Just returned from the doctor and was told I have an inguinal hernia tear on the left side and softness on my right. The doctor suggested repairing it through laparoscopy and inserting the mesh on both sides. Apparently a very simple and routine procedure.
Was wondering if anyone has had this done and what the recovery was like - and how long before you were back to your normal IM workout routine at 80-100%? I am on track to IM Cabo in March but not sure if this is even a viable (or practical) option at this point if I choose to have it repaired ASAP. I’d hate to have the repairs bust open by stressing the body too soon
Any thoughts, advice, or info greatly appreciated. I sometimes don’t think doctors don’t get exactly what it is "we’’ do - and how hard it is for us to sit still. Hoping to find out something beyond the compulsory 4-6 weeks of no/light exercise recommendation.
I used to sell the mesh product you will most likely have put in you. Ask your doc if it’s made by Boston Scientific…when I sold it the name was Meadox and a privately held company. Not sure what BSX has done with it as they are one of the most dysfunctional medical device companies around, but we had ~ 70% market share back in the day it was basically ‘order taking’. Anyway, unless he anticipates issues where he might have to revert to an open procedure you will probably have it done in an outpatient facility and be home for lunch that day. Not sure what he might say about hard core training right away, but when I sold this stuff in the mid 90’s people were back at work that Monday after having it done on a Friday.
My husband had his hernia repaired last September. He wasn’t training then, but cycling is a weekly workout for him. He’s also a bike mechanic, so he’s on his feet all day, has to lift frequently.
He didn’t have lapraroscopic hearnia repair, they cut him open the old fashioned way. He was down for a couple days in bed, then was on desk duty for a week, then standing the week after that. No lifting over 25 pounds (our daughter was just under the wire) for a month. I think he was back on the bike 4 weeks or less later.
Now, he was in a good amount of pain for several weeks after surgery, but that diminished within 6 weeks or so.
Very simple outpatient procedure. Go in early AM, out and home that afternoon. And back to work on Monday.
He was going to do both sides. Left is torn, but right is soft so said he would fix it while i was under as preventative.
I was told no bathing/swimming for 3 weeks (to protect the incisions; probably from infection) but showering was OK.
I am more concerned about the running… since the procedure is in the upper pubic area, I think I will be walking slow the first couple of days. Really wondering when I could realistically consider being back to feeling normal and doing “decent” workouts. Cycling might be a bit uncomfortable at first, but I think the run would provide the most uncomfortable stress in that area.
Just had the open procedure 3 weeks ago (my Dr. reccomended that approach, due to less reccurance). This last week I did some light running, swimming and biking, but frankly I don’t feel good at all, and I might be overdoing it. I’m thinking I won’t be back to normal for another 2-3 weeks (so, 5-6 weeks post surgery).
Ok, I’ll bite on this one.
Full disclosure: I’m a family physician.
This is a crappy forum for asking medical advice. Ask your doctor or surgeon if a) you can wait until after your IM to get the hernia repaired or b) if you can’t wait, then what is the risk of proceeding with a gruelling endurance race mere weeks after your surgery.
You say that many doctors don’t appreciate what it is we do, and how hard it is to stay still?
I say many patients don’t appreciate the potential post operative complications that can arise if you disregard the physicians advice.
Good luck with your surgery, +/- your race.
Bryan
Thanks Bryan. Yes, I fully agree. Health over racing any day… there is always another race.
I am just trying to get a sense of what other racers experiences in recuperating and getting back to relatively normal was. Then add a week at least since most people on this forum would probably start back up with too much too soon.
Unfortunately waiting till after the race is not an option - although I wish it was. I am feeling my strongest and was on track for a nice day out there. But I am symptomatic and have to get most of the recovery done and out of the way before early March (especially the 3 weeks no bathing/swimming - I am a swim teacher and that is when my season starts back up). Most likely I am assuming all bets are off for Cabo this year. It is what it is…
I am a surgical tech and i help out with these and see them all the time. If you listen to your doctor and you really take it easy during recovery, you will be fine really fast. Laparoscopic is less invasive and healing is better.
above all else, talk to YOUR doctor and ask him all these questions. They really are great questions that I would love for patients to ask beforehand so that expectations after surgery are clearer. Also, agree wholeheartedly with fam med doc above about being a crappy place for medical advice … but a hernia is different than a “tear” in that area (although a tear is often called a ‘sports hernia’) and they can be managed at different times in different ways. Also the immediate need and timing of management (surgical or not) depends on a bunch of different factors, principally amongst them is if you are having symptoms (pain, etc.) …
But to answer questions directly:
The surgery is relatively simple and straightforward, but that doesn’t mean the recovery is particularly short, especially the way athletes use the term “short”
Laparoscopy > open (old school) for bilateral hernias; open > laparoscopy for one-sided only. So this choice would depend on how much “softness” is on your right side and making sure you’ve found a surgeon who’s exam you can trust.
“normal” workout routine: easy, slow, non-taxing stuff will be sore up to 4-6 weeks. back to 100% … depends on many factors but could be 2+ months in many …
Lastly, seeing both sides … if I were a betting man, I would not bet on surgery before Cabo 2013.
I’m a former Olympic athlete (Seoul 1988) and I just had a hernia repair done about 6 months ago. I had had the hernia for about 6 years without any pain but it had started to get bigger and felt it was time to get it repaired.
I did a ton of research and found out that the mesh - laprocospic method is not without risk. The mesh can harden and accumulate scar tissue and some people complain it feels like a credit card. The forums have a large number of people that have the mesh suffering from long term pain. There are a fair number of class action lawsuits against the mesh companies out there. (google it).
I decided this wasn’t the route to go for me, even though 3 doctors I saw felt the risks were low for a standard procedure. (5% have issues). That was too high for me.
The doctors never talk about the people suffering with chronic pain.
I found a doctor in the bay area that repairs hernias without mesh, with an “open” procedure. Laproscopic is painful as well. Don’t think that is easy street by any means. Lot’s of inserted instruments going through holes in your stomach with laproscopic. I think a doctor has way more control with an open procedure rather than using a little camera and a little robotic tool. Ever watched a laproscopic hernia procedure on youtube? It’s like someone knitting in the dark with needle-nose pliers. I had one scar 1.5" long.
He is a sports doctor that specialized in the repair of hernias. William H Brown is the man to see. He is against mesh - too many complications. The procedure went perfectly. Went in in the morning, out by noon. Some pain for a few days, on your back, normal rest. Up and around in about 5 days. . 2 - 3 weeks 80%. 6 weeks 100%. No side effects whatsoever. Do your homework.
I had the laproscopic w/mesh procedure done 3 years ago. Went in for procedure Fri AM and back at my desk job Mon AM. No physical activity for a few days. After 1 week started doing a walking regimen…2 weeks added the exercise bike in…and 3 weeks began running again…felt just about 100% 4 weeks after surgery. It really wasn’t a big deal at all. With that said though, I wouldn’t push it with the IM though…seems like too much potential for strain too close to the operation. Good luck with your decision.
I had the surgery and my doctor promised me that I will run 2 weeks after the surgery and oh yeah I was running 2 weeks after. Ran only 2-3 miles slow slow slow. Laughing was painful. I even told the doctor I do not want my mesh to move or come back. He put a staple to make sure. But again be careful too many stories and opinions from everyone can mess wit your head. It’s always best to go by what your doctor says. Make sure you ask him the details of how big your hernia looks etc. good luck.
Had hernia surgery done a couple years ago at Shouldice in Toronto. Was like staying at a five star hotel.
In and out in two days!
This is their procedure:
The muscles and connective tissue of the abdominal wall are arranged in three separate layers. Before repairing any weakness, we gently place the fatty tissue and any part of the intestine (bowel) that may have bulged through the abdominal wall back inside the abdomen. Then we repair each muscle layer individually, using a technique that puts no tension on the natural tissue. By carefully overlapping and securing each layer, just like you do when you button a coat, we strengthen and reinforce this section of the abdominal wall.
As part of the Shouldice procedure, we do a thorough search for other hernias in the area and repair them, too. This aspect of our technique is unique and not commonly practiced elsewhere as a routine. Research has shown that up to 13% of people with hernias have a second weak spot in their muscles or a “hidden” hernia. Our skilled surgeons have the time and expertise to find these hidden threats – in fact, it’s one of the most important benefits of the Shouldice repair.
If a secondary hernia is not revealed during surgery, it may lead to another operation to repair it, increasing your risk of complications and future recurrences.
Have been performing open/laparoscopic hernia repairs for 22 years (laparoscopic since 1994). Agree with SurgicalSteel.
NO such thing as “very simple and routine.”
I would NEVER recommend preventive surgery and place mesh for a “soft side”.
IM CABO-NOPE!!
I had the laparascopic procedure done last year. I chose this over the open procedure because the recovery time and discomfort were reported as being less. There is no way, even with the shorter recovery, that I would have felt ready or healed enough to tackle a full iron distance race a month after surgery. I was walking on the treadmill a week after- but running did not feel right for me for at least two and a half weeks. I did heal faster than i expected BUT i would not have felt prepared if i could not swim or run in the weeks leading up to the race. Fyi I have heard redoing a procedure because you pushed it too much too soon is much more painful.
Over the last thirty years, starting at 25, I’ve had three hernia inguinal hernia repairs. The first one on my right side, done openly without mesh. Lasted about ten years. Second one, same side, repaired with mesh. Ten plus years later, that familiar feeling was returning. Definatly right side, and the left felt like it could be. Yep. Both sides done laproscopically with mesh. Much less pain than the first ones, and a lot quicker overall recovery. I was probably riding easy in a month or so. Took a while before I was running again. Thereis no way I could have thought about IM training. Don’t push it. Let it heal. Ironman will be there. This is one of those things you want to get right, really. I wish you the best.
Kurt
I had this exact surgery done… junior year of high school. I think I took off about a month of running. No way could I have run the first 2-3 weeks, but after that slowly was able to.
Here’s my experience. I was referred to a dr Craig Smith. I think he’s in Marina Del Rey. He said that he operating on Luc Robitae (it was in the news so HIPA wasn’t violated) and he was in the Stanley Cup finals 6 weeks later. He told me after surgery, pain was my limiter. I asked specifics and was good to go. 5 days later I ran a 5K and played softball. While playing, my stitches opened. I decided to lay still heal and did a 70.3 2 months later. I’d make sure he’s a specialist, and ask questions if you have them. By the way, what AG are you in?