Hernia experiences ..anyone !

[ShadyShadow13]

hi all
well i have been unfortunate to have several hernias in my life :P .. now one in every four is the probabitiy to have a hernia .. i had 2 groin area (inguinal hernias) mostly for over pushing myself in the gym .. and seems i have a weak lower abs area .. anyway .. after the surgeries had been made .. in afew month i got back to the gym .. and again .. i started to feeling pain in the righ surgery area and a lil thing underneath the skin.. and knowing the symptoms myself .. i knew that the surgery was reopened .. i went to the doctor and he told me that it wasnt made right in the first place .. !! i went to anther doctor .. and it appeard the doctor who made mines is stupid .. the reason i went to him was becoz he did hernia surgery to Mustafa mohammad way back ..
now i spent alot of money on the surgeries .. and i think even the left one is about to brust again ..


so i was wondering about people with hernias experience .. especially serious bodybuilder .. what was your experience .. and any suggestion about mine ..

i am now still training .. but wearing a belt designed to keep it in .. so everytime i finish my work out .. even with the belt .. i have to push the hernia which is about my thumbs size in .. so i basically push my gutz back in everyworkout .. and especially after legs workout ..


my plan is .. to keep doing this .. and since i am soon leaving to Holland .. there will be better doctor there .. i will do the surgery after my first time competing .. as its much easier for doctors to do it and diagnose it without fat ... and planning on doing PerFix? plug repair or the Kugel? ... as for now i did it as normal surgery .. without patch .. but abviously i need patchs .. maybe even iron ones ..

OK Any comments would be appreciated .. especially with people that had experienced this or know alot ..

[just another gy]

What kind of hernia repair did you recieve? I had a mesh repair for a left inguinial in 1992 and no problems since. I've just had the right side ingunial repair four weeks ago - also mesh. (So far so good) I am back in the gym although abdominal training is still restricted.
Both were open surgeries rather than laproscopic. I am told open procedures have far less complications and have a .5% recurrency rate, so those are pretty good odds. I can't recommend a doctor for you since I am Canadian and we have Medicare here. I would advise you to ask many questions and use the internet for research. There is no reason for failed surgery of an otherwise simple repair.

[ShadyShadow13]

well they were normal surgery .. just close the hernia place .. without mesh .. although i did told the doctor the a mesh surgery would be better .. but he told me that i am too young for it ..
so i said .. he knows better .. i guess net

[tyclark]

The tendency for hernias has a lot to do with genetics, so some people are more prone than others. I had one my senior year in high school, but held off on getting it repaired until my freshman year in college. It started out small, but it just kept getting bigger (little bigger than a golf ball) and it started be excrutiating painful everytime it popped out. It became practically impossible to get through a wrestling practice, so I had to get it fixed. I just had it sewed up, since there is a chance that the mesh can cause irritation especially in sports like wrestling. That was four years ago and it's stayed intact, but every so often I feel a sharp pain that feels like I was stabbed. Apparently if you get a hernia on one side, you have a 75% chance of getting one on the otherside, too. I guess the best thing to do is follow the doctors orders for the most part about restrictions for the first few weeks and you'll be good.

[ShadyShadow13]

The tendency for hernias has a lot to do with genetics, so some people are more prone than others. I had one my senior year in high school, but held off on getting it repaired until my freshman year in college. It started out small, but it just kept getting bigger (little bigger than a golf ball) and it started be excrutiating painful everytime it popped out. It became practically impossible to get through a wrestling practice, so I had to get it fixed. I just had it sewed up, since there is a chance that the mesh can cause irritation especially in sports like wrestling. That was four years ago and it's stayed intact, but every so often I feel a sharp pain that feels like I was stabbed. Apparently if you get a hernia on one side, you have a 75% chance of getting one on the otherside, too. I guess the best thing to do is follow the doctors orders for the most part about restrictions for the first few weeks and you'll be good.

well thanx for sharing your experience and i agree with you about everything .. my Hernia is still smaller than a thumbs .. so i guess i have some time and especially wearing the belt .. i am postponing it mostly becoz of the no money .. and also the cant get off the gym for 2 months .. coz i work as a trainer and bouncer ... both cant be dont .. so i am waiting till i have some time to take a long vacation

about doctor restrictions .. i would say not always .. coz the doctor told me never to train again .. so emm thats why i needed more experiences from other .. i would say 1.5 -2 month rest is enough .. and sure one will return gradually .. i wont be deadlifting and squating at the first day

anyway thanx

[JoeySea]

Dude I had a hernia surgery two weeks ago. I am still recovering and it will be about another 2 weeks before I head back to the gym and start working out with light weights. I can't believe that you have gone through so many repairs and have NOT had a mesh repair? When the mesh repair is done, muscle tissue builds through the mesh to make a strong wall of tissue (almost like a plug), so that the hernia will not reoccur - get a mesh put in - the recovery is a little longer because the body is trying to reject the mesh, but its well worth it - the reoccurence rate is much much much lower.

[oziem]

I correct them with chiropractic when detected early.
Scholdeis in Canada does the best work surgically. People are released within a day and return to work that week.
Stairs are the rehab for either intervention.
It is caused by inguinal tearing due to pelvis rotation.

[jordaro2002]

It's been almost seven weeks since my hernia surgery. Gettin ready to hit the weights soon I hope.

Walking everyday and eating right has made the healing process much easier. I also recommend waiting till about 6-7 weeks before lifting just to play it safe. No need in rushing in at week 4. The visible scar heals before your insides do, so rushing back into the gym to early could lead to complications if the insides aren't ready.

I'm hoping to get back in the gym in the next 1-2 weeks

[JoeySea]

It's been almost seven weeks since my hernia surgery. Gettin ready to hit the weights soon I hope.

Walking everyday and eating right has made the healing process much easier. I also recommend waiting till about 6-7 weeks before lifting just to play it safe. No need in rushing in at week 4. The visible scar heals before your insides do, so rushing back into the gym to early could lead to complications if the insides aren't ready.

I'm hoping to get back in the gym in the next 1-2 weeks

Im in the same boat - do you feel any numbness around the incision site? Im on week 4 coming up and my groin area is still numb (just around the incision) - im not sure if this is common or not !?

[tennguy]

Well guys, I feel your pain! I just had hernia surgery on monday! I have been laid up since then. Been slowly doing things on my own, walking up the stairs, shower, walking outside.

It really sucks! I got the mesh put in, so from what it sounds like, from your above experiences , it was the best procedure done. I hope not to have another one, and i hope to be able to do some lifting soon.

However, it sounds like 6-8 weeks is the norm for you guys. Is that right?

also what did you all do for exercise while you were recovering? anything?

it is killing me not being able to go to the gym!!!

also should i throw away my ab wheel, seeing as how i think it is what triggered it?

hope you all recover soon!

[ben3133]

also should i throw away my ab wheel, seeing as how i think it is what triggered it?

Definitely not. Strengthening of the abdominal wall reduces the risk of herniation. That's why hernias are much more common in the >60 group, as their abdominal wall is much weaker.

[Anabolik]

well thanx for sharing your experience and i agree with you about everything .. my Hernia is still smaller than a thumbs .. so i guess i have some time and especially wearing the belt .. i am postponing it mostly becoz of the no money .. and also the cant get off the gym for 2 months .. coz i work as a trainer and bouncer ... both cant be dont .. so i am waiting till i have some time to take a long vacation

about doctor restrictions .. i would say not always .. coz the doctor told me never to train again .. so emm thats why i needed more experiences from other .. i would say 1.5 -2 month rest is enough .. and sure one will return gradually .. i wont be deadlifting and squating at the first day

anyway thanx

I had a hernia repair in 04. I had the mesh repair and I was 21 at the time I believe so you can definitely get it at 23. You need to go to a specialist and lose your current doctor. Your doctor's job is to fix you so you can live the lifestyle you want, not say "guess you better stop lifting!" After I had my right side fixed, the left side immediately starting giving me problems. I assume it is due to the fact that my right side is stronger than my left now which places more strain on the left side. I dont want to blow out my left side so I do not do deadlifts anymore. Whenever I feel my left side start to get irritated I always stop and take it easy.

Do you still weigh 280? Even at 6'1'' that is a lot of weight to carry around. Imagine yourself squatting 280 each time you get off the couch and stand up from taking a crap. When you bend over to pick something up you essentially "good morning" a lot of weight which places a lot of strain on your abdominal area. You might want to consider losing weight to take the stress of carrying extra weight on your body.

[JoeySea]

Well guys, I feel your pain! I just had hernia surgery on monday! I have been laid up since then. Been slowly doing things on my own, walking up the stairs, shower, walking outside.

It really sucks! I got the mesh put in, so from what it sounds like, from your above experiences , it was the best procedure done. I hope not to have another one, and i hope to be able to do some lifting soon.

However, it sounds like 6-8 weeks is the norm for you guys. Is that right?

also what did you all do for exercise while you were recovering? anything?

it is killing me not being able to go to the gym!!!

also should i throw away my ab wheel, seeing as how i think it is what triggered it?

hope you all recover soon!

This is my second week back at the gym now. I am basically back to my regular routine, but just not lifting as heavy. I'm taking advantage of this 'down time' to perfect my form for a few excercises. I just started doing light ab work this week. Side bends and crunches. Its still a bit uncomfortable but manageable. Just listen to your body and don't overdo it. If you feel any pain at all stop and move on. You may feel soreness in your side (where your bowels are) when you start, but this goes away.

[tennguy]

Good to hear you are back in the gym! Good luck with it! I hope to be there soon! Only on week two of recovery though!

[rocketman44]

I've had two, one repaired in 1979, the other in 1992; left and right sides respectively.

To this day, I still feel weakness in the inguinal region and have never been able to resume any kind of heavy weight training. In fact, I'm off the weights since July 4th due to strain on the left side which may or may be a new hernia.

I don't think the docs did a bad job with mine, but I've never been happy with the fact that my lifting is very limited. It's very frustrating having to quit workouts whenever I feel a twinge down there for fear of further strain.

And yes, it is genetic - my dad had two and so did one of my older brothers.

[melon]

I correct them with chiropractic when detected early.
Scholdeis in Canada does the best work surgically. People are released within a day and return to work that week.
Stairs are the rehab for either intervention.
It is caused by inguinal tearing due to pelvis rotation.

How on earth do you correct an inguinal hernia with chiropractic?

What are your success rates, and rates of reoccurence? Any studies to back this up?

I am quite dubious of this to be honest.

[dumac]

i had one but i was only 3 so i don't really remember it. supposedly i was trying to lift a couch.

[ben3133]

How on earth do you correct an inguinal hernia with chiropractic?

What are your success rates, and rates of reoccurence? Any studies to back this up?

I am quite dubious of this to be honest.

*bump*

[beaniecool]

How on earth do you correct an inguinal hernia with chiropractic?

What are your success rates, and rates of reoccurence? Any studies to back this up?

I am quite dubious of this to be honest.

Yes, I just had surgery for a umbilical hernia two weeks ago (I had twins - 13 pounds of baby will do that to you!!) It is impossible for a hernia to repair itself. Fascia does NOT heal on its' own. Once it is teared, it is teared. It is not like a muscle tear or a skin tear. I am quite dubious, too!

[ben3133]

How on earth do you correct an inguinal hernia with chiropractic?

What are your success rates, and rates of reoccurence? Any studies to back this up?

I am quite dubious of this to be honest.

bump. Oziem?

[fleshmachine]

bump. Oziem?

Highly skeptical myself.


I had a right side inguinal hernia repar when I was 13. It was open surgery. Just recently I was pushing myself squatting (and I don't feel I was breathing correctly) and now I feel a dull ache down there in the same area. It feels a lot like when I had one before, however I don't feel any bulging or anything. I'm wondering if I perhaps strained it rather than opening it back up?

[ShadyShadow13]

well mostly you strained it .. but you should be careful .. coz it can reoccure again ..
i still feel some itching on my surgery and it been more than a year
sugerioes will always feel strange from time to time ..
and emm sometime hernia dont bulg if they are small .. but still you get an uncomfortable feeling ..

but i hope its not that in your case

[rocketman44]

fleshmachine, I've done that on numerous occasions - lifted something, felt a dull ache, and wondered if the hernia had recurred.

My general rule of thumb - and this is just in my experience - is to just give it some rest and see if the ache subsides. If it doesn't, then I see a doctor.

On one occasion about 3 years ago, I felt an ache after moving a box at work. When that ache lingered, I went to a doctor, and even had an MRI (swallowing Barium before hand...god that stuff is horrible). Turns out it was a pulled groin.

But lower ab strains are always a tricky business. See a doctor if you have any doubts.

[ShadyShadow13]

well still Rochetman44
sometimes the pain can be hernia even if it subsides ..
i have been training with my hernia for sometimes now .. months .. and its changes from time to time ..
like at somedays .. i dont even feel its .. others .. i just feel it and its abvious with lil itching .. but its not painful

im not sure when i will the surgery though .. :P keep postponing it

[fleshmachine]

So it's about a week since I strained it. It's slooooowly feeling better, needless to say I'm staying away from squats and deadlifts until it completely subsides - or, I take a visit to the doc if it doesn't (which I'm really disappointed in, I JUST started a cut after bulking and if I have to stop the intensity now I'm going to be really angry).

I don't know if my doc just stitched it or put mesh in when I had the operation. I'm hoping mesh.

At this point it's not about the pain, but it's mentally messing with me because I'm afraid to lift too hard and blow it out. The last thing I want is a surgery with a month downtime.

[Recondo]

Medical Advice should be asked from a Medical Doctor specializing in Hernia Surgery, not from the general public. I recently recovered from a Laparascopic inguinal hernia repair. My experience was; you will be flat on your back for two days, in pain (incisions areas) reflected pain in hips and groin. Take pain meds only if needed. Why? Because you don't want to become constipated for your first bowel movement, get the picture. I've been advised no heavy lifting for 4 to 6 weeks. That is a warning, not opinion from the Doctor. When I went to the Doctor for the first time concerning my hernia, he queried me: "Do you remember exactly what you were doing when you noticed your hernia?" I averred: "I was completing my sixth set of 50 sit-ups." He looked puzzled and asked: "Are you certain that was when your hernia appeared?" Now, I looked puzzled and asked him: "How does one acquire a hernia if not by exercising?" His reply... In all of my 27 years of specializing in general surgery and surgical oncology, every patient I ever queried on this responded with; They had a FORCEFUL BOWEL MOVEMENT or sneezed. It's funny, at that moment, I remembered excersizing the night before, but I instantly recalled having a forceful bowel movement that next morning. My bowel movements are always soft, never hard, but I had a forceful one. So you may think you got your hernia from weight lifting or excersizing, think again. Also, I was informed young people will alway acquire a right side inguinal hernia and much older people will alway acquire a left side inguinal hernia, this is a age thing, not necessarily from genetics, there have been cases where babies are born with a hernia. Will you ever acquire another hernia? There are no guarantees in life and certainly not in surgery, it's a matter of choice, you choose whether or not you want to play or work-hard. Sometimes, cause and effect happens and other times, fate is there to greet you, whether you did it right or wrong. I believe performing some core twisting may cause muscle tearing in the lower ab areas (lying flat on your back and in the crunch position moving your legs from side to side) even standing with arms extended and performing side to side movements (twisting) all cause muscle tear. Those ab muscles are very long and narrow, easy to stretch and tear. Still think exercise causes it? Maybe, I'll post whether or not I can continue performing my sit-ups, although Arnold clearly stated over-training is doing needless exercise. He peformed 200 sit-ups, I was doing 300 to 500 sit-ups (sets of 50). Too much, to fast. More sets isn't always better. Reduce work-outs and carefully monitor your progress.

[TheCaptain]

Definitely not. Strengthening of the abdominal wall reduces the risk of herniation. That's why hernias are much more common in the >60 group, as their abdominal wall is much weaker.

I agree. I have two herniations in the pelvis area (just below belly button and just above groin area. I started doing reverse torso curls. Eventually the herniations went away on their own.

The herniations havent returned in 6 years. But, i do notice once in a blue moon, that if i strain too much doing bench press, it will feel a little weaker in that pelvis area. So i usually take it easy for a few weeks after that, and do more ab work for lower weight and higher reps.

I got these two herniations from doing Seated Iso-Row Hammer Strength machine. At the time i was 24 years old and doing 360 lbs on each arm. Anyways, on some occasions where i slacked off at the gym, i would return and try to lift the same heavy weight, putting a lot of strain into it. This is what caused the first herniation and eventually the second.

[rocketman44]

well still Rochetman44
sometimes the pain can be hernia even if it subsides ..
i have been training with my hernia for sometimes now .. months .. and its changes from time to time ..
like at somedays .. i dont even feel its .. others .. i just feel it and its abvious with lil itching .. but its not painful

im not sure when i will the surgery though .. :P keep postponing it

Yes, it can indeed still be a hernia even if the pain goes away. That's why I'd always suggest seeing a doctor, as I mentioned previously.

However, I also tend to tailor my responses to the general 'feel' of the discussion(s). It seems to me that there's at least a few guys here who don't run to the doctor every time they suspect a hernia - they just wait a while. While I don't necessarily advocate that approach, I can see why some guys feel that way. And, based on my own experiences (two actual hernias but also some 'false alarms'), I usually wait a bit before I see a doctor.

But again, I'll emphasize - if in doubt, see a doctor.

[fleshmachine]

Yep, gave it my standard 2 week wait-out. Doctor tomorrow morning. F*ck.

[Lager1]

well they were normal surgery .. just close the hernia place .. without mesh .. although i did told the doctor the a mesh surgery would be better .. but he told me that i am too young for it ..
so i said .. he knows better .. i guess net

You gotta get the mesh, man.