So I’ve been lurking around here for a while and have a questions that hopefully some people will have some input.
Recently, I was diagnosed with a right side direct inguinal hernia and a left side indirect inguinal hernia via ultrasound. No pain, no lumps, none of that. Sometimes some small discomfort, nothing major. Now the general surgeon recommends surgery and no racing. However, it is recommended I remain active and he put no limits on what I do just no all out racing. (I raced last weekend with no issues and I am racing on the 26th. Using them as events to gain experience and understand triathlons more as I am a newb.)
So, what are some people’s experiences with hernias? Is it worth it go get a referral to a sport’s doctor?
Anyone have severe issues trying to train through hernias?
Does anyone know of a good sport’s doctor in south east Michigan?
I’m thankful that this is an injury you can recover 100% from and requires no physical therapy, etc. Just time off after surgery and a slow progression back to where I was.
I was diagnosed several years with hernia’s on left and right side (I think I had the same as you…ingronorial, spelling??). I ignored for a long time as they did not present any problems to run, ski, swim, bike, etc. My doc told me I was fine to be active as long as I could tolerate any discomfort. As the discomfort increased, I decided to have surgery in Jan 2010. Fully recovered in 2-3 weeks.
From my experience, yes, you can participate in tri’s without any problems from the hernia’s. Just listen to your body.
So decided that I’d rather not live in fear of what could happen while doing whatever and decided to just get the hernia’s fixed.
Jan 6th 2011 is the date and I’m NOT having laproscopic. Invasive is the only term I can think of for the procedure I’m having. 4-5" incision with mesh to repair the tear.
My only concern is dealing with the skin level scar tissue. I believe I’ve read about massaging the scar itself and using body lotion on it a few times a day once you can tolerate the pressure to try and break up the scar tissue. Anyone have ideas/advice for minimizing the issues with scar tissue?
Had the mesh repair.
The external scar (2") wasn’/isn’t a big deal and has healed well without formation of scar tissue (I was in my late 20’s).
However, the mesh itself has resulted in internal scar buildup around it and the pressure from it is a constant reminder some 15 years later.
Had to give up competitive volleyball because of the surgery. ROM never was the same.
Not an issue for Tri, since that doesn’t require diving saves…
I have deferred getting the other side fixed until it is inevitabel or “open”.
It does bother me now and then, but not more than the side I had surgery on. Just gotta know my limits…
Maybe materials and techniques have come a long way in the last decade, but the procedure was done state of the art by an experienced surgeon back then…
I ask because I talked to a surgeon yesterday about my inguinal hernia. He recommended open (as opposed to laparoscopic), with mesh. He does about 100 of them a year. He has also had the surgery himself, and said that while you can exercise after a few weeks, it can be quite painful for up to 3 months, and more fully recovered after a year! FYI, he also recommended massaging straight vitamin E oil on the scar.
I’ve had my hernia for several months, and ran a marathon last month, after which it seems a little bigger (hence the inevitable trip to the doctor for the official diagnosis). What I really wanted to know was whether I should cancel my trip to (and training for) the Boston marathon. Basically it’s just a gamble. He said as long as I can push it (the intestinal bulge) back in when it bulges / pops out, I can wait on surgery. On the other hand, it’s not going to fix itself, and if it gets to the point where I can’t push it back in, it can become emergency surgery. He even showed me the best way to push it back into place. Right now I am also wearing my tightest tights for running, hoping that will help …
I also worry about internal scarring and chronic pain after surgery, as I am turning 50 this month, and I really do enjoy running and triathlon.
Any advice from folks who have had the surgery? Especially females?? I understand that 90% of these happen to males …
I have a training partner who is trying to get ready for IMLP who just had his operation today … I think he’ll be very pleased if he can get away with 2-3 weeks recovery.
I had classic inguinal hernia surgery about 12 years ago at age 27. I had the orthoscopic surgery that involved 3 incisions of about 1/2" long each. One at the navel, one about 1" above my appendix scar, and one opposite side same place. (One for the air nozzle, one for the camera, and one for the work to be done throguh.) This surgery is supposed to be a faster recovery. I was swimming again in about 10 days, but wasn’t 100% for many more weeks after that. I had the “stitch in my side” feeling in my groin during any exertion for about a year. I believe this was me working in the scar tissue. I was body building, not doing tris at that age, and I never had any problems doing squats, etc.
Anyway, I’m 100% now, never think about it, scars are virtually invisible.
I had open mesh surgery to repair my right side inguinal hernia in November 2009.
Recovery took a while, and I agree with a previous poster that it can be bothersome for 3 months or more. In fact, I still notice a bit of discomfort from time to time well over a year later.
But it doesn’t affect running, and I had more saddle time last year than ever. Never noticed it while working out.
I do have a little bit of scar tissue around the mesh and incision, and have a noticeable 2 inch scar, but I haven’t done anything special to get rid of either.
So 2 months from the surgery…I feel great. Granted I fell off the horse and basically stopped training. So training wise, I am not starting over but not where I was last summer either. In regards to around the area of the hernia/incision, it feels very good. Was causing me some pain/discomfort prior to fixing.
Disclaimer 1: I had a direct on the right side and indirect on the left side.
Disclaimer 2: I did not have the typical bulge. The only reason I even knew something was wrong is because I had a testicle go in while swimming which caused me to find out I had bilateral hernias. Never ever had a bulge. In fact at 1 week followup Dr. said he did not have to put intestine back in, it was only fat coming through.
Disclaimer 3: I’m also a 30 year old male beginner triathlete who is overweight and doesn’t look like he really is a triathlete.
I was not willing to live with the risk of excruciating pain for something I knew I had, the potential consequence to killing a portion of your intestines and wondering if I should lift a box or whatever else…Just wasn’t worth it to me.
I followed the Dr’s advice and iced a lot, walked around every couple hours, didn’t strain, made sure to eat high fiber foods to offset the codeine. I did not find the recovery that bad at all. Worst part is sitting for a month. Most people I’ve talked to that have had at least one repair comment that up to a year out they still have short intense pains, the sort that you double over for. I have not had that since about 5-7 days after the surgery. I very slowly started working out again (I also lost a lot of fitness as I took an off season of about 6 months and gained a bunch of weight) and I can feel that its a little tight maybe discomfort but by no means am I in pain. It gives the feel that a) I might be recovering, b) body still growing and c) I became lazy. I have not got to a point and slowed down because of it.
There is no question I am in less pain/discomfort than I was before the procedure.
In fact, I feel so good after it I am planning to do my first and maybe second HIM this year.
**irongirlk **> Like you, I had the hernia for 9 months prior to getting it fixed and my doctor recommended open. He looked at me as though I were crazy for asking about laproscopic. His comments were that for a young fit person that is very active laproscpic is not the fix. He said the only people HE recommends laproscopic for are elder sedentary folks or people that there are other risk factors involved.
At this point in time I am 100% satisfied with what I did. The other option for you to look into to get you through is to look into a hernia belt for the short term to get you through Boston and then have the surgery. Up to you. My advice though if you do get it done, keep ice on the incision for 3 days and take it easy. If they tell you to wear or not wear specific underwear, do it. I could not lift more than a gallon of milk or 10 pounds for a month. It was a struggle but I made sure to do that as I did not want to comprimise the repair. Then slowly get back into it and listen to your body. I’ve been back working out doing the s/b/r/strength thing 5 times a wee since Feb 7th with no adverse affects. I’m just taking it slow and steady and it took 3 weeks for me to get to a point where I am straining my muscles lifting weights.
