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22 Year old Mesh, severe Inguinal pain, severe Periumbilical pain, both areas where mesh is implanted
I am a 46 year old male experiencing severe pain in two areas where I have mesh implants. I’d like to give you a brief history of my surgeries and experiences. In 1993 I had a lower left Inguinal hernia repair with mesh implanted laparoscopically with clips, I healed well from this surgery within 2 weeks I was back to work. The actual mesh and clips that were surgically placed in 1993 I could not archive because the hospital had destroyed the records, but I do still have the initial admitting and release paperwork. In 2009 I was diagnosed with an Umbilical hernia and a lower right Inguinal hernia. For the Umbilical hernia, a Bard Ventralex Hernia Patch was implanted laparoscopically. For the lower right Inguinal hernia, a Bard Large Preshaped mesh was implanted “Open”. This surgery I healed well from and within 28 days I was back to work. In 2014 I was diagnosed with a recurrent Umbilical hernia on the left lateral edge of the Bard Ventralex Hernia Patch, and a recurrent lower right Inguinal hernia. For the recurrent Umbilical hernia, the left lateral edge of the existing mesh was peeled back, the hernia was repaired, and the mesh was tacked back down over the repair with sutures laparoscopically. For the recurrent lower right Inguinal hernia, the hernia was repaired and a Parietex Progrip mesh was implanted without sutures laparoscopically over the repair. In February 2015, I experienced tearing and severe pulling sensations at the Umbilical hernia repair site, excruciating pain, and significant weight loss because of the pain over the stomach area. During this same time period I had a palpation exam, after the exam the lower left Inguinal area where the mesh was placed in 1993 became extremely painful. In May 2015 I travelled to consult with a hernia specialist in reference to the severe periumbilical pain, after the examination the diagnosis was a “delamination of the right lateral edge of Umbilical mesh”. Discussion and agreement was to remove the Umbilical mesh that was implanted in 2009. Surgery was performed the following day, the mesh was not removed but instead was sutured back down flat. Approximately three days after the surgery I was in excruciating pain and have been every since. In reference to my lower left Inguinal repair site from 1993, I am experiencing burning, stabbing, jabbing pains, and the whole area feels swollen. From 1993 until February 2015, I had never had any kind of pain issues with the lower left Inguinal repair site.
My wife and I live in Oregon and would like to consult with a surgeon for corrective surgery for these two areas of concern. Traveling and consulting would not be an issue for us. I’ve also had nerve blocks done, all scans except MRI, and am healthy otherwise. I am very concerned about nerve preservation as well as the procedure to correctly surgically remove these two areas of mesh.
Thank you, any recommendations would greatly be appreciated.
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2 Replies
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22 Year old Mesh, severe Inguinal pain, severe Periumbilical pain, both areas where mesh is implanted
I agree with everything Dr. Towfigh said and am happy to see you and evaluate you here at OHSU in Portland. If possible, obtaining any imaging you’ve had recently (the reports as well as the CDs of the actual images of CT scans, ultrasound, etc) would be helpful to bring to your appointment. Please call my office to set up an appointment at 503-494-4373.
Regards
Dr. O -
22 Year old Mesh, severe Inguinal pain, severe Periumbilical pain, both areas where mesh is implanted
1. Re-suturing mesh does not work the same as applying new mesh. In my experience, this just results in another recurrence. This is because the mesh no longer possesses the inflammatory component which reacts with the tissue and promotes INGROWTH of the muscle into the mesh.
2. Pain many years after a hernia repair is a recurrence until proven otherwise. Almost all mesh-related chronic pain occurs within the first few months.In Oregon, contact Dr Sean Orenstein st OHSU. He has a special interest in hernias and can help you.
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