-
My hernia recovery
Sure can do!
I am 39 years old. I was moderately active before, I have a desk job but walk my dog ~ 45 minutes a day and also bike 3-5 days a week (average probably 50 miles of biking a week though it tends to decrease with less favorable weather in the winter). I did not do any strength training or anything before, briefly tried to do a bodyweight workout at home but it was uncomfortable with the hernia. Look forward to trying that again!
My hernia was diagnosed in June 2015 though I noticed it probably 6 months earlier. Initial symptom was that I had a cold and felt a weird bulging sensation in my groin when coughing or sneezing. I decided on watchful waiting for a while which is why it was about 2 years until I had surgery. I did have pain though not bad. On a day to day basis it did not bother me, however any strenuous activity caused me to have aching for several days after. For example I helped a friend move and was sore for a week after, and after detailing my car it hurt for a week as well. I also occasionally had aching sensation in my right testicle.
I decided to have surgery because I didn’t want to be in pain (even though it wasn’t severe pain) anytime I did something more physical, plus I had already hit my deductible for the year so surgery was free… I never had any imaging. At my pre-surgery consultation he described the hernia as ‘ping pong ball sized and easily pushed back in’.
As for pre vs post, I just mostly feel normal again. I can now cough and sneeze without any weird sensations down there, probably the only thing I’ve really noticed. At this point I can do anything I did before and am happy to not have to sound like a wimp if a friend asks me for moving help!
