I’ve been dealing with a hip injury for several years now. And a recurring abdominal strain a couple times a year. My physical therapist thinks it may be a sports hernia that keeps getting missed or misdiagnosed.
Go get “The Test”. You will never look at a man’s index finger the same way again. In the words of Pete “Dead Meat” Thompson, “Ain’t no man going to take that route with me”.
Go get “The Test”. You will never look at a man’s index finger the same way again. In the words of Pete “Dead Meat” Thompson, “Ain’t no man going to take that route with me”.
Huh?
I had one 14 years ago. Was consistently misdiagnosed as a groin strain by NHS doctors (UK) until I was sent to a private hospital through work.
Because it was ‘merely a groin strain’ I trained and competed (track) through it despite the pain. Once I’d had the op I was back running in 4 weeks. Turned out my version of ‘light jogging’ didn’t quite match the doctor’s however no lasting damage!
No signs of it ever recurring, touch wood.
most exams are by palpation in the groin area. Ultrasound and MRI provide more detail.
https://www.sportshernia.com/sports-hernia-approach/sports-hernia-examination/
I had one 14 years ago. Was consistently misdiagnosed as a groin strain by NHS doctors (UK) until I was sent to a private hospital through work.
Because it was ‘merely a groin strain’ I trained and competed (track) through it despite the pain. Once I’d had the op I was back running in 4 weeks. Turned out my version of ‘light jogging’ didn’t quite match the doctor’s however no lasting damage!
No signs of it ever recurring, touch wood.
I’m from Australia, but was over in the UK playing rugby and, similarly had a sports hernia that was mis-diagnosed by 3 NHS doctors. Went to see a sports doctor when I got back to Australia and he prodded my lower stomach for about 30s before confirming I had a sports hernia. An ultrasound was needed just to ensure he was right. I had right side operated on, was back running after 4 weeks, the left side went 2 years later and had another op. No dramas since, that was 17 years ago.
I have had this. Hurts like a bitch. Opted against surgery. Cannot recall how long it took to go away, maybe 6 months? I was highly skeptical of the mesh surgeries at the time and could not find evidence that they were more effective than rest. That may have changed though.
I had an inguinal hernia when I was 19. Was working out pretty seriously so I think thats how I got it. Anyways, had no idea what it was when I noticed it. Thought maybe it was cancer. Small lump protruding near my dick. Wasn’t painful. I finally went to see a doctor about it. Waiting about a month for surgery and then had to rest for a couple weeks. Catskin mesh is what the doc used. I remember reading the surgery report.
Yes, you’ll need ultrasound by someone who knows what they are actually looking for to properly diagnose. I went to a sport doc who referred me to someone who knows what to look for. The first tech I saw was all over the place with regular inguinal hernias, but it took someone else to finally see my abdominal tear through the groin. I suggest having the results sent to Dr Bill Brown in the bay area to confirm.
Once diagnosed the biggest question will be repair. Local surgeon wanted to just patch it up with mesh, which wont actually fix the issue. I opted to see Dr Brown who does a hand-sewn repair. I’m 100% happy I did this as I was back to racing triathlon within 4 months (I also had an adductor tendon tear that took longer to heal).
I had an** inguinal hernia** when I was 19. Was working out pretty seriously so I think thats how I got it. Anyways, had no idea what it was when I noticed it. Thought maybe it was cancer. Small lump protruding near my dick. Wasn’t painful. I finally went to see a doctor about it. Waiting about a month for surgery and then had to rest for a couple weeks. Catskin mesh is what the doc used. I remember reading the surgery report.
A sports hernia and an inguinal hernia are different. Both are in the lower abdominal area, but a sports hernia does not produce a lump like a classic inguinal hernia. That’s why the sports hernia is so much harder to properly diagnose.
I had an** inguinal hernia** when I was 19. Was working out pretty seriously so I think thats how I got it. Anyways, had no idea what it was when I noticed it. Thought maybe it was cancer. Small lump protruding near my dick. Wasn’t painful. I finally went to see a doctor about it. Waiting about a month for surgery and then had to rest for a couple weeks. Catskin mesh is what the doc used. I remember reading the surgery report.
A sports hernia and an inguinal hernia are different. Both are in the lower abdominal area, but a sports hernia does not produce a lump like a classic inguinal hernia. That’s why the sports hernia is so much harder to properly diagnose.
Yes, and sports hernia’s can lead to inguinal hernias overtime. I realise there is a difference, but I feel its important to raise awareness about hernia’s in general. Many men, especially young men in their teens and early 20s, don’t know what a hernia is. A friend of mine had a hernia throughout his childhood without realising what it was. He said he just “tucked it in” and went on with his day. Its not like they tell kids in school about these things and many boys don’t feel comfortable taking about their bodies with their parents, especially near the groin area. It took me a couple months to go see a doctor.
Hernia surgery is actually one of the most surgeries performed. Interesting articles about them…
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1194797/Why-men-refused-surgery-hernias.html
https://www.wthr.com/article/check-13-hernia-screening
https://www.uab.edu/news/youcanuse/item/9837-hernias-why-they-hurt-and-what-can-be-done
I hope the info is helpful to someone out there, even if my post is not totally pinpoint specific to sports hernias.
I had an** inguinal hernia** when I was 19. Was working out pretty seriously so I think thats how I got it. Anyways, had no idea what it was when I noticed it. Thought maybe it was cancer. Small lump protruding near my dick. Wasn’t painful. I finally went to see a doctor about it. Waiting about a month for surgery and then had to rest for a couple weeks. Catskin mesh is what the doc used. I remember reading the surgery report.
A sports hernia and an inguinal hernia are different. Both are in the lower abdominal area, but a sports hernia does not produce a lump like a classic inguinal hernia. That’s why the sports hernia is so much harder to properly diagnose.
Yes, and sports hernia’s can lead to inguinal hernias overtime. I realise there is a difference, but I feel its important to raise awareness about hernia’s in general. Many men, especially young men in their teens and early 20s, don’t know what a hernia is. A friend of mine had a hernia throughout his childhood without realising what it was. He said he just “tucked it in” and went on with his day. Its not like they tell kids in school about these things and many boys don’t feel comfortable taking about their bodies with their parents, especially near the groin area. It took me a couple months to go see a doctor.
Hernia surgery is actually one of the most surgeries performed. Interesting articles about them…
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/...surgery-hernias.html
https://www.wthr.com/…-13-hernia-screening
https://www.uab.edu/...and-what-can-be-done
I hope the info is helpful to someone out there, even if my post is not totally pinpoint specific to sports hernias.
I didn’t know that one could lead to another; but I do know firsthand about inguinal hernias. I had an open repair of a left inguinal hernia at age 10. It was identified in a school physical and referred to my parents. Fast forward 50 years and I self-diagnosed a right inguinal hernia earlier this year. It was confirmed by my general practitioner and surgeon but I was still cleared to complete two 70.3s and two full ironman races this year – although my performance was definitely deteriorating over the year. I had laparoscopic surgery last month and am well on my way back to fitness and getting ready for another two 70.3s and two fulls in 2019 - hopefully with better performances and no discomfort/pain.
While hernia surgeries are one of the most common to be performed, complications and problems with mesh repairs are not openly talked about up front by most surgeons.
I had pain through my groin and hip/pelvis in 2005 that no one could diagnose. Eventually the sports hernia/gilmores groin/inguinal hernia diagnosis was given. I didn’t want surgery so I rehabbed the injury for over a year. I worked with a team of athletic trainers, physio’s, biokineticist and pilates instructors to help the issue. Nothing worked. So had open repair done on the right & left side in 2006. I wasn’t told they would use mesh (and even if I was I wouldn’t have know what that meant back then - I was 21 and just wanted to train).
Surgery “fixed” the issue but caused 100’s of others over the years, mostly nerve pain and lower back tightness that pulled everything out of alignment. I dealt with each issue as they came up, working with a really good team of physical therapists and chiropractors - the root cause of each one was the surgery. I will say that at points I raced faster and was fitter than I had ever been before the surgery so aside from the cost of maintenance and the frustration of constantly being aware of what caused pain and how to manage it I was ok. That was until this year when it got too much to handle.
I got fixed up again in October by Ulrike Muschaweck in Munich who (by all accounts) is probably the leading surgeon in the world when it comes to hernias - and fixing the mess left behind by old surgeries. I’m slowly building the fitness back up and all seems to be ok for now, not perfect. But better. Waiting to see how the left side plays with the fix to the right side before deciding what to do next.
TLDR - in my experience surgery was the way to fix the sports hernia but it comes with a whole host of different issues you will have to manage for the rest of your sporting career. Damned if you do. Damned (worse) if you don’t.
Craziest(?) thing about inguinal hernia surgery I remember was the nurse coming pre-surgery to shave my pubes. I think mine were trimmed quite short already so she didn’t have to shave them, but its something many men might might be uncomfortable with.
That 100% happened every time. But I will have to say the carziest for me was flying back from Munich, getting home and experiencing some serious swelling of one of my boys Two options, go to the ER in my home town or send a d*ck pic to the surgeon. I appologized for the nature of the email and sent the pic - “nothing to be concerned about” was the reply! All good now!
Lol, great story to tell your grandchildren one day!
How does a sports hernia eventually lead to a traditional hernia?
This may sound stupid, but what does a hernia feel like? Is it like an uncomfortableness in your side, does it just feel like there is something there when you sit or lean in that direction? I don’t know which hernia is which (sport vs inguinal), but I am assuming the one coming out where your testicles descend is noticable and hurts, what about the other?
Craziest(?) thing about inguinal hernia surgery I remember was the nurse coming pre-surgery to shave my pubes. I think mine were trimmed quite short already so she didn’t have to shave them, but its something many men might might be uncomfortable with.
They shaved me after I was knocked out. Woke up to see that surprise!
I am well past the 2 year mark, going 3 years now since the onset of sports hernia symptoms. I have tried all PT, chiro, specific strength training and no results. I have been diagnosed with labrum tear on the same side. The sports doc I visited who conducted the exams wanted to keep zooming into my hip rather than completely diagnosing the sports hernia.
I did a bunch of research on subject of both and they can be connected as likely in my case. My FAI and labrum tear seem asymptomatic while I exhibit symptoms of sports hernia. Dr. Muschawek and Dr. Brown are my next two choices. Did a ton listening to her presentations and would be very comfortable having her diagnose and operate in my case. Living in States, not sure how to get a hold of her and initiate the contact. Next one in line is Dr. Brown in bay area. It is likely that sports hernia surgery is not covered by my insurance. That means out of pocket in either case, therefore Munich is a definite consideration. Both of these two doctors use open repair type with no mesh. Absolutely no mesh ever, period, listened to her many times cleaning other people’s mess. Dr. Brown does modified Bassini repair, slightly more invasive with slightly longer recovery time than Dr. Muschawek.
Long story short, think I am ready to throw the towel and get it done, want to come back to Ironman racing. Stopped in 2016. Can you please share how to contact Dr. Muschawek if you can. Thanks.
I am very distrusting of American surgeons in general. Here thats a business, shit load of money, the money making machine, surgery is the first solution to everything here. Not to take away from those who ethically conduct themselves.