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Thank you for your continued efforts in providing this most valuable resource!

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Thank you for your continued efforts in providing this most valuable resource!

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[USER=”2029″]Good intentions[/USER] i have the same thing going on with my abdomen (round/hard) since the surgery. Any idea of the cause? I thought it was just because I haven’t worked my abs in 6 months.

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[USER=”2051″]ajm222[/USER] it’s about perspective I guess. If it were me, and I was having a little pain like you are at this point, I most likely would not do it. Looks like a very involved procedure from what I see on this form. If I am feeling the way I currently do two years out, the mesh is definitely coming out.

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[USER=”935″]drtowfigh[/USER] that’s a great way of describing it-Tightness
other than time, are there any recommendations to achieve a looser feeling? This also probably explains why my mid-section feels a bit sore with increased activity. Thank you very much for your thoughts.

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[USER=”935″]drtowfigh[/USER] Thank you. Yes, laparoscopic repair both sides (right was direct and left was indirect hernia) with 3 x 6 mesh each side and TAPP method and umbilical repair (no mesh).

My problem remains the left and right inguinal areas get sore/stiff with a lot of activity. Rest gets it better. Am able to do more before those sides get sore and stiff, but still present.

also, my main issues always are more left side. On that side, I often can feel something deep down if I laugh, sit, etc. that almost feels like a muscle pull. Not painful, more uncomfortable, but also still present after 6 months.

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Thanks. Yes, I enjoy the gym about 4 days a week. Didn’t do anything for about three months after the surgery. This was psychologically not good for for me. When my doctor cleared me, first I started with physical therapy just to see what I could and could not do under careful supervision. Slowly I have been acclimating myself back into the gym. Doing weights, but on the machines and nothing crazy. Like 35 pounds on each exercise. As for cardio, just doing brisk walking at a very slight incline for about 20 minutes or stationary bike with a little resistance for about 20 minutes.
The weird thing is during my exercise routine, I usually feel no pain and feel pretty good. It is only Afterwords for the rest of the day if I have to be on my feet and active is when the groin starts to feel somewhat fatigued and a little sore in those upper areas. Rest and a good nights sleep makes it feel fine the next day, and then the process begins again. That is where I am at this point in my recovery.

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[USER=”2051″]ajm222[/USER] [USER=”2029″]Good intentions[/USER] thanks very much for your thoughts on the subject. I saw for the first time this weekend being exactly 6 months in that I was able to get through a workout and do some errands and entertain some guests at my home afterwards and I did not feel as sore as it used to doing continued activities such as this. I will take that as progress. Based on your experience of two years, I guess at the six month point it is still too premature to explore mesh removal since this seems to be a pretty complex procedure.

Reading a lot of the posts on this forum, luckily, I do not have debilitating type pain that many members on this board have due to the mesh. I am somewhat of a “Tweener“ when it comes to discomfort.

Thanks for the encouragement

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[USER=”2580″]DrBrown[/USER] Thanks. When I’m active, there is discomfort towards the top left and right sides of my groin and also my stomach near belly button area still gets a little sore. If I apply some pressure on those points, I definitely can feel some soreness and tenderness. Not terrible pain, but not comfortable and feels a little weak as well.

I can do treadmill, etc, but if I have to do an errand right after I can feel some soreness when walking.

I see some progress, but just don’t understand how some people can “heal” in a couple of weeks, and some, like me, are 6 months in and still feel off.

just not sure if my surgeon is stringing this along, or there is actually some empirical evidence that shows that there is a chance of a good recovery after this long

I find it strange that he will not order MRI or ultrasound to help figure it out. he seems very confident that it will get better and deems the imaging unnecessary and says the images won’t help him or show anything.

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[USER=”2580″]DrBrown[/USER] Thank you. I did run by your suggestions of injections by my doctor. He keeps telling me to give it time.

I just don’t know how more time will help at this point. We will see I guess.

thanks again to all.

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Thanks for your reply. Yes, it was done laparoscopically. I originally went in for a right direct hernia and the doctor felt during the physical exam a little umbilical hernia that we decided he would take care of when he was operating. The left indirect one was discovered during the procedure and I authorized the doctor to correct it if he found one while operating (my idea before I went in…wish I kept my mouth shut and just did the right)

Murphy’s Law: the left side has always given me problems, the right, not so much post-op

you are absolutely correct in stating that the surgery and the outcome was far worse. I had no symptoms other than a little bulge on the right side and no discomfort whatsoever. Wish I would’ve never done the procedure.

thanks for your explanation on the umbilical area. That does make sense. I am just concerned, because that never really gave me a problem, but now that I was cleared for activity a few months ago, the soreness there seems to have increased whereas there was really nothing before that I felt except when I used my abdominal for things like getting in and out of bed.

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[USER=”2580″]DrBrown[/USER] Thank you. He did an exam. Also examined both sides of groin and wasn’t concerned. I’ve explained that all areas are sore, especially given increased activity, and he just says everything feels completely in place from the surgery. I’ve asked for imaging, and he will not order it. Says it is unnecessary and “time is on my side“. I am almost 6 months into this, and just do not see how that can be normal. Surgeon is in his late 60s (which is why I went to him, as he’s a very seasoned vet). He seems very confident and is very conservative.

I did request my operative notes like many on this board suggest, and it said that my right side was a direct hernia, left side was an indirect hernia and umbilical was “incidental“. Prolene mesh 3 x 6 used on both inguinal hernias.

at this point, I just do not see how “time“ is going to somehow make the discomfort magically go away one day to a point where I feel like my normal self again.

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Thanks for your information. Really appreciate it. Glad you recovered well. Hoping that magical 6 month benchmark kicks in for me too.

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Thanks, Dr. Towfigh.
The discomfort is mid-abdomen to the belly button. Not sure that’s the repair site?

normally, I would just feel it getting in and out of bed. This week felt it sitting up and got kind of sore.

Nothing that interferes with my life, but just weird that all of the sudden it became noticeable much more so than usual.

Thanks for your insight!

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I’m embarrassed to say that I do not have any more information than that.

The surgeon who handled it is a very accomplished guy and the head of surgery at a big hospital and I considered myself lucky that he was even handling such a “routine“ procedure.

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Yes Dr Brown. Mesh was used.

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Thank you, sir!

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Thanks again. That gives me some hope. I am able to function with it, and it is not debilitating, just a little depressing.
Is there any sort of imaging test that could give an accurate diagnosis of scarring around the mesh, or a recurrent hernia?

Thanks for your time!

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Thanks, Dr. Brown.

Is there any specific imaging test(s) that you think might be beneficial in a case such as mine?

If it is a scarring issue, have you seen it resolve in a patient without intervention such as injections, such that the patient is almost 100% in time?

Thanks as always for your support and guidance.

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Thank you for the reply

also, after about 1 hour of standing/walking, the discomfort creeps up and groin feels “fatigued”. Can’t seem to get past that, though I seem to go longer every week or so.

Any ideas?