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I continue to decline where abdominal mesh is – haven’t had a bm in 9 days; used an enema and two balls came out. I know mesh removal is necessary

– the mesh log is part of your medical chart. You should have access to it.
– CT can provide good information regarding hernia, mesh, etc.
– removal is dependent on placement of mesh, prior surgery, etc.

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Post op

Allow about 6 weeks. If pain not better, have it re-evaluated. Also, make sure a recurrence of your femoral hernia was not missed.

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Mesh infection: Does it all need to come out?

That’s a very long question.
It’s answered in detail in our recent book, The Manual of Groin Pain. You can buy the individual chapter on this.
Typically, it includes redness over the mesh area, drainage of fluid usually pus, fevers, fatigue, maybe joint pain.

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I continue to decline where abdominal mesh is – haven’t had a bm in 9 days; used an enema and two balls came out. I know mesh removal is necessary

Not sure if the mesh was placed inside the abdomen. You can find that out from your operative report. Otherwise, the mesh should not affect intestines.
Also, it is not common for mesh to cause true constipation. Pain medication can cause that. A bowel regimen to treat constipation is necessary.

What kind of hernia? What brand of mesh? What technique for repair?

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Need help in Austin, TX

Elvgrngrl:
The area of your picture is the same area as an inguinal hernia
In San Antonio:
– Dr Kent Van Sickle
– Dr Morris Franklin or his associate

Or look up Hernia Specialist on the Americas Hernia Society:
http://Www.AmericanHerniaSociety.org

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Hidden Hernia? Can scans be read if emailed?

There are no hernias that naturally occur exactly at that spot. A hernia specialist can determine if you are having referred pain from a nearby hernia. Most hernias do increase in size with time

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Hernia diagnosis without imaging

That’s a difficult quesrion to answer.

Can a femoral hernia be diagnosed without imaging? Yes.

Are most femoral hernias diagnosed without imaging? No.

Femoral hernias are usually small and many are not detected on examination. But if it is diagnosed in exam, it can be correct. There are rare problems that can be misdiagnosed as a femoral hernias. Also, sometimes a low lying inguinal hernia can be misdiagnosed as a femoral hernia.

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Hernia that didn’t completely reduce

Your GP’s statement is correct.

There is a spectrum. Your symptoms are much more important in determining need for hernia repair.

Hernias that are partially reducible may or may not strangulate. There is no strong evidence to show that such hernias lead to strangulation, which is a surgical emergency, especially if the content includes intestine.

Acutely incarcerated hernias that are painful and fully irreducible are considered higher risk for strangulation.

Hope that helps.

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Hidden hernia, undiagnosed, very frustrated

MRI anterior pelvis, no contrast, with valsalva (bear down views), with images in all 3 planes

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Hidden Hernia? Can scans be read if emailed?

Michigan does not have a lot of hernia specialists. Please see Dr Amir Ghaferi at University of Michigan. He may be able to help you. There are no hernias in the area you pointed but you should be evaluated for one just above the belly button

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Incisional Hernia progressing to constipation, nausea and severe bloating

Sounds to me like a trocar site incisional hernia. It can be fixed.

The laparoscopic instrumentation is placed in that region so that the appendix can be reached. Usually we work on the opposite quadrant as the source of the disease.

Mr enterography is not indicated for hernia diagnosis and the abdominal wall is often not clear on those.

A simple CT scan should show this. If not, it should be done with valsalva.

A good ultrasonographer can also diagnose this.

You need to be seen by a general surgeon or hernia specialist. Where do you live?

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Swelling below where inguinal hernia surgery was performed

It’s called a healing ridge. Normal for open surgery. Goes away within 4-6 weeks.

Followup with your surgeon to confirm this.

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Hidden Hernia? Can scans be read if emailed?

Attach a picture of the area of your symptoms.

I provide online consultations. Can find information on my website http://www.beverlyhillsherniacenter.com

Alternatively, where do you live? Perhaps can be examined in person by a specialist.

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Need help in Austin, TX

1. Look up Spigelian Hernia and see if you relate
2. Attach a picture of where the pain/pinching is
3. You may have to travel to get to a specialist. Not aware of any in Austin.

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Post op

Very good to move around after hernia repair.
Did you have mesh implanted? What were your symptoms prior to surgery?
Recovery after open repair on both sides is longer than when it’s done individually.

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Pain resolution

Usually, you should feel a difference in postoperative pain vs preoperative pain. That means, the quality of the pain after surgery should be different than the pain prior to the operation.
SI joint pain is usually lower back and can radiate to the front. and groin.
There are a wide variety of reasons for groin pain that spans many organ systems and specialties. We just published a whole book on this. If the hernia repair does not address the groin pain, then once the surgical pain is resolved and healed, it’s time to look at other reasons for the groin pain.

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Dr. Towfigh – Neurectomy

I completely understand. Some pain and hernia-related complications are best treated surgically but others that are not surgical are best treated with tincture of time and doing more procedures only adds to the risk of more complications.
Follow Dr Chen’s recommendations. He is very experienced and intelligent in this realm.

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Muscle atrophy

Yes. Fristrating for the patient who has had imaging after imaging which was misread for years. And frustrating for me as the surgeon taking care of those patients too, as I could have helped them years earlier.
This is why I began publishing and presenting my data to radiologists.
I offer an online consultation service and can help read your CDs of the images to help with this issue. Can find this service on my website http://www.beverlyhillsherniacenter.com

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Muscle atrophy

In our study, about 3 out of 4 films were misread.

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Dr. Towfigh – Neurectomy

Also, it seems to me you are having way too many operations back-to-back.

Time can be a remarkable healer.