[rob_t_uk]

Hi everyone, hope you had nice Christmases. Small update from my side.

Went to see a urologist last week about my left side epididymitis and potential varicocele embolization, but obviously mentioned my right inguinal canal issues while I was there.

He does a quick check for obvious hernias, and to my massive shock finds a small *left* sided direct hernia just to the left of my pubic symphysis.

I never even had an idea. When it rains it pours!

When I got home it took me a while to even find the hernia again. Since then I’ve touched it a few times but today I gave it a small push and I think it slid in (and not sure it’s come out again to my knowledge) Since then I swear the chronic pain in my right inguinal canal which has been particularly horrid for the last 6 months diminished significantly. It seems a bit like a dream tbh.

I have an ultrasound next week so I’ll hopefully find out for sure what’s going on in the right inguinal canal, as well as have this new left-sided issue confirmed. I assume following that I’ll go under the knife at some point.

I suppose my question to the group is this – have any of you with a hernia on one side of, say, the inguinal canal, experienced pain on the other side – particularly in scar tissue from a previous repair?

For any surgeons who might be reading, does that even sound feasible?

If people are okay, I might share my ultrasounds when I get them done next week.

Thanks everyone 🙂 Rob

[rob_t_uk]

Thanks again both. Dr Muschaweck’s secretary got in touch today and asked if I was able to attend a consultation in London early Jan with a view to an op soon after but things seem to be moving a bit fast to me on that front. Peter I did also see the guy you were on about on that FB group; his story was pretty scary and I definitely take your point about the non-essential neurectomy which – like I said – scares the shit out of me. That said, obviously Muschaweck does also have her (thousands) of supporters. Instead, I think I’m going to do the following:

– Get the varicocele sorted in the first instance, and see what impact – if any – that has on things. If nothing else, getting rid of the chronic 3/10 pain that’s dogged me in recent weeks (and finally getting rid of the horrendous dragging that’s dogged me for decades) will be some relief. It also gives my inguinal pain a bit more time to hopefully subside (not that I think it will; this definitely needs surgery IMO).
– Get in touch with Marsh and Lloyd and enquire about consultations/ultrasounds. Get said dynamic ultrasound done – hopefully it’ll be pretty conclusive; if not I’ll continue dialogue and go for further consultations.
– Decide on final course of action after all that.

Funnily enough, the right sided inguinal pain has been better the past few days than for weeks/months. I think it’s because I’ve temporarily given up on wearing underwear and just gone with tracksuit bottoms. Seems to make a world of difference in terms of alleviating pressure on the right inguinal area and, therefore, the pain emanating from it.

Interesting, if not particularly helpful. Does that ring bells with anyone?!

Thanks again for all the help guys.

[rob_t_uk]

Guys, thanks so much for the detailed and thoughtful replies. It can get pretty gruelling living with this stuff – every day is a slog at the moment which utterly sucks when you have a family who is excited for the holidays, relies on you being fit and well and doesn’t realise understand why Daddy is so darn pissed off all of the tim. I am sure many of you are in the same boat.

To make things worse I also have a large varicocele on my left testicle (apparently a result of the original inguinal hernia?) which, while bothering me for years, has decided to take it up a notch since this latest episode kicked off(!) (Having it looked at by urologist in the coming weeks with a view to having it removed.) I will get this sorted before the hernia issue as I’m interested to see if it has any impact on things (doubt it but you never know).

Good intentions I believe I had several (3?) small sutures for the sports hernia, not mesh (thank goodness). I am getting twinges from the sites of these sutures as part of my latest ‘episode’ but I feel like this is more like referred pain than the source if you get my drift? Sadly as I mentioned I can’t justify the cost and time to travel to the US.

Peter C that’s v interesting about Muschaweck and nerves – like I said I really wouldn’t want them snipped unless it was unavoidable. Sounds like she does it as standard which is setting alarm bells ringing. I will join that group you mentioned and have a look.

I did stumble on Dr Marsh before – he was one of the the people on my list. He is also Bupa covered which saves me £10k vs Muschaweck. It’s good that you rate him; will do some more digging there too.

I also wanted to throw another name out there – Andrew De Beaux based in Edinburgh. Has v. good pedigree from what I can see, and pragmatic also. Anybody on here have anything to do with him?

Thanks again for all the input both of you; it really is much appreciated. Peter I am sorry you are so poorly and hope your consultation with Lloyd/Marsh goes well – please keep us in the loop.

Kind regards,

Rob