Good intentions

“Chronic pain” is a term that didn’t really exist for hernia repair until mesh was introduced. So I don’t know about its association with any of the pure tissue methods.

It looks like your meeting with the Houston surgeon actually went very well. I don’t see the horrible manner described that you mentioned. And I don’t think that any doctor…[Read more]

You could just try to push through his bad manners and contact him again. You might end up surprised. At least ask him if he knows the difference between the modified Bassini and the original Bassini. You could also pose the question to his staff and ask if they can relay a reply back to you. I always tell people to write their questions down…[Read more]

Dr. Kang has written about the Bassini and the “modified” Bassini procedures. His impression was that the modification actually made the results worse and that’s aprt of what gave pure tissue repairs a bad reputation. It was, apparently, a simplified version, not taking the extra care needed to get a good result. Remember, hernia repair is a…[Read more]

The damage that the mesh does can never be undone. The tissue that is left behind when the mesh is tediously peeled back out is not the virgin tissue that was there before the mesh was implanted. There is a new layer of “scar” tissue, thicker and stiffer than what was there before. That was my point.

Here is a link to Dr. Kang’s hospital. There are testimonials and maybe more of the information that you’re looking for.

http://www.gibbeum.com/main/main.html

You have probably read about Peter C’s bad result from Dr. Brown’s attempt to fix his problems from prior surgeries. But you might also read dog’s account, and others, of Dr. Brown’s…[Read more]

Here is a good place to get a fourth opinion. Their focus is on athletes and core injuries, the professionals go here. Free consultations.

https://vincerainstitute.com/

The gastro surgeon makes the most sense. One thing that you should consider is what, exactly, any surgery would be. What would the surgeon do to fix your problem, and what unintended consequences might you suffer? Surgery is very specific to the problem being addressed, and, ironically, incisional hernias are a very significant problem, after…[Read more]

Dr. Todd Heniford is in North Carolina if you can go there, link below. He seems very conscientious and aware of the problems with mesh. You’re probably going to get mesh unless you travel so make sure you choose a surgeon who is aware of the issues and working to deal with them. Dr. Heniford might even do non-mesh procedures, I would be…[Read more]

There are insidious side effects to the mesh pain. You might eventually realize that you’ve been getting weaker and less healthy because you’ve been less active, to avoid the pain. If you try to become more active to get your overall fitness back you might find that the pain grows with the activity level. That is the bind that causes people to…[Read more]

Dr. Brown is down in California.

No Mesh Hernia Repair

@drbrown

The surgeons at OHSU are known for their expertise in hernia repair also. In Portland. They have a very long waiting list though.

Dr. Towfigh does remote consultations and might know someone in your area.

https://twitter.com/herniadoc?lang=en

Dr. Shirin Towfigh
@Herniadoc
Not near? No problem.

I offer “Online Consultation” to those who cannot physically see me for surgical consultation. I’ll review your history, images, & help w/ a diagnosis & plan.

Contact my offic…[Read more]

Your surgeon was right about the timing, in the early days you just can’t tell what the final result will be. Make sure that you stay active, walking and moving, but nothing extreme, so that things can settle in to the places that they’ll be in for your normal life.

I had odd sensations that only resolved after about a month, when I was…[Read more]

Hello star. Dr. Towfigh is well-known for her methods of diagnosing hernias using imaging. If you read through the many posts on the forum you’ll probably find a wide variety of symptoms from hernias. It seems like you’ve followed the normal path of feeling pain, seeking help, and getting a proper diagnosis. Are you wondering if you can avoid…[Read more]

Peter C makes a good point about Dr. Muschaweck’s thought’s on neurectomy. He jogged my memory about her reply to my query about mesh problems. Actually, her reply is why I decided she would not be a good option for my problem, I pasted it below. I could tell just by the way the mesh felt inside me that my problem was not due to a specific neve…[Read more]

I would start with a consultation with Dr. Muschaweck if you can arrange it. Even if you choose a different option for surgery, the knowledge that you’ll gain about your condition will probably be very helpful. I went through a similar thought process as you, collecting information and considering options around the world. I had considered Dr.…[Read more]