Anyone had one done, and if so, what was life like in the following weeks? How long were you out of training? Have a painless mass just above the groin, causes no pain unless lying prone on a hard surface. Family doc said its clearly a hernia that will need repaired (lapro or open surgery), and I’ll be seeing the gen surgeon in a couple days. Thanks!
I had a bilateral repair two years ago at age 42. I did not have the telltale bulge, but was having pain during and after hard runs, during all bike rides, and after swimming. I thought it was a pulled groin but an ultrasound showed 1 small and 1 moderate inguinal hernia.
My surgeon did a lap repair and instructed me to walk easy starting a day or two after surgery. I had the surgery on a Thursday and was back at my desk job on Monday. The first week is moderately painful. Second week is better but still not great. I was cleared to run about 3 weeks after surgery, but did not really feel up to consistent running until 5 weeks out. I did not return to what I would consider full activity for about 8 weeks. I could still feel soreness around the mesh sites after hard workouts. This was constant for about 6 months, and is infrequent today. The discomfort is very minor and very manageable.
Good luck.
I had sports-hernia which is drastically different than hernia; if you are having sports hernia: not much pain, 6 weeks or so before you can start working on your core again. My male-member was black and blue for awile. I had full 100% recovery. There are very few docotrs who perform this surgery. Most get pushed to this butcher in Philly because he does all the NFL players; I went to a great guy in NYC.
6.2.2
I had an inguinal hernia nearly two years ago (I was 51). I was training for my 7th Ironman at the time. I had the bulge, plus rapid swelling of my left testicle. I found a great surgeon who was motivated to get me back to training safely as quick as possible. I had the robotic assisted surgery - mesh (Da Vinci) which I think helped speed the healing process. I went home the same day after surgery. The night of the surgery was the worst in terms of pain. I took 3 Motrin that night, and a took Motrin a couple of times the first few days. Within 4-5 days I wasn’t taking any pain meds at all. While I was in some pain those first couple of days, I was out walking the morning after surgery. In fact, I walked everyday that week and logged in nearly 30 miles of walking that first week. A lot of bloating those first 2-3 days too which makes things worse. I walked as much as I could tolerate the second week, and did my first run exactly two weeks post surgery. I ran a couple of times that week starting out at 30 mins. By the third week I was cycling on the trainer, and did my first swim about four weeks after the surgery. I’d say within 4 weeks I was feeling pretty good. Within 8 weeks I was doing my weekly functional strength training (including crunches) along with my normal swim, bike, run. I did everything with my doctors guidance. The following year I was racing as normal - I raced a half marathon 5 months post surgery, and resumed my normal Ironman triathlon training.
Being in my 50s I was worried that it would take a long time. I am still surprised how quickly I got back to it. I think it had a lot to do with my surgeon who had worked with a lot of athletes. I also believe that already being fit helped. My guidance would be start moving around as quickly as possible. Walk as much as you can tolerate that first week (as long as your doc says okay). You should have a 2 week post op check in with your doc, and talk with him/her then about a plan to get back to training if that is what you want. My doc cleared running first, then cycling, then swimming.
Best of luck to you. You’re going to be fine!
If you can get laproscopic, then the recovery is much faster. I had an inguinal hernia on the right side in 2001, open surgery, and my recovery was about 3 weeks before I could start doing anything significant other than walking. I was about 33 at the time and lifting heavy when it occurred.
3 days ago I got another open surgery on an inguinal hernia on the left side, and going through recovery now. I couldn’t get laproscopic either time, but the surgeon put a mesh in for the first one, which my recent surgeon said prevented laparoscopic surgery for the second because the mesh might interfere with the scope insertion points. My current surgeon said no activity for a month (which I think is conservative), but since I don’t have any big races to attend I will follow his advice because I’d hate to have it recur.
For the open surgery, swelling occurs and you probably won’t be able to lie on that side when you sleep for at least two nights. Discoloration and bruising also occurs, but slowly goes away over the following week or so, testicles swell and feel heavy for about a week as well. It’s difficult to stretch the area, and you’ll find out just how often you use those underlying core muscles in doing things such as twisting off a bottle cap, coughing or sneezing, blowing your nose, lifting your leg to climb stairs, tie your shoes or bend over to dry your feet with a towel.
Tend to think I’m an outlier. I had bilateral lap repair and was in pain for a couple of days with soreness and stiffness for a week or two. I got back on the bike for gentle spinning week 2, running end of week two/start of week 3, and then raced (national club relays, UK) 3 weeks and a bit after the procedure. Swim was tricky due to tightness but I biked ok and ran an 18 minute ish 5k.
The best part of this story is that due to going private (vs NHS state funded care) I was able to pick the day of my procedure more or less, and therefore choose which 2 weeks I would be signed off from work. I picked the day of the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony and had the best ever 2 weeks of telly watching.
Worst bit was feeling painfully and distinctly like I really needed to fart out of my armpit. They pump you up with co2 for lap repair.
Cheers, Rich.
I had open inguinal hernia surgery w/mesh on the right side back in 2014. I get jealous when I read about how quickly some people recover from the laparoscopic surgery.
The first 2-3 days I was completely worthless. I could barely move. It wasn’t until day 5-6 that I was able to get around somewhat normally. I had it done the Wed or Thurs before Thanksgiving week so I just took off work until the Monday after Thanksgiving. I didn’t do any type of workout beyond walking until about week 6.
I had a good amount of swelling in my right sack that basically never went away. So I had to have a second surgery to correct that issue about 15 months after the hernia surgery. Look up hydrocelectomy if you’re curious. My beanbag basically looked like this after the surgery:
Thanks for the feedback. Just got back from the surgeon, who largely said what most of you were implying. 2 weeks off, ease back in slowly, avoid lifting for 4 weeks or when it can be done pain-free.
My situation is bilateral - larger on the right. Both will require a 1" incision and mesh will be used. No driving for 5-7 days, work as tolerable after 3-4 days. This is my down time, but it will be tough to sit out from running for 2 weeks!
Research mesh versus non-mesh surgical options for hernia repair. Mesh can lead to complications such as chronic pain in some. There’s a lot of literature out there.
Non-mesh isnt always an option but many surgeons only do mesh and dont even offer non-mesh as an option.
I’ve had left and right, both open mesh repairs. Left side was in 2016 and right side in 2019, no bulging with either just pain when doing certain movements or sneezing. Since the repairs the right side has been fine, the left side has started to give me some pain lately, but I’ve found if I pick up the core training the pain goes way, but I’ll drop like a stone if I hit the scar site.
A few days after surgery, my wife, who has never had any kind of surgery, tried to playfully and very lightly flick Mr. Happy but missed and hit the surgery site.
I’d rather take 3 punts to the family jewels than feel that again.