Post-Op Recovery: What to Expect

[Alephy]

@oakcomihow is the pain after 4 months?

[Oakcomi]

I am a 56 year old 150#, 5’10” male and had a modified Shouldice inguinal repair in Ohio. Right side, open, non mesh, two layered with poly butester sutures. Two days later they recommend 30-60 min of walking 4 times a day. I can tolerate a max of 10 min before the firey gates of Hell open upon my groin. Burning, pinching, and stinging. No pain sitting or lying down. I try to get up often and at least stand but the pain walking brings me to tears. Has anyone experienced this and did it subside? Obviously I should be walking with less pain based on doctor guidance so I think I am one of the few with a complex recovery. Any supportive experiences out there? I keep trying to increase walking time but am worried. Thanks.

[Dill]

[USER=”2966″]Tino_7[/USER] I would not travel that far the same day–nearby hotel and tv for a least one night would be my recommendation. If you have surgery on a Monday or Friday your friend should be good to stay two nights. (I’d go for Monday since the doctor would be reachable the next day if a problem). Also no one else has said the gym would be OK in that short of time. I’ve been told 6 weeks before lifting weight or yoga.

[Tino_7]

quote WasInTN:

Post-Op Recovery: What to Expect

I have something to say since I went through IH surgery in PA with Dr. Goodyear and stayed in the hotel for 4 days. BTW I flew from KY to PA and back with family (2 kids and wife). Here we go.

I posted “POST SURGERY THOUGHTS” on this board which Dr. Towfigh put on top of the discussions (thanks to her). Do read it. You will NOT become a superman within 6 months – no, there is superman only in cartoons and movies.

1. I returned to work after 2 weeks and yes I am in desk job – software development. BUT I got up every one hour and walked around. It was a weak and slow walk but no matter GET UP EVERY ONE HOUR and walk around – that’s what Dr. Goodyear told me. The day after surgery onwards, the advice given to me was “Keep walking” and I kept walking till legs ached. So I went to work in 2 weeks BUT my advice is to wait 3 WEEKS. So you feel much better. But up to 6-8 weeks, depending on what Dr. Ramshaw says you should keep walking so the mesh will jell better with your tissue.

2. for 30 minute gentle yoga you will need to wait 6 weeks and depending on how good the tissue heals. Surgical cut and tissue heal differently in each person. It can take up to 8 weeks. My suggestion – 8 weeks till you are able to jog on the roads. If you are able to jog and walk briskly on the roads THEN ONLY attempt the yoga bending and all. Yes I saw you said the word “Gentle.” But for God’s sake remember you are going to have surgery. So give some respect to the surgical cut and be careful. You never know what/how internal tissues react with your “GENTLE” yoga. Listen to your body and give it time to heal. You have nothing to lose. 2 weeks POST SURGERY IS ***NOT*** the time to do exercise and diet even if you are an Olympic Gold Medalist and are in twenties. They can wait. Let the body come to terms with the surgery and heal itself. Yes, it takes time.

3.I have done the post surgery check up by Dr. Goodyear. YES IT IS VERY VERY IMPORTANT. I had surgery Thursday and travelled back to KY on Monday. Dr. Goodyear gave me OK on Monday to go home. Surgeon had better clear you before you travel. It is better to spend $200 on hotel for 5 days than travel next day or later and spend 20 days in ER. What do you think? I heard Ramshaw is a great surgeon. Listen to him. He knows the best time for you to travel. Some can travel earlier, some later and some at some other time. Again each case is different depending on age, past problems blah blah. No two people recover the same way. Each of the X billion people on earth are created randomly. Wish I have the algorithm God uses to create this big random numbers. Ha.

This is eye-opening. Spoke with Dr Grischkan who said I can get on the road (someone else driving) an hour after surgery, which is only 25 minutes. I have a 9-hr drive from Cleveland. He said I’d be doing great in 2 days and that some of his patients (weight lifters) are back in the gym pumping iron in 3-4 days.

I had an IH repair (mesh, open surgery) years ago and it took a few weeks to bounce back, with first 4-5 days being pretty painful getting out of bed.

You didn’t travel for 5 days after surgery?

I don’t relish the thought of getting in a car an hour after surgery and driving back 9 hrs with ice packs. And since my wife cannot get off work (nor can she drive 9 hrs for health reasons), I’ll need a friend to drive me, but he can’t take off more than 2 days of work.

[saro]

quote drtowfigh:

Biologic mesh has a role, but not typically for recurrent hernias. I used to use them for some patients at risk for mesh-rated allergy or chronic pain who couldn’t be closed with just non-mesh repair. I’ve moved to the hybrid meshes.

good day. A recent text by Campanelli and other Italian Authors on biological prostheses, among other things, maintains that, although it offers advantages compared to other prostheses, it would have a considerable recurrence index.
My question to the forum doctors is typically from patient to doctor: in a patient, as drtowfigh cites, that cannot be repaired without a mesh, does the organic prosthesis give less recurrences than prosthetic repair?
The reasoning is as follows: having to risk recurrence anyway, the patient could opt for an intervention without mesh rather than introduce a biological mesh, where the risk margin is superimposable in both interventions

[tenreasy]

quote tenreasy:

2 days after robotic laparoscopic inguinal (left) mesh operation. Chicago. I am 57 male in good health. So far so good. Minimal pain – only need to take Tylenol. Taking walks really helps.

2 weeks post surgery. Pretty much back to normal. No pain. During the 2 weeks I only had some minor pain the first week and only needed Tylenol. Cleared to run and exercise.

[tenreasy]

2 days after robotic laparoscopic inguinal (left) mesh operation. Chicago. I am 57 male in good health. So far so good. Minimal pain – only need to take Tylenol. Taking walks really helps.

[dog]

Dear jeffmensch we have a great discussions about it here https://www.herniatalk.com/8199-desarda-technique

[dog]

quote drtowfigh:

Biologic mesh has a role, but not typically for recurrent hernias. I used to use them for some patients at risk for mesh-rated allergy or chronic pain who couldn’t be closed with just non-mesh repair. I’ve moved to the hybrid meshes.

Thank you a lot dear Dr !

[drtowfigh]

Biologic mesh has a role, but not typically for recurrent hernias. I used to use them for some patients at risk for mesh-rated allergy or chronic pain who couldn’t be closed with just non-mesh repair. I’ve moved to the hybrid meshes.

[dog]

quote jeffmensch:

What is people’s opinion about Mesh/Non-Mesh procedures to repair RECURRENT inguinal hernia; I had a J & J ETHICON PROLENE HERNIA SYSTEM had for my Hernia surgery in March 2008. It is now RECURRENT and my CT Scan shows I need surgery and may have a SECOND Hernia; I have read HORRIBLE issues with Mesh including the Bard 3dMax that my Surgeon recommends; I am SCARED; I have read about the Shouldice, McVay Repair, Bassini Repair:, and Desarda Repair. Does ANYOne have IDEAS, EXPERIENCE, SUGGESTIONs? Thanks, Jeff

I am wondering if it can be done with Biological mesh ?

[drtowfigh]

Let’s have you start a new post for this important question.

[jeffmensch]

What is people’s opinion about Mesh/Non-Mesh procedures to repair RECURRENT inguinal hernia; I had a J & J ETHICON PROLENE HERNIA SYSTEM had for my Hernia surgery in March 2008. It is now RECURRENT and my CT Scan shows I need surgery and may have a SECOND Hernia; I have read HORRIBLE issues with Mesh including the Bard 3dMax that my Surgeon recommends; I am SCARED; I have read about the Shouldice, McVay Repair, Bassini Repair:, and Desarda Repair. Does ANYOne have IDEAS, EXPERIENCE, SUGGESTIONs? Thanks, Jeff

[drtowfigh]

The recovery from open non-mesh/tissue repair is on average longer than that with “tension-free” mesh repair, although complications from mesh have been encompassing most of the complaints posted on the internet. One of the reasons why mesh repair gained favor in the 70s over tissue repair was exactly for this reason.

Now, you should not be in so much pain many months after your operation. The reasons for pain may be many. From a tissue repair, the most common reason for pain is that it is now a relatively tight area as compared to prior to the operation. So, imagine wearing a tight pair of jeans. That can be uncomfortable. You mentioned your hernia was larger than average. After your hernia repair, since there is no mesh there, your natural tissue will often stretch out in the area to accommodate for the tension in the region. It may take at least a year to notice appreciable stretching.

The risk with a tight repair is that it will not stretch out enough for you to remain pain free, and if you fall, you are at risk of tearing the repair. That implies another repair, with mesh, and then you submit yourself to possibly recurrent issues in the area. This is why I feel that the decision for a non-mesh/tissue repair must be tailored to the needs and lifestyle and risk factors of the patient.

In short, if you just have pain in the area, and your doctors have deemed there is no neuropathic (nerve-related) component to it and you have not torn the repair, then most likely it is because of a relative tightness in the area. In my practice, I would not limit your activities. If you tear it, such as with a fall or other reason, it was inevitable and not necessarily related to any one specific movement. Remaining fit and being in good physical shape and fit can help protect from a tear. Also, slow stretching such as Pilates or some Yoga, can help.

[Hines]

Hello I had an inguinal hernia surgery performed December 13 2016, and as of today March 6 2016, its been nearly three months. It was the old method of open suture hernia repair, and it was larger then average. I had classic healing symptoms, and besides some problems pushing out ejaculate, all the doctors Ive seen, and have had an ultrasound done as well, say I’m healing well. Ive been doing cardio on an elliptical for nearly a month now with no problems. Ive been cleared to lift 40 pounds by my regular doctor. MY surgeon only saw me once at three weeks to examine me i would have gone back again to see him but he is far away. Two different regular doctors have examined me and say I;m feeling fine. I have had no medium to even low amounts of pain in the area for a while now. The area immediately above the incision is a little tender when i move the skin around in an upwards position. I do get minor little aches in the area a couple times a day, , but its not even real pain. Anyways my question is, I have a job offer and need to get back to work, but its a physical job involving a lot of walking. I could be walking on ice covered ground for another month, and then from then on often on muddy ground. I do a lot of walking on my job, so the potential for falling is high. I’d fall , softly, moderately or hard hard once a month I would imagine. My regular doctor, who is just one opinion, told me that i should wait longer before trying such a such a job, he suggested waiting until like june which is 5.5 months after my surgery was performed. I agree that falling puts a lot of force on this area and could re-injure it, WHICH CANNOT HAPPEN due to financial reasons for a while (hopefully not ever). So is his timeline accurate, or can others weigh in? Thanks…

[dand]

Post-Op Recovery: What to Expect

Make sure to read my post. http://www.herniatalk.com/hernia-discussion/1432-robotic-inguinal-hernia-surgery-fantastic-post-op.html
I actually worked from home at a computer for 4 hours same day of surgery. Still have not had to take any pain meds & it is 3.5 weeks post surgery. Have been walking on treadmill… it seems to make me even feel better.
I have come to conclusion that every case is different & the skill of surgeon is an important factor on post op pain. The progrip mesh that did not need tacks or sutures may also have been a factor in minimal post op soreness. I am following surgeons instructions & not lifting anything over 15lbs but everything else seems to be back to pre surgery condition& I do not have the hernia.

[WasInTN]

Post-Op Recovery: What to Expect

Every surgeon has to record the surgery and put in archive as what is called “Surgery report.” Be sure to ask for a copy after surgery is done and it should contain everything about how the surgery was done in minute details including the mesh used, blood lost etc.. I am not sure if it contains “Everything” the surgeon did and if he screwed up anything but usually it has details of what mesh was put in and how everything went.

As I said time and again, no question is silly to ask. If you do not ask you won’t get any answers. Write your questions on paper and take them to surgeon and he will (have to) answer them before you are wheeled into surgery. You can even ask what kind of anesthesia will be given and how long you will be knocked out, if you should eat/not eat before and after surgery. In short you can ask anything and everything about surgery and possible problems etc. And be ready to walk away from that surgeon if he cannot provide answers right then and there. You should get answer in the exam room not after he leaves room and googles and comes back. If he tells he does not really know the type of mesh or who makes the mesh and where it is made “surgery ready,” you have a red flag to walk away.

Yes also ask if you can talk to any of his patients who had this kind of surgery. Is the surgeon a “general surgeon” or specialist in hernias? How many hernia surgeries, in particular the IH surgeries, did the surgeon do in the last 3 months?

When I asked Dr. Goodyear his answers was “I do these surgeries daily two or three.:” Even after meeting Dr. G and asking all questions, 20 min before the surgery I asked the hospital nurse how many of these surgeries Dr. G does in that PA hospital, she said “oh, so many, we do not even count.” Look for a IH surgeon than settle for a general surgeon who claims he knows how to do it.

It is like taking your car to meineke repair shop for major engine repair than taking it to the Honda Engine specialist. Yes the specialist will charge more money and will take more time but you have the assurance of the Honda brand and the warranty. I am *not* saying that Meineke is bad but if you feel that assurance with Meineke, go ahead with them. Having said this, yes even Honda dealership can screw up things sometimes. But we have to do our homework before we open our pants and let the surgeon cut the sensitive parts. Unfortunately IH surgery is not like any surgery on your little finger to let go if things go wrong later.

Be well, do your homework, choose a good surgeon and be happy. If you do not know how to choose, watch the Indiana Jones movie on how to choose the correct cup to drink the holy grail and get the compliment – you have chosen wisely. 🙂 All the best and Godspeed!

[Beenthere]

Post-Op Recovery: What to Expect

I forgot to mention in my response about my first surgery. My problems started in recovery and it was very slow recovery with pain until about 7 weeks post surgery. At this time it went south big time. I was in extreme pain and had a hard time walking. The doctors at my quote world class hospital had no answers but a lot of different treatments with no imaging done to find out what was wrong. This Dr. who did my first surgery is now stating he is an hernia expert, funny that is what was said when he did mine only to find out he had not done a hernia surgery in over 15 months during my consults but somehow I was told he did them all the time with excellent results.

This is not typical and most patients never go through this.

Research and ask as many questions as possible, trust but verify and go with your gut or sixth sense. My gut and sixth sense told me something was not right with my first Dr. but every medical professional told me how great he was and my hernia was getting painful and was in a place if I got in a car accident I was concerned with additional damage. Ask to review your medical records before surgery to verify that your history is accurate and complete plus get a copy afterward to make sure your records are accurate. I was shocked to find that no information were in my records regarding recommended treatment, about type of surgery recommended and why this type is recommended, type of hernia, location of hernia, size of hernia, reducible,notes on pain or any notes on my questions and agreed treatment plan- like type of mesh to be used or how does the dr. handle the 3 main nerves. There were no notes about the physical exams or findings. I sound like a broken record but read Unaccountable about your medical care, doctors and hospitals before surgery.

If you go with Ramshaw or Goodyear you will be in good hands.

Good luck.

[Beenthere]

Post-Op Recovery: What to Expect

I forgot to mention in my response about my first surgery. My problems started in recovery and it was very slow recovery with pain until about 7 weeks post surgery. At this time it went south big time. I was in extreme pain and had a hard time walking. The doctors at my quote world class hospital had no answers but a lot of different treatments with no imaging done to find out what was wrong. This Dr. who did my first surgery is now stating he is an hernia expert, funny that is what was said when he did mine only to find out he had not done a hernia surgery in over 15 months during my consults but somehow I was told he did them all the time with excellent results.

This is not typical and most patients never go through this.

Research and ask as many questions as possible, trust but verify and go with your gut or sixth sense. My gut and sixth sense told me something was not right with my first Dr. but every medical professional told me how great he was and my hernia was getting painful and was in a place if I got in a car accident I was concerned with additional damage. Ask to review your medical records before surgery to verify that your history is accurate and complete plus get a copy afterward to make sure your records are accurate. I was shocked to find that no information were in my records regarding recommended treatment, about type of surgery recommended and why this type is recommended, type of hernia, location of hernia, size of hernia, reducible,notes on pain or any notes on my questions and agreed treatment plan- like type of mesh to be used or how does the dr. handle the 3 main nerves. There were no notes about the physical exams or findings. I sound like a broken record but read Unaccountable about your medical care, doctors and hospitals before surgery.

If you go with Ramshaw or Goodyear you will be in good hands.

Good luck.

[drtowfigh]

Post-Op Recovery: What to Expect

Thank you all for your contribution. Great info and discussion. I’m moving this post up to the top.