etc. made some lipton noodle soup last night and that went down fine.

Not really looking forward to it. Just finished my grocery shopping after cardio this morning. Cashier at Kroger's knows me and made the comment that she'd never seen me buy any of those items. Sort of made me wonder if cashiers categorize people as to their lists.

[Dare81]

I had an inguinal hernia op in July. General anaesthetic, mesh inserted, considerable pain the following week, eased the second week and improved quickly from then on. The surgeon suggested 6wks off lifting at work and a couple of weeks longer before beginning a gym program with weights. In fact i left it for 3 months before going to the gym and apart from minor pain in the area (scar tissue) it has been ok.

[crupiea]

done a couple years ago. not problems since.

heavy lifting full schedule about 8 weeks after surgery.

[coolio5]

I had one done on right side many years ago. Healed fine (was off for a couple months). Been lifting fine ever since.

Had a 2 week cough, went to the Dr, found an inguinal hernia. I tell myself it's from coughing but I tend to push my limit heavy lifting.

Anybody with experience please help. Dr wants me to get the surgery and mesh implant. Never mentioned the much higher percentage on post operative pain. 20-30% have serious pain years after.

Post herniorraphy pain syndrome;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inguinodynia

From Wikipedia:
Surgical correction of inguinal hernias is called a hernia repair. It is currently NOT recommended in minimally symptomatic hernias, for which watchful waiting is advised, due to the risk of post herniorraphy pain syndrome.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inguinal_hernia

[Looton]

Been reading all day. Now thinking of watchful waiting for a while, then going with;
Tension free, light mesh, Open surgery.

[Reality_Check]

I had tension free mesh done laproscopically. Came back with a vengance 2 years after surgery. Yet to get it fixed again. Its been bigger than golf ball size about 9 years now and been lifting heavy all that time, still alive and pain free but has grown a bit. Guess I'll have to bite the bullet eventually. It's relatively risk free but some people have issues as you have noted.

Actually one of the reasons I haven't had it fixed yet is because I am pain free buts there's no guarantee that I will still be pain free after surgery.

[visionbuilder]

I had a umbilical hernia repaired. 2 weeks off no exercise, started running after 2 weeks. 2 weeks later started lifting again, and the funny thing is that after a month and a half off (and all sorts of fat gain) I was back to where I was weight wise after a week. I LOVE muscle memory!!
V

[Looton]

I had tension free mesh done laproscopically. Came back with a vengance 2 years after surgery. Yet to get it fixed again. Its been bigger than golf ball size about 9 years now and been lifting heavy all that time, still alive and pain free but has grown a bit. Guess I'll have to bite the bullet eventually. It's relatively risk free but some people have issues as you have noted.

Actually one of the reasons I haven't had it fixed yet is because I am pain free buts there's no guarantee that I will still be pain free after surgery.

Exactly my thinking/quandry.

For future searchers:

"Mesh repairs are an application of a patch to the hernia defect. Anatomical repairs such as the McVay or Basinni repairs are less commonly done and require more expertise. There are relative advantages and disadvantages of all of the types of repairs. The anatomical repairs tend to produce the best long term results. The mesh repairs, also known as tension-free repairs have faster recovery but occasional patients develop an allergic reaction to the mesh which is permanent. We have long been aware of the potential downside of mesh repairs and prefer anatomical repairs for this reason. Laparoscopic repairs have the fastest recovery and also have the highest failure rate."

Pain related sexual dysfunction after inguinal herniorrhaphy. 22.1%
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16545910
……………………………..
Pain and functional impairment 6 years after inguinal herniorrhaphy.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16710627
…………………………….
Desarda versus Lichtenstein technique for primary inguinal hernia treatment: 3-year results of a randomized clinical trial.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22392354
………………………………………
Comparison of non-mesh (Desarda) and mesh (Lichtenstein) methods for inguinal hernia repair among black African patients: a short-term double-blind RCT.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21983842

Conclusions: The use of Tissucol provides distinct advantages in laparoscopic treatment of inguinal/femoral hernias compared with conventional TAPP, including a lower incidence of postoperative neuralgia and an earlier resumption of physical and social activities.
http://journals.lww.com/annalsofsurg...taples.10.aspx

EDIT to add; Still on rep time out but rep is coming to all.

[DubfromGA]

I've had three hernias repaired in two different surgeries. First time he installed a mesh patch.

Most recent was last February.

Worst part about it was trying to follow doctor's orders for no lifting for a few months. I didn't fully follow his advice and now have the beginning of yet another. I am a hardheaded dumbass.

My advice for post-op:

First few days, just take the pain meds on schedule....don't wait until you are hurting.

Get up and walking as soon as your doctor allows.

Take Gas-X or similar to prevent pain from this. Fist time I didn't know and it was no fun. Took the stuff last time and it was so much better.

Stool softener a must.

Coffee is king. It gets things moving for you as we'll as gets you up and walking to take a whiz. My wife is clueless how to grind my beans and brew it properly. The second morning after surgery I snuck out of bed and went downstairs and did it myself. Major step forward in feeling human again.

One final note, my surgeries were for abdominal repairs. I found that holding a pillow against my abs was a must when walking and sitting up. I even put the pillow in a trash bag when taking a shower. Pillow of peace, bro. It worked !!!



Good luck.

[Corbi]

One final note, my surgeries were for abdominal repairs. I found that holding a pillow against my abs was a must when walking and sitting up. I even put the pillow in a trash bag when taking a shower. Pillow of peace, bro. It worked !!!



Good luck.

I had to use a pillow after heart surgery whenever I coughed and I had to use it for close to 2 months. hard to walk around a store holding a big ass bed pollow so I went out and got myself an Ugly Doll. 1/3rd the size but dense and worked great, sure you get a few strange looks but fuk em. I used it again this week after hernia surgery when getting in and outta bed as well as coughing or breathing deep. Just that little extra pressure on the abdomen makes a lot of difference in comfort levels.



PS I wanted the 3 eyed ghost looking one but had to settle for a one eyed ghost....actually looks more like a bit sperm

[Looton]

I had to use a pillow after heart surgery whenever I coughed and I had to use it for close to 2 months. hard to walk around a store holding a big ass bed pollow so I went out and got myself an Ugly Doll. 1/3rd the size but dense and worked great, sure you get a few strange looks but fuk em. I used it again this week after hernia surgery when getting in and outta bed as well as coughing or breathing deep. Just that little extra pressure on the abdomen makes a lot of difference in comfort levels.



PS I wanted the 3 eyed ghost looking one but had to settle for a one eyed ghost....actually looks more like a bit sperm

I like the black XX eyed one.

For future searchers;

Chronic groin pain (Inguinodynia) following inguinal hernia repair is a significant, though under-reported problem. Mild pain lasting for a few days is common following mesh inguinal hernia repair. However, moderate to severe pain persisting more than 3 mo after inguinal herniorrhaphy should be considered as pathological. The major reasons for chronic groin pain have been identified as neuropathic cause due to inguinal nerve(s) damage or non-neuropathic cause due to mesh or other related factors. The symptom complex of chronic groin pain varies from a dull ache to sharp shooting pain along the distribution of inguinal nerves. Thorough history and meticulous clinical examination should be performed to identify the exact cause of chronic groin pain, as there is no single test to confirm the aetiology behind the pain or to point out the exact nerve involved. Various studies have been performed to look at the difference in chronic groin pain rates with the use of mesh vs non-mesh repair, use of heavyweight vs lightweight mesh and mesh fixation with sutures vs. glue. Though there is no convincing evidence favouring one over the other, lightweight meshes are generally preferred because of their lesser foreign body reaction and better tolerance by the patients. Identification of all three nerves has been shown to be an important factor in reducing chronic groin pain, though there are no well conducted randomised studies to recommend the benefits of nerve excision vs preservation. Both non-surgical and surgical options have been tried for chronic groin pain, with their consequent risks of analgesic side-effects, recurrent pain, recurrent hernia and significant sensory loss. By far the best treatment for chronic groin pain is to avoid bestowing this on the patient by careful intra-operative handling of inguinal structures and better patient counselling pre- and post-herniorraphy.
http://lib.bioinfo.pl/pmid:21528050

[cryoung]

Double inguinal done March of this year. Full incisions and mesh. Up and running within 2 weeks. Light lifting around 6-8 weeks and progressive weight increases after that. Simply listened to my body, if it hurt, I backed off till I could build up again.

Minimal pain meds after with only the first few days in pretty strong pain. Be ready for issues trying to poop at first.....that was interesting and hard to do...LOL...

[Looton]

UPDATE:
My surgeon recommended watchful waiting, so I did. He said lifting is OK, it may need surgery in 1 year instead of 2 - worst case. So I stopped squats and incline sit ups and lift lighter.
Sore joints help remind me to lift lighter anyway.

Also, my wife's mom sent some herbs from their village in Thailand. No idea what they are but the thing stopped growing and I'm still going - Over a year later.

[Mike Spitzer]

As you probably know already Inguinal Hernias are a common form of hernia in men that often shows up after age 30-35.
Why so common ?
One of nature's small design defects in the male anatomy.
When the abdominal wall must open to drop the testicles, it of course can't close 100% for obvious reasons.
But this essentially leaves 2 small holes in the abdominal wall.
Sometimes the holes are small enough to never cause a problem -- but for a large number of men, those holes begin to tear (like weak spots in an old pair of jeans or old shirt) with time.

Over a lifetime we may exercise to make the abdominal muscles stronger, but you can't strengthen what is not there.
You can't train an empty hole.

My doctor friend uses the analogy of a strong washcloth or piece of flat steak with a small hole in it.
After a lifetime of pulling and tugging, where is it going to start tearing apart first ?
Where the small hole is of course.
No matter how strong the surrounded material ... the hole will always be a weak spot where tears will want to start.

Think of washing your car.
You have a large rag you need to tear in 2 but it is too tough.
What do you do ?
Stab a small hole in it ... THEN .. you can start tearing the rag easily.

Thus inguinal hernias are almost non-existent in women.

Current thinking is the mesh repair is best when the mesh is anchored on the internal muscle wall since the organs will press the mesh out tighter against the inside of the abdominal wall.
The mesh itself is supposedly 2X stronger than human muscle wall fiber ... BUT .... there have been concerns raised that it may start to chemically break down after about 20-25 years and thus another surgery might be needed 25-30 years down the road.

The biggest advice I hear about lifting is to try and avoid the following (if you want to be extra safe) ....

1) Don't lean over railings or other supports with lot's of weight bearing on the stomach directly in the lower region where the repair is.

2) Avoid doing hundreds and hundreds of reps of ab exercises in a long continuous session where most of the bending is near the surgical repair.

3) Avoid breathing or "gut busting" lifts that build lots of intrathorasic pressures or heavily distend the stomach (think classic olympic lifting).

Now some people will claim after a few months they jumped right back into full all out heavy lifting.
Hmmm ... I would think those people were more lucky than smart.
As a rule ... your doctor will tell you to come back slowly and carefully, pay attention to twinges --- find ways to still train HARD and HEAVY but perhaps SMARTER in terms of how you may have paid attention to your midsection and groin when lifting in the past.

You can certainly come back strong, but you may rethink those 450 lb deep to the floor SUMO stance squats for example and opt for something different (smile)

Michael Spitzer - Author - FITNESS at 40,50,60 and BEYOND

[Looton]

"1) Don't lean over railings or other supports with lot's of weight bearing on the stomach directly in the lower region where the repair is.

2) Avoid doing hundreds and hundreds of reps of ab exercises in a long continuous session where most of the bending is near the surgical repair.

3) Avoid breathing or "gut busting" lifts that build lots of intrathorasic pressures or heavily distend the stomach (think classic olympic lifting)."

Good tips. Noted!
I wonder... I was looking at early bodybuilders and was doing the stomach vacuum thing just before getting diagnosed with this. Seems like that would cause a blow out, now that I think about it.

[brava]

Hi Looton, high reps lifting is a very good idea, and pretty much as effective as low reps in building mass, that's according to research studies that you may find on google scholar. I have employed high reps for more than 1 year ago and pretty happy with the progress, and my joints in much better shape, together with my belly pressure during lifts.

Back on hernia, what are your main symptoms?

[timeload]

I have had 5 hernias over the past 25 years 3 in the groin 2 umbilical, had them all repaired with mesh everything is fine now , no pain when I lift and I have the peace of mind knowing that the risk of another one is very low.

[Loewen.Steven]

I had the Desarda no mesh technique for an inguinal hernia done in Fort Myers Florida on 1/28/14 by Dr. Tomas. He said no gym or weights for 8 weeks post operation. This Tuesday will be the 8 week mark. And I have been counting down the days! My only problem is I don't know what I can do and what I can't do. He said to start slow with 35 or 45 lbs and work my way up. But I only know one speed and one way to train. I have healed very well. The first few weeks I was moving around like a 90 year old lady. Dr. Tomas and his staff were great though. I just hope I do not hurt myself again when I go back to the weight room. If there is anyone that reads this and had the same surgery, please message me. I would like to know how to work my way back into my normal routine of brutal workouts in the weight room. Any advice or encouragement is highly appreciated. And I can also answer anyones questions that may be thinking about getting the desarda surgery.