[Alexander]

Dr. Towfigh,

How often does this happen with the mesh interfering with the bladder? Does something like this happen more often in a laprascopic inguinal hernia repair or an open mesh repair? It just seems like there are so many potential issues with mesh – add this one to the list.

[Alexander]

That sounds very normal. It’s not unusual for bruising to expand well beyond the surgical area.

[Alexander]

Alephy, I have to say, Dr. Szotek took me through this a couple of weeks ago and it was awesome to learn about the Ovitex mesh and see the pictures. I would highly recommend reaching out and making an appointment. Was the most informative hernia appointment, by far, that I have had with a surgeon.

[Alexander]

From what I gather unfortunately it seems more about cost (hospitals buy in bulk) or driven by doctors that are paid by mesh manufacturers. Sadly many of the top hernia doctors in the US are paid spokespeople for specific mesh devices.

[Alexander]

Doesn’t the Shouldice clinic normally “take” the ilioinguinal nerve prophylactically in their surgery?

[Alexander]

Have you tried acupuncture or a medical massage therapist? I don’t know how effective those would be in the groin area, but I know people that have gotten very good results when it comes to scar tissue pain in other areas of the body.

[Alexander]

Hi Timothy – sorry you are going thru this. What type of surgery did you have? Open or Laparoscopic? Do you know what the mesh was that was implanted? There are definitely others on this forum that probably have had similar experiences that can weigh in. There are also other doctors who deal with chronic pain that you can find here – I would recommend reaching out to several of them to get second and third opinions.

[Alexander]

Hey Forest, how are you doing now? Are you feeling better?

[Alexander]

That’s a very fair question. What state do you live in? Generally, I would say that you will be safe – the hospitals have very strict protocols in place and if they are still doing elective surgeries then I wouldn’t worry too much about getting covid. Most likely you and every other person having surgery will get tested the day before or the day of surgery and all of the staff surely will be wearing masks.

[Alexander]

Dr. William Brown in California removes a lot of mesh that was placed with a lichtenstein technique

[Alexander]

Very good questions, Mark. Have wondered the same… would be great to have docs or people that have gone thru the surgery weigh in.

[Alexander]

Yes, any more insights on using this type of mesh for inguinal hernia repair would be appreciated. Do doctors see this mesh causing less chronic pain than other types of mesh? Is it easier to work with during surgery and therefore the placement and outcome are better? The fact that it’s only been around for 3 years… is that a concern that we don’t know how this mesh will hold up in longer time horizon? Those types of insights and details would be really helpful.

[Alexander]

I’m sorry you had to go through that awful experience. Your insights on this board are so valuable for people like myself, who are going thru this for the first time.

[Alexander]

Good Intentions – if you could have done it all over again what is the path you would have taken?

[Alexander]

Thanks Dr. Towfigh… I don’t think he uses either of those mesh products. He says he uses the Ventrio ST. Have you heard of that mesh? What do you think of the procedure itself vs a traditional laprascopic repair?

[Alexander]

Mark,
I’m in the same boat as you are. Want to have surgery with Dr. Brown but being on East coast and having to fly right now is not ideal. Also have to convince a friend or family member also to take that risk is even more difficult. May have to wait until things get back to normal and just hope her is doesn’t get worse.

[Alexander]

I asked this on the other thread as well… Do the doctors believe a mesh repair would be better if one has an enlarged prostate or strains to urinate?

[Alexander]

Would a mesh repair be better if one has an enlarged prostate then?

[Alexander]

Good Intentions,

Thank you for all of that information. Very helpful. Leaving aside the mesh/no-mesh argument for now, and just focusing on the mesh technique, I wonder if that technique as described above does result in a lower chance of chronic pain and a shorter recovery time than a standard laprascopic mesh repair. If so, I wonder why more surgeons don’t use it.