Post Hernia Repair Nerve Pain

[drtowfigh]

Pinned posts share positive stories. Also can use search function.

[andrew1982]

Bump. Has anyone got any success stories they’d like to share?

[andrew1982]

Bump. Does anyone have any success stories to share?

[andrew1982]

Hi everyone. Tomorrow is 15 weeks post surgery. I have to say that the surgery is the single worse thing that ever happened to me in my entire life. In the hour that I was in theatre my life changed so dramatically I still am struggling to come to terms with it. The physical systems have caused me to be depressed, my 4 year old daughter now regularly cries as she knows I’m in pain, our relationship has changed and as a single dad that is devastating. I’m self-employed and this is looking very much like it’s going to destroy my businesses because I am unable to concentrate or even be there. I can’t believe that I’ve gone from being in the best shape of my life with no pain at all from my hernia to this.

I would really appreciate if anyone had any success stories they could share where they were suffering from chronic nerve related pain that eventually got better.

[drtowfigh]

[USER=”3128″]Markie[/USER] posted this and for some reason it did not show. So I am adding it for him. Please respond to him as needed.

But let me begin my story, this is my first post.
In Oct. 2018 my husband passed away he had Alzheimers. In Nov. I found out I had breast cancer and needed surgery. In Dec. I got the shingles and the surgery had to be postponed. I was in a lot of pain already. In Jan. I had the breast cancer surgery and they also took out 3 lymph nodes. The pain was horrific and for 3 months I surffered with a burning and sweating sensation under my arm pit besides the surgery from removing the cancer. They tried every pill you could imagine and I’m allergic to all pain killers. So I just suffered each day wishing I was dead. I went to Advanced Pain Management and received all sorts of injections and nothing helped, Saw various doctors and nothing. I could not do my radiation treatments because of the pain I was in. Then I went to my family doctor who said I think what you have is a fungal infection which you probably picked up from being in the hospital. He prescribed a powder, a antibiotic and a steroid for the pain in my back (I was also told I had osteoperosis spelling?) . Finally the burning and sweating went away. Had I known my own doctor would figure this out I would have gone there first. So specialist are not always smarter than your own doctor. Then in the summer I got diverticulitos (spelling?) Went to the ER and got antibiotics and that finally cleared up. All this time I had the hernia but it was small in the right side of my stomach and it didn’t bother me..but over time it grew to the size of a large grapefruit. I had to have surgery on my leg due to a popped vein so I had to postpone the hernia surgery. So now this past week (8 days ago) I had the hernia surgery. I’m in so much pain again I want to die. After reading this forum I see many have problems from hernia surgery…not that it helps but at least I know I’m not a freak.. I can’t sleep laying down I sleep sitting up on the couch with pillows all around me so I don’t fall over. I can not take any paid meds so all I do take is Motrin which helps for about an hour and the burning pain is horrible. I went to the ER on last Wed. because all of a sudden I couldn’t breath correctly. They swabbed my throat and said it was due to the plastic tubing from the anesthesia doctor that made my throat closing up. I’m at my wits end but wanted to share my story. Sometimes your own doctor is the best one to see. I’ve been suffering for over a year now in pain from so many different things. I had hernia surgery many years ago a small one and I had to have it done over because I was allergic to the plastic stitches. That’s wasn’t fun either but I recovered quickly. So thank you for allowing me to tell my story..but I recommend everyone to keep in close touch with your own doctor, they seem to know more for some reason. I could have eliminated those 3 months of suffering had I know my doctor would know what I was suffering from.

[drtowfigh]

Most are curable.

[andrew1982]

Thanks Dr.

[USER=”935″]drtowfigh[/USER] [USER=”2580″]DrBrown[/USER] my allodyna is particularly bad today. What are your views on whether allodyna is curable or not. I’m stressing curable rather than manageable.

[drtowfigh]

Thanks
with only 40mg Kenalog, you can get your next injection in 2 weeks safely.

[andrew1982]

[USER=”935″]drtowfigh[/USER] nerve block was:

2ml 1% lidocaine
4ml of levobupivacaine 2.5mg per mill
40mg of Kenalog

u/sound around the right distal IIN and IHN.

[Casimir]

[USER=”3024″]andrew1982[/USER] I am 100% with you, and I wish more people knew this. And I feel your pain and too wish I had waited and watched, as mine was small as well, instead of trying to get “perfect” / head off an issue that may well never have been an issue of note. Like you, I also was very active, and have two twin girls who now worry at me school, want daddy back, and family is being torn apart, lots of tears. I do feel guilt. And like you, I have disc issues and can’t do the exercises that kept that mostly at bay. What INFURIATES me, is I was not given ANY informed consent, not even 1 in 1000 — just zero. In fact, I was given negative consent if such a thing exists: I asked a question about numbness in my inner thigh, thinking it might be related to the groin, and stated that I was worried about stirring up a hornets nest with surgery — and I was told it’s from my back. If I heard 1 in 100 chance of this I would have deferred. It was all “no mesh! no mesh!” implication being “no problem” I wish so much I found this particular amazing resource earlier. What’s becoming more clear all the time, from what I am reading here from the doctors who so generously volunteer their time, I can see how much of a difference there is in surgeons. I hope, and pray, you can find your answers. You are not alone — although that doesn’t help, I fully realize. But there has to be an answer.

[andrew1982]

The IIN and IHN block provided some relief. The steroid has reduced the area affected but the most painful point remains constant as it has from almost immediately post surgery. I am still suffering from swelling that is mainly in the triangle above the penis/scrotum/groin crease. This can be brought on by standing or even lying and just rubbing the area around the incision where it remains over-sensitive.

I’ve never been so miserable in my life and my 4 year daughter has realised there is something wrong and is now regularly upset/crying because she doesn’t want daddy to have an ouchy. My very well known surgeon quoted me a less than 1 in 1000 chance of pain. On the day of my surgery they told me that I would have no pain the next day yet I’m now at 13 weeks, have had a nerve block with steroids and feeling like my life has been ruined. I would really urge anybody considering surgery who is not in pain and whose hernia is small/not causing problems to watch and wait rather than have surgery. I trusted my surgeon based on their reputation and even explained to them when I saw them that the hernia was not causing me any problems and the only reason I was getting it repaired was that I thought it was a routine operation/better to nip it in the bud before it got worse. I told them how active I was and that I needed to remain flexible and strong becuase of slipped discs and all I heard was reassurance that everything would be ok/ive done thousands of operations with no problems. I now can’t play with my daughter, exercise, etc . . . without pain.

[drtowfigh]

So sorry to hear.

careful exam to figure out which nerve is at fault is important. Then blocking the nerves at the appropriate place. For example, if it’s the genital nerve, then it should be blocked proximal you the neurectomy site. It’s a tricky thing.

Unfortunately, your experience is among many reasons why studies show no difference in chronic pain when comparing mesh vs non-mesh repair techniques.

[andrew1982]

Hi Dr – the genital branch was cut – I have the report: “genital branch: a pale tube like structure. 34 x 2mm. All taken. Unremarkable nerve with adipose tissue.” I was also told that ilioinguinal was carefully mobilised and preserved. I wish I could just feel better – this is unbearable.

[drtowfigh]

You may have a combination of problems. Sounds dominantly neuropathic. You may also need genital nerve branch nerve block. Repeat injections can help. Also, do you know if the neurologist was really a neurectomy or if the nerves are intact? That may change where the blocks should be done.

[Casimir]

Sounds like Ilioinguinal neuralgia. That nerve travels up towards the iliac crest. You can irritate it by wearing a tight belt for instance.

[andrew1982]

Am not sure on volumes Dr – I will find out and report back.

Is it common that wearing clothes with elastic waist bands can trigger the nerve pain in the groin area even though this is a good inch or 2 above the scar? Strangely, when I am not wearing any clothes the pain is far less. When I wear jeans (ie – not consistently tight all the way around the waist) there is more pain and when I wear a tracksuit or shorts with elastic waist the pain is worst. It is so pronounced that I am sat I’m my car typing this wearing gym gear and my groin is sore to touch. When I pull the waist band away from my stomach/waist, the pain is far less. The other thing to mention is that the pain is touch induced – if I don’t touch the area there is some pressure/strange sensation but to cause pain/discomfort, I need to touch the groin.

[drtowfigh]

3 months? That sounds very conservative. Do you know how much steroids they are using each time?

[andrew1982]

Another question – I’ve asked my consultant about repeated block(s) but their suggestion is to wait 3 months before a 2nd block. I’ve read that repeated blocks every 2 weeks can “cure” the problem. Could [USER=”935″]drtowfigh[/USER] [USER=”2580″]DrBrown[/USER] please advise on this too?

[andrew1982]

My latest reply was unapproved – could one of the admins please post. Thanks

[andrew1982]

happy new year everyone.

​​​​​​​[USER=”2580″]DrBrown[/USER] [USER=”935″]drtowfigh[/USER]

I had a nerve block with steroid (kenalog) of the IIN and IHN – the block worked as the skin went numb. I had some pain relief within the first 15 minutes – I could still feel some discomfort in the painful areas but not as pronounced – a definite improvement. 2 hours later, the pain below the incision is back to the previous level whilst the skin above the incision remains numb. I didn’t have any injections directly into the painful area, the block was done higher up. Obviously the steroid will take some days to kick in.

Do you have any thoughts on the pain returning so quickly? I was expecting the block to last up to 8 hours.