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Recurring L4/L5 hernia after abdonimal hernia with mesh
Hi all,
My name is Nick and I’m now 35 years old.
In October 2018, I had an abdominal wall repair surgery for multiple bulges around the belly button area.
This surgery was done with mesh, and fortunately so far I had no issues around the belly area.However, in June 2019 I started getting a bit more stiff and found it harder to put on socks and get into the car.
Some time later, I started getting pain whilst hiking and playing squash, including numbness in the upper right leg.
After GP and physio visits, an MRI scan was made and the conclusion was a minor bulge around L5/S1 and a bigger bulge around L4/L5.Meanwhile the pain got worse, standing became difficult, and I could only do short walks.
After speaking with a neurosurgeon, the conclusion was that I had to go in for a discectomy to remove the hernia and free the nerve.
The operation was done in October 2019 and after a normal recovery I was able to walk pain-free for about 45 mins and the numbness in my foot and sciatica had almost disappeared.Unfortunately, after about 3 weeks, I slowly started getting more pain and starting feeling the same as before surgery.
Another MRI scan and X-ray were taken and the conclusion was a recurring hernia of 8mm by 3mm AP, again pressing on the nerve to the right leg.
The surgeon now told me he can do the same surgery again or do a spinal fusion surgery.Up until yesterday I didn’t seem to be able to figure out the cause of the L4/L5 hernia.
But suddenly after some Google searching, I found out that there could be a connection between the mesh being placed and my back problems.
My body might no longer wanting to be able to use my core muscles and compensates this with extra/different pressure on my back.The physio in the past already concluded I need to strengthen my core and my body has a bit of an imbalance.
The next steps are to go to the physio again, but I also have appointments with 2 different neurosurgeons for a second opinion.I’d like to know if my own conclusion makes sense and if others have similar experiences.
Given my relatively young age, a height of 191cm and 95kg, I think a fusion is not a good solution. However doing another hernia repair is probably also not going to help unless I get rid of the root cause. -
4 Replies
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Thanks for your thoughts. Yes, it was a bit of a long shot perhaps.
As for my abdominal wall, the mesh seems to have solved any issues and there are no more bulges.
And most of my pain is in my right leg, which went away 2 weeks after my L4/L5 surgery.
Looking at some scientific research that was done, hernias can actually return within days of surgery. That sort of feels like a relief, knowing I’m not the only one with this issue. Best shot is to go for another surgery I think. But will speak to the neurologist on Wednesday, see what he says. -
We have never shown a correlation between inguinal hernia repair and spinal instability. Hernias have been repaired for centuries so any correlation would have been determined.
ia it possible you have two problems? L4-5 and L5-S1 problems do not manifest as groin pain, rather all is below the groin crease. Perhaps you have an inguinal hernia recurrence that is missed?
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quote Good intentions:Do you know if a preventive neurectomy was done at the same time as the mesh placement? It’s not recommended, generally, but, apparently, quite a few surgeons do it anyway. Maybe to delay the onset of pain. Somebody recently posted about muscle imbalance and problems after neurectomy.
[USER=”3027″]Julian[/USER] [USER=”3088″]nickpma[/USER]
https://www.herniatalk.com/14029-laparoscopic-neurectomy-and-internal-external-obliques
As far as I know, this wasn’t done.
But I have send an email today to the surgeon responsible for the mesh placement to get a surgery report. Perhaps that can tell me more… -
quote nickpma:In October 2018, I had an abdominal wall repair surgery for multiple bulges around the belly button area.
This surgery was done with mesh, and fortunately so far I had no issues around the belly area.Do you know if a preventive neurectomy was done at the same time as the mesh placement? It’s not recommended, generally, but, apparently, quite a few surgeons do it anyway. Maybe to delay the onset of pain. Somebody recently posted about muscle imbalance and problems after neurectomy.
[USER=”3027″]Julian[/USER] [USER=”3088″]nickpma[/USER]
https://www.herniatalk.com/14029-laparoscopic-neurectomy-and-internal-external-obliques
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