[lbel]

Alternatives to mesh

John, I really liked your post. I have been wondering all of the same things. I am a thin, active female and I notice the most subtle changes in my body. I have a questionable hernia at this time. MRI was negative and it was the sole reason for the MRI so radiologist was looking for a hernia. US was positive after bearing down. I felt like the bearing down was just like giving birth as they kept having me bear down harder. I think I created a hernia that day…LOL So I only want mesh in my body if I absolutely need it. I have consulted with excellent surgeons, and they all say I should have surgery. I really wish there were hernia specialists that would try other methods. Seems like surgery is the only solution. I don’t fully understand why. After a lot of reading in general about healing…most experts state that the body has a way of healing itself. Wish this were true for hernias. I would do the work as I think it would improve one’s health anyways. If you know of any hernia specialists who have alternatives to surgery I would like to consult with them prior to any surgery….
Feeling overwhelmed and scared….Linda

[lbel]

future of inguinal repair and PT

Hi, Don’t give up hope. There are ways to help your healing. Your surgery is done so now focus on healing. Try Reiki, go to see a DO (Osteopath) to work on ways to heal, try yoga. I think you can regain your physical activity. Believe that your body can heal and it will. Best of luck! Just think the hard part is behind you!

[lbel]

hernia specialist in New Hampshire

Thank you Dr. Towfigh. I had already heard back from Dr. Adrales and she wants me to go for more tests as well. She wants me to see my PCP to reassess the hernia as it is very small on exam and on the ultra sound and it shouldn’t be causing me to have the bowel and bladder issues or the hip issues. She mentioned an MRI to look at the hip. In any event my PCP will be informed of all that I have found out from you (kinds of testing for hip problem) and Dr. Adrales. My symptoms are not straight forward. (If only I had a bulge…lol) I will keep you posted and I am so thankful to have Dr. Adrales close for my surgeon!

Linda

[lbel]

hernia specialist in New Hampshire

Hi Dr. Towfigh,
I have a few new questions. I may have incorrectly sent this same note yesterday (so if this is redundant I am sorry).
I am scheduled for surgery on April 21st with Dr. Adrales for a subtle/small left inguinal hernia. She is doing a lap repair with polyester mesh. I am thin and petite. I am anxious about the surgery because my journey to figure out what was wrong took a long time and many doctors. I continue to have many questions about my hernia.

1. My original symptoms caused pain in my lower abdomen left of my bellybutton and down about an inch. My abdomen felt really strange and uncomfortable when I had to urinate or with a full bowel. (There was pressure) It also throbbed and with certain movements pinched. Sitting for prolonged times made it feel like there was pressure in the left side of the abdomen. I also felt a strange sensation that traveled down from my rib to the abdomen only on the left side.(kind of like a flutter) In addition, when walking briskly, I felt a pinch in my buttock. My confusion is that my hernia is in the groin and I never had groin pain until I had the dynamic ultrasound. After that ultrasound I continue to have groin pain. My symptoms in my abdomen and my groin come and go depending on my activity level. When I do a core strengthening exercise in which I put my feet up on a yoga ball and do a bridge it seems to activate things. If I am the slightest bit constipated, I can feel the pressure. When I keep this in check I feel great. Also, when doing the hip abduction/adduction with knee fallout, my adductor muscle that goes into the groin bothers me. So my question is, is my pain/discomfort all related to the subtle/early inguinal hernia or could there be something else in my lower left abdomen that is also causing the symptoms as well? Dr. Adrales said that she felt a mild weakness in my left inguinal ring.

2. The PT to strengthen my adductor muscle seems to have cause pain in my left hip. I have trouble sleeping on my left side. It wakes me at night and I reposition. I also, notice the pain when walking briskly and going up and down stairs. Also, the hip flexor stretch that I was doing during PT seemed to go up my buttock and into my lower back. I still have some discomfort from it. My question is, should I be evaluated for this hip pain prior to surgery? Would going to a chiropractor prior to surgery be a good thing. Could this hip pain be related to the hernia? I plan to let Dr. Adrales know about the hip pain and lower back pain as it has continued for three weeks after PT ended.

I really appreciate your expertise in regards to my questions. I have been learning so much about hernias in women but I continue to be baffled by my symptoms which makes me anxious.

Thankfully,
Linda

[lbel]

Please Help!

Hi,
I have very similar symptoms to you and a dynamic abdominal ultra sound showed an inguinal hernia. During the ultra sound they had me bear down very hard as if I was giving birth. It showed a small inguinal hernia with fat. But my original doctors did not suspect a hernia. I had similar pain: pressure when sitting, pressure with full bowel or bladder, a throbbing sensation in my lower left abdomen. It was/is left of my navel and down about an inch. My entire left side of abdomen and around my hip and buttock just didn’t feel right. Sometimes it feels like a pinch. I had also had numerous tests done….pelvic ultrasound, CT scan (which revealed a lymphangioma, not related to hernia, but needed treatment which I had done), MRI of the lymphangioma but not of the actual area of my pain, many exams by surgeons and still no hernia diagnosis. Finally, prior to doing pelvic floor Physical Therapy, my surgeon said he wanted to do a dynamic ultrasound before sending me to PT. It showed a hernia. The weird part, I had never had groin pain, but after the Ultrasound I did and continue to. When I questioned this the surgeon said that the hernia in the groin could cause the pain in my lower abdomen. So I have been recommended for laparoscopic surgery to repair the weakness in the abdominal wall. Also, after the ultrasound showed a hernia, the surgeon was able to see the hernia on the CT scan. I guess it is very small. I am also small framed and I guess any change in my body I can feel. I would really like an MRI of the area where I have pain just to confirm it and for my piece of mind. The surgeons that I have seen have not felt that it is necessary. I am very anxious and just feel like there is something else going on…I did seek out a surgeon that has an interest in hernias in women. Dr. Towfigh recommended her to me and she is only an hour and a half from my home. I feel lucky that she will be doing my surgery. However, I have a suspicion that there is something else wrong. I feel somewhat powerless, but I don’t know what else to do. In your case, I would ask your doctor to do a dynamic ultrasound. Not all hernias have a bulge. I don’t have a bulge. My hernia was originally missed in my CT scan…I really wish you the best….keep pursuing a diagnosis.

[lbel]

future of inguinal repair and PT

Hi Again,
Thanks for your support. I have seen three surgeons. The third one was recommended by Dr. Towfigh and when I went for my appt. she recalled that Dr. Towfigh was sending someone her way. She is a female surgeon interested in hernia surgery on females as well as males. It is male dominated as hernias in women are not as common. So I have that on my side. She was kind of rushed during my appt. (But did step out to see a patient and then stepped back in to finish answering my questions. So she went out of her way on a very busy day.) The other two surgeons were not as rushed, but they mostly do repairs on men. So she is a hernia specialist and very busy which is a good sign. I see her again after my run of PT and I am hoping I don’t feel rushed. I have so many questions that I feel like I must be a bother at times…but I want to feel confident with my decision to have the repair. And like you said about repairing a small hernia being the best approach, I also read the same thing. The outcome could be better in a smaller hernia.

I hope you find activities that allow you to regain who you are. I am active too. In 2009 I tore my meniscus and opted to not have surgery because it is a 50-50 chance that it would heal right. So I had to change my activities. No more running, no Zumba–no pounding. So I bike ride and speed walk. I have downhill skied (half days) without a problem. I also hike. So my theory is that you and your body can accommodate the injury. Change is hard… I hope you can find healthy alternatives to stay active and get fresh air.

Glad that this site exists…great info and support. Hang in there.
Linda

[lbel]

future of inguinal repair and PT

HI,
I agree with what you are saying. I haven’t had my surgery yet and am worried about the side effects from the surgery being worse than the actual hernia….But I feel that I am not moving forward because my small inguinal hernia could get larger and could strangulate. If it strangulates it is immediate surgery and could be an unknown surgeon. I try to just remember that all surgeries have risks and this one is no different. I am currently doing PT to strengthen my adductor muscle and then I can schedule my surgery “any time”…I have been told there is no rush. I am very anxious though…I wish there were clearer guidelines for such a common surgery. Something in my gut just keeps telling me to hold off…I haven’t heard back about the yoga exercises yet.

Linda

[lbel]

Health Services

Hi, what would you recommend for yoga sessions for me. I am a 52 year old slender female with a left side inguinal hernia. It is very small and I have minimal discomfort. I am trying to decide on surgery. I will be doing PT to strengthen my adductor muscle prior to surgery. I am open to all treatment options. I am trying to weigh out the benefits of current level of hernia discomfort with potential side effects of surgery.

Thank you.
LInda

[lbel]

Chronic pain and recurring Hernias

Hi, Do you recommend trying a nerve block prior to doing any hernia surgery? I am seeing a hernia specialist on Jan 7th. I am just wondering if I should try a nerve block first. I really only want surgery if it is absolutely necessary. My hernia seems to flare up, but otherwise seems manageable. I have been doing core exercises for several months as I await seeing the specialist. I do have flare ups for example, I have been coughing due to a cold virus and the area is sore. Just an FYI, I was seen by several doctors and it took over a year to diagnose a hernia. Long story….

Merry christmas!

Linda

[lbel]

hernia specialist in New Hampshire

Hi Dr. Towfigh and thank you for getting back to me. I am scheduled to see Dr. Adrales on January 7th. In the mean while, my hernia symptoms have been getting better due to a few changes that I have been working on. I make sure that I don’t get constipated and I have been doing some core strengthening exercise. But I did notice one thing. After intercourse, I feel some discomfort in my lower left abdomen. I am wondering if this could be from the hernia or if something else is going on. It is like a dull ache that lasts one to two days. I am assuming that the nerves are reacting but I thought I would check with you to see if this is normal in a woman with an occult inguinal hernia. Please inform…Thank you. Linda