[herniacomps]

I wouldn’t say the side effects are too bad. When starting medication of course it takes time for the body to adjust but once you’re stabilized on a dose things clear up. My doc is also conservative with treatment so we keep the dosages low relative to what the daily limits are. Only take what is needed. Periodically I’ll taper down just to see where my actual baseline is in recovery. Taking meds forever is not my goal and doing so can mask your actual progress.

Typical side effects though. Sporadic drowsiness, brain fog, etc. but nothing extreme that I’ve found that outweighs the benefits I receive. It allows me to function somewhat like a human again.

[herniacomps]

My understanding, and the way it was explained to me, is that triple neurectomy is used as a catch all approach in dealing with complications and mitigating pain. Some surgeons want to do just that, leave the offending mesh, and hope you can move on through life with a numb groin. That’s what my original operating surgeon suggested and I was simply astounded that was his only offer. Others will take the mesh out and perform the triple neurectomy as a prophylactic measure to head off any possible post op nociceptive or neuropathic pain. Avoiding repeat customers, you, back in their office complaining that the surgery failed. My understanding is the risks involved with TN are things like continued or unresolved pain, testicular atrophy, abdominal distension and atrophy among others. I’d rather live for another 50 years without that. I think the best approach, and what others here seem to agree with, is to go in with the goal of removing the offending mesh and preserve all nerves if possible. I expect a surgeon to be surgical rather than having them scorch the earth so to speak.

So now I still have post op pain, but I have to view it as a win because its more manageable and less than before. I take what’s considered a low dose of gabapentin, and have just started a complementary course of duloxetine that seems to help tremendously. Despite the difficulties I’ve endured these past 2 years I think the human body is an amazing machine that will always seek to heal itself. I had a competent surgeon put everything back as close as possible to the way it’s supposed to be and now I’ll have to wait. My groin has been through 3 surgeries in my life and I’m tired of being cut up. Having pieces of me removed is traumatic. Taking more of me is just something I cant stomach.

[herniacomps]

Thanks all. Yes neurectomy. When I consulted multiple surgeons regarding removal, some of the lesser specialized ones wanted to barrel ahead with triple neurectomy and just tear everything out. Butcher me. What ended up happening was we went in with the intent to preserve all nerves if possible. The plug had no major nerve involvement but the onlay removal also required resection of the presumed ilioinguinal nerve trunk that had adhered to the mesh itself. Bad luck on how it all settled. No avoiding it. So I’ve already had what was deemed a selective neurectomy already. I continue to work with multiple specialists and manage my pain, as best as possible, through healthy life style and medication.

I’m fearful to go back in or pursue any further form of neurectomy or ablation due to the unpredictable and injurious nature of it all. Between a rock and a hard place.

[herniacomps]

@Watchful

I’m a good part of a year past removal. Doing terrible actually. Although from what I’ve gleaned from here there’s still hope that things will heal more. I’m trying to remain positive and deal with this one day at a time. I did see significant improvements after removal. Unfortunately, it seems I’ve hit a baseline where I improved after removal but not enough to get back to normal life. 24/7 pain at a lesser degree, ongoing neuropathy, inability to return to any gainful employment, pain with extended activity, pain with sitting for certain lengths of time. I’m doing my best to remain as active and healthy as possible but every day is a struggle.

Don’t want to get into too much detail regarding surgeons and procedures due to ongoing litigation but yeah, the perfix plug failed in such a way that it destroyed me.

[herniacomps]

Since the perfix plug is being discussed I’d like to chime in with some personal experience that supports the view that it is a poor option.

I was assured it was the gold standard during my initial repair and trusted the surgeon putting it in. Quick, easy, and reliable. My repair failed within 2 years and I had to have removal surgery. It was found that the plug had hardened and contracted. This allowed the original hernia defect to recur. Another aspect of the failure was that the onlay mesh (patch), in the surgical install instructions, is never specified by the manufacturer that it must be secured with sutures. My onlay mesh was simply placed on the floor of the inguinal canal and during revision was found flapping like a flag in the wind, superficial, and entwined with my ilioinguinal nerve.

The failure and subsequent removal of this poorly designed mesh has destroyed my life. Murdered me in a sense.

[herniacomps]

Hah. Yeah good luck fighting me in court with that half assed argument. Bard can SMD.

I was fine aside from discomfort and a minor hernia when I had a Perfix Plug placed in my groin. Developed disabling pain and neuropathy within a year until I had it expertly removed. While I’m left with some chronic pain and permanent nerve damage from confirmed entrapment and a subsequent neurectomy, I’m now on the mend, and doing tremendously better. A clean cut case that removal resolved my issue with no complex medical history other than the mesh. Thoroughly documented. I’m not the only one.