[Casey]

Right Inguinal Hernia Pain five years post-op!!

Any chance they can do it 1st the same time? I have two incisions from them doing the mesh removal as one and the repair on the other side….

Have you talked to them At all about seeing if they can do any nerve repairs while they are in there…are if that would help your pain in the meantime? Hang in there and know you are not alone!

[Casey]

Right Inguinal Hernia Pain five years post-op!!

I am Sorry to hear of your ongoing pain. It is so tough to know what to do and to find doctors who can tell you what to do.

2 weeks ago I had my mesh removed from an open central hernia repair and a mesh plug removed from an inguinal hernia repair. The surgeon also removed 3 nerves in the area. 2 weeks later I am pain free on that side after 3 years of pain and repairs! I was almost pain free from the moment I woke up. The down side is that he repaired the original hernias using healthy tissue but the chance of recurrence is now much higher. I am working on losing weight and will really be careful with exercising and lifting anything. But for now I am hopeful! (the down side is I had a repair done on the other side of a new hernia at the same time and that side is now painful but hopefully it is just post surgery pain that will go away as it is supposed to this time!)

Where are you located?

[Casey]

Chronic pain and recurring Hernias

I finally had surgery!!! On my left side that has caused all the pain they removed all the old mesh and closed up the hernia using healthy tissue in that area. He also did a nervectomy on two other nerves in that area. So far that side has been mostly pain free since surgery! He then repaired the new hernia on the right side that I guess was pretty bad. He used mesh for that side. I am experiencing a LOT of post up pain in that side..but it has only been two days. I was in hospital for 2 nights and just came home today. I am using a walker and that has helped a LOT as well as a taller toilet seat with bars. This is a must for anyone who has abdominal surgery. Now I am just laying in our couch and will do everything I can to heal this time around! Hopefully this is the end of this hernia journey…but I doubt it. ::-) but at least I know that awful mesh is out of me!

[Casey]

Chronic pain and recurring Hernias

Here is my latest update:

I saw Dr. Martindale and really liked him. He sent me for a CT scan which confirmed that I do have a new hernia on the right side, and that my mesh on the left side looks like it has adjusted a bit. He thought that it appeared to be attached slightly to my colon, but was hesitant to confirm that without being able to look at it. I have had some bowel issues and blood in my stool periodically over the last few weeks so he decided to send me in for a colonoscopy before I have surgery. I have a colonoscopy on Monday, and then will have surgery the following Tues, March 31st.

He is a bit more conservative than Rebecca Peterson in Seattle. He will do an open repair of my new right side hernia, hoping that for once, it is a typical normal repair 🙂 On the left side, he said I have two layers of mesh, one on the outside of the abdominal wall, and one inside. He is hoping that he can just remove/ repair the one on the outside as that will be much less invasive, but is prepared to go all in, if, when he gets in there, he sees that scar tissue and the lower mesh need to be removed. Depending on what the colonoscopy shows (if it shows any blockage related to the hernia mesh) He may change that plan.

I am happy to finally be getting surgery. I would love to feel like this will bring an end to things, but honestly, I will just have to see how the surgery goes.. I know being conservative and not opening me wide open and removing everything is the better route, but part of me was hoping he would just take it all out, and be able to sew me back up good as new…One can always hope!

I made a comment about being the 5% that get recurrent hernias and he laughed and said, nope…you get the joy of being the 1% who get all the complications…..at least I feel special! 🙂 I wish more surgeons let their patients know that all of this can happen. I had no idea 2 years ago that I would could be in this boat, having my 4th hernia surgery and experiencing life changing pain on a daily basis. So many times we are told the risks in a breezy “don’t worry about it” way…i was not prepared for this at all!

[Casey]

Chronic pain and recurring Hernias

For me, the nerve block did not work. Because my mesh is compromised and I have a new hernia, blocking the nerve was not taking care of the problem.

🙁

[Casey]

Chronic pain and recurring Hernias

A huge thank you for reaching out to the Dr for me. Even if it doesn’t help, it means a lot to me to feel heard! This board has been so helpful and is such a support. Just to have a place to complain and know someone “gets” it is huge! It has been a weird journey not knowing who to turn to. I have had to do so much research on my own and this sight has helped so much! I have added two pictures. The first is me 2.5 years ago at the top of Mt. St. Helens. I had pushed myself harder than ever to get fit and climb it. I found my first hernia 2 months later. The second picture was this summer. We did a family trip to Europe only 5 weeks after my last surgesurgery. I spent a lot of time sitting and watching my family…but was so happy to even be there. Over this past two years I have gained 40 pounds which I know has not helped at all. My hearts desire is to one day get back up that mountain! I haven’t given up hope yet that I can!

[Casey]

Chronic pain and recurring Hernias

Another update. I had several nerve blocks that were unsuccessful. I took Valentin for months and it did nothing but make me tired. On top of that my new hernia is getting worse. I have been waiting since January to see Dr Martindale up at ohsu who is the dept head. My appt is still not until March 5th. Last week I had day where I could bArely stand up from the pain T the sight of the new hernia but it lessened. Then today I had a horrible sharp pain that caused me to cry out and not move. I was finally able to relax and lay on the couch and the rest of the day has been ok. Painful but bearable. I am worried I can’t wait until March 5th but I don’t want to just see any surgeon after Ll I hAve been through. Any advice on how to get in sooner?I never dreamed 2 years ago my life would be such a nightmare

[Casey]

Chronic pain and recurring Hernias

I am eager to get the nerve block done in a few weeks but it will be my 2nd one so I have little faith in it working I am fairly certain it is a problem with scar tissue and mesh…but willing to try one more nerve block before taking on more surgery. The new hernia though IS causing me pain…that’s how I found it. Instead of being laid up because of my left side I am now laid up from my right side too. I am also taking gabopentin but it does not seem to be hello g with the pain it just makes me tired and drugged. Another reason I don’t think my pain is all nerve related. I never thought a hernia surgery would turn into such a nightmare!

[Casey]

Chronic pain and recurring Hernias

New update…..I finally visited the ohsu pain clinic and am trying a mix of meds and a nerve block….but before I could get the nerve block done I found out I have ANOTHER new hernia…this time on my right side. To say I am frustrated is an understatement. I do not want to undergo another surgery if I am just going to end up wth a bigger one down the road for mesh removal. My thought is to jump ahead and just get the whole mesh removal over with and repair everything at once. I obviously am going to keep her to g hernias. And the pain on my left side is still debilitating. I have an appt. To see a new surgeon at ohsu that deals with complex hernias and specializes in abdominal wall reconstruction. Hoping for an aggressive plan of action!

[Casey]

Chronic pain and recurring Hernias

Dr Peterson was great! So glad I made the trip up to see her. Am going to try some nerve injections and then if that doesn’t work we will discuss doing mesh removal. She is the only Dr I have seen that was open to that idea and willing. I did mention you and she laughed saying that she had to get on here… so I hope she does. I was really impressed with her knowledge but more by the fact she spent an hour talking with me and looking at my films.

[Casey]

Chronic pain and recurring Hernias

So, the CT scan came back not showing much. It showed that the mesh may be folded a bit, but my surgeon said that with the way he tacked it down, it could appear that way. It also showed a lot of scar tissue. His advice was to go to a pain clinic, as well as seek out a second opinion.

I went to a local hernia clinic and the lead doctor there conquered with the findings. He said that the mesh may cause the discomfort but he would hesitate to remove it as that may cause more issues. He also said it sounds like a few of the permanent sutures are causing some pain. Again though he said it would be like finding a needle in a haystack to go in and release those. He also referred me to a pain clinic.

So I have a third appt. with Dr. Rebecca Peterson up at the Univ of Wash Hernia Clinic in October. I really don’t want to travel, and she is the closest clinic I could find other than the one here in Portland (that I am not that impressed with) Even if she gives me the same diagnosis, I will feel better knowing that I have 2 separate opinions, and have done what I can that way. I will be trying the pain clinic route as well.

Is it bad that I wish there would have been a new hernia, just so I could have something fixable? 🙂

Thanks!

Anne