[nonPalpableHernia]

quote Good intentions:

Shouldice seems to avoid these horror stories. Another good reason for a registry of hernia repairs. Not just mesh. Without the numbers there’s no way to tell what is best for the patient. It’s all anecdotes and marketing.

I think shouldice does not take patients that need major reconstructions or they may in fact use mesh in these cases. Their website does say they will use it if required. I do understand that mesh has really improved the lives of many. Some of the presentation of complex cases seem impossible without mesh. I’d just wonder if it is being used more in cases, where it does not need to.

[nonPalpableHernia]

quote drtowfigh:

[USER=”2608″]dog[/USER] it wasn’t possible technically possible before synthetic mesh so most lived with their hernias, no matter how disabling, and could not be offered a repair. People were maimed by other techniques and complications of open tissue hernia repair. Use of the darning technique caused fistula and erosions and chronically draining wounds. Surgeons were harvesting fascia from the thigh to treat abdominal wall hernias. This worked about half the time for the hernia, and the fascia harvesting left a disabling set of complications to the leg, including nerve injury. Deformity was more common. Testicle loss was more common. Scars were enormous.

It wasn’t a rosey picture before mesh.

That paints a scary picture of tissue repair, I imagine this has to do with abdominal reconstructions of a certain size. For sure there are many people for whom treatment looked like this before mesh.

[nonPalpableHernia]

So I’m still in a non palpable state. Since I travel frequently to Toronto for business I have been able to see shouldice surgeons, but as mentioned earlier they only treat if they can palpate. I am scheduled to see a surgeon in my home province of BC, but appointments are slow in my rural area, We only have one General surgeon here, Doctors if you like to ski and live a breath taking part of Canada ;-).

My GP assures me that even that our General Surgeon will not likely want to operate until there is more of a lump, even though a small .07cm hernia was visible on an ultrasound, as they are concerned that I would be in a similar discomfort after surgery.

I spent 8 months on slow weight loss and abdominal strengthening, I lost 40lbs and now I’m only in minor discomfort, some days none at all, but other days are quite annoying, I can continue to, wait but my concern is it may be years before it meets the criteria of operable.

[USER=”935″]drtowfigh[/USER] , Since you operate on occult hidden hernia’s, is it possible that surgery on such a small hernia would leave me in the same discomfort? What is your opinion on waiting?

[nonPalpableHernia]

To ease my mind here is the response I got from the shouldice chat.

“It doesn’t really impact recurrence. They divide the cremaster muscle to view the entire abdominal floor and the stumps are ligated. Once everything has healed, the cremaster muscles will be back to normal.”

[nonPalpableHernia]

I definitely have a cremaster reflex, it’s quite active. I’m a few decades after puberty.

[nonPalpableHernia]

What are the side effects of cutting the cremaster muscle?

[nonPalpableHernia]

Have you contacted The Shouldice Hernia clinic in Toronto? I think they may also perform removals.

[nonPalpableHernia]

I’ve had ultrasound imaging confirmed with another physician and I do have a very small hernia. Still told it’s not operable.

I’m fine now but will go bat to work next week. And it’s worst when I’m at the desk.

Still hoping the pain won’t be as bad as before. I have lost 20lbs since my first diagnosis.

[nonPalpableHernia]

The only other running theory I have from my GP is damage to the inguinal ligament, but seems unlikely do to lack of a recent trauma event. Infection, causes are ruled out.

My GP is confident that it’s a hernia, but needs to wait.

I guess in the meantime I’ll do the PT and look for another opinion.

Thanks.

[nonPalpableHernia]

I have family in Toronto and a few older family members have had repairs at S.h.o.u.l.d.i.c.e, with success. I’d consider going there as I would be able to stay with my family to recover. However, the clinic is also very clear about only treating palpable hernias.

[nonPalpableHernia]

Ok seems last post was not approved yet. Let me try again…

Not sure if related, I had an event about 8 – 10 months ago, where I fell while cycling, that day I was fine but as of the following day sitting at a desk I felt pressure in the area. I though little of it as I could get relieve the symptom but getting up and having a short walk. Overtime this would come an go but not be a consistent pain. And eventually I did not experience it for 3 – 4 months.

Now about about a month ago I started feeing a similar pressure, again when sitting in the inguinal area, only this time it was much harder to relieve the feeling. Over the next couple weeks the pressure would quickly become burning or soreness. It’s at the worst if I end up rolling onto my stomach in my sleep, the sensation will wake me and at this point it seems slightly swollen or slightly more dense, but not really a bulge.

I went to see a PT yesterday to start carefully treating it like a sports hernia. The PT did say my abdominals are over developed on that side. Which he suggested that may increase the abdominal pressure and contribute to a hernia.

I live in Rural British Columbia, ( FYI Closest US city is in Spokane WA)

[nonPalpableHernia]

I should also mention that I had a right (opposite side) inguinal hernial repaired when I was a small child, 6 or 7 years old.

(FYI there is another post waiting for approval before this. I think it was flagged since I mentioned a famous clinic in it )

[nonPalpableHernia]

Thanks for the quick response I’ll keep these things in mind for sure.