Katherine

I don’t know if there is a way to avoid them. I think we are born with a genetic predisposition to them. I think my primary reason for saying this is that in my “former healthy life” I knew many bodybuilders that were into lifting very, very heavy weights (like 1-2 rep max stuff). None of them I knew ever got a hernia while doing so. Some of these…[Read more]

Also – out of state is impossible – out of the country is really impossible. As much as I would like to win the lotto to take care of all my issues with the best surgeons available – if you don’t have the money, you just don’t have the money. It doesn’t grow on trees last I looked – lol.

Hi Chuck – thanks for your input. I didn’t know that about Yunis. Believe me – I understand a botched surgery. I have a rare spinal nerve condition called Tarlov Cyst Disease. Back in 2012, I elected to have surgery and selected a surgeon that was supposed to be the best in this procedure (it’s very rare and I also had a hard time getting it…[Read more]

Here are two I found in Houston, TX that can do pure tissue, no mesh… but they prefer mesh. One is Dr. Wade Rosenberg. When I saw him he told me he did a modified Bassini. The other one is Dr. Richard Andrassy. He was one of the first ones I saw and I couldn’t really get a good answer on the procedure that he used. But he prefers mesh. Was…[Read more]

Hi Chuck, I watched a video on this forum with Dr. Towfigh and Dr. Yunis – it was very informative. I do think he would be an excellent option but… what if I have complications once I return home? I won’t have easy access to help unless I fly back to Florida. That is one thing that really concerns me. I do have some type of connective tissue…[Read more]

Hi Good Intentions – Thanks so much for sending this video. I’d love to have Dr. Towfigh’s insight on what is said in the video and if she thinks females have more success (at least from what she has seen in her practice) with the MIS approach vs. the open approach.

Hi Chuck, I totally get it about the travel – but both health issues and money is involved – otherwise I wouldn’t think twice about it. I do agree that this surgery (like so many others) can ruin your life. Trust me – I’ve had one that did. So, I do not take this decision lightly or I would have already had it done locally without a second…[Read more]

Hi Watchful, yes it is Dr. Echo. I have actually seen him twice and both times he said he would cut the genital nerve branch. So I presume he cuts it in most everyone if you say it is common practice in men and I’m female. I wasn’t really clear which method he would perform – perhaps a combination of the two? He did mention the first time studying…[Read more]

Thank you, Dr. Towfigh! It if weren’t for your informative posts and this forum, I would not know the information that I do. Dr. Loor is not the one that cuts the nerve – it is another surgeon that I saw that does this (just for clarification). I just wish someone knew of a great hernia surgeon in Houston, TX. You would think with our established…[Read more]

Interesting thread. When I got my first hernia back in 1994, I was very, very healthy. Avid runner and weightlifter and loved doing just about any type of exercise. I had a pure tissue repair – no mesh. It hurt like hell for about a week, then I was back to work. It’s been a long time ago, so I can’t really remember how long it took me to go back…[Read more]

Hi Andrew1982 – I am so sorry this happened to you. You and PeterC are good examples of why I haven’t had this done. You may have read my other posts (or not), but I had surgery on a rare spinal nerve condition. The surgery was actually considered “experimental” by insurance and they denied it initially until the surgeon fought back enough they…[Read more]

Alephy, do you recall who was the poster with the issues following cutting of the nerve? When I talked to my hip surgeon, he highly recommended Dr. Echo and that’s how he came back into the picture. But I told my hip surgeon I had reservations about the cutting of the nerve and he said that Dr. Echo does everything he does during the surgery to…[Read more]

Hi Johnso,

Thank you for sending the link. I think I just need to visit Dr. Echo again for clarification. I remember him telling me that he specifically learned the Muschenek method in Germany and that he cuts that one nerve. Maybe he does both methods? He seemed knowledgeable – maybe a bit arrogant. But I find that in a lot of surgeons. I am so…[Read more]

Hi Eu, thanks for that link. As I said, I had seen him previously and he said he did the Muschenek method which involved cutting of the genitofemoral nerve – but perhaps he has changed his method since I saw him. Perhaps it’s worth another visit. I can’t really afford to travel to see a surgeon (my only options would be Dr. Brown in California or…[Read more]

Hi Alephy, I don’t know about previous issues with 3D mesh, but am hoping better hernia repairs are in our future. It sounds like doctors like Dr. Towfigh are on the forefront of helping us with things like robotic tissue repair. I still don’t like the idea of any mesh, but understand that for some people, it’s the only option. I remember when I…[Read more]

Hi Alephy,

Reabsorbable mesh. I have a nightmare story for you. During my spinal surgery, the surgeon had to do a sacral laminectomy on me. He also drilled holes in my sacrum to access the spinal nerve root cysts. I have very little posterior sacrum left. Instead of using an inert material (like titanium) that would protect what was left, he used…[Read more]