groin hernia repair

M

*madmaddie*

New member
tUrRrRa:
Dont be afraid to lift weights. Just dont over do it like I did. I have been weightlifting very heavy weights for a long time. I wasnt a pro or anything like that but I always was pretty big and lifted extreme amounts. I regret it now. I wish I would have lifted less and stopped worried about getting bigger. I always over did it. I worked out with injuries, while I was sick, after surgery. I was a little obsessed. I was almost 260 pounds at my so called "prime" about 2 years ago. Although I was pretty strong, thats just too big. Again its not like I was a linebacker in the NFL or a professional bodybuilder. I was just obsessed with getting big and strong. Now I am about 220 and will NEVER lift what I use to. I think I will allow myself to get to 230 pounds and just maintain that weight. High reps with lighter weight and 30 minutes of cardio everyday. Also, LOTS of protein. That will hopefully be my new program after I decide what to do with this groin and back pain.
 
Cowpin8, best of luck with your goal! That sounds great and I'm sure you will be able to get there. Well, I'm definitely no body builder and more of a light weight, high rep kind of person, so maybe I don't have to worry so much about it. I'll make sure to not strain or try way too hard. I tend to stick with a weight that is comfortable, yet challenging. I've noticed that it has always felt a little weird to do the hip adductor exercise. Only recently was the time I felt pain and got the swelling! I seemed to do fine with any other exercise. I'll take it easy for a while and gradually build my way up :) As a female, I am just looking to have energy and be strong and in shape. I used to have body image problems, so originally wanted to lose weight for confidence. Now I'm maintaining where I'm at to be healthy and feel great!
 
Cowpin8: is he going to take the screws out but leave the mesh? I'm no expert of coarse but if it were me, and its not too late, I would want the mesh removed.

tUrRrRa: mine was fairly large, and I got mine from an auto accident in 2004. At first it was just swelling, so I ignored it for 3 years (it didn't cause any pain). Then one day it started causing so much pain I could barely stand to walk or move much. I went to the doctor and he knew exactly what it was, right away. I lived with pain off and on for over 2 years (was determined to be a hernia in 2007). For the first several months of 2009, it was off and on more constantly. It had gotten bigger over time to the point it was bigger than a golf ball, probably about halfway between that and a tennis ball. I don't know how big the actual opening was the intestines were through. It was such a relief to get it fixed... there was more pain afterwords for a short time, but it was worth it.

If the surgeon is good, it's usually the most extreme cases that they can't use the classic repair method. Sounds like yours should be fine, as they sound smaller than mine was, and mine turned out ok :)

Hopefully yours won't be quite as drastic as mine was. I was pushing it to the limit to go back the Monday after I got mine done on Tuesday... but I managed.

Regarding weight lifting, the weakness is unique to each person, so one person will get a hernia from less weight than someone else. It is more common with the extreme weight lifters though. More repetitive weight lifting, rather than going for heavy weights, is better for reducing the risk of a hernia.
 
Thanks for your reply! Yes, mine are definitely smaller than golf ball sized bulges. They are in the groin area, yet I can still wear a swimsuit and not have anything noticeable that anyone else would see (thankfully). I can just remember being this way for years, as long as I can remember. Since mine were symmetrical, I thought it was normal and sound kind of muscle or something in the area. Then I found out that there is usually just fatty tissue over the pelvis bone, and there was no way that was fatty tissue! My surgeon identified them pretty quickly too. I guess it was a relief to just have an answer and not be left wondering. My surgeon is a bit on the younger side, but I am okay with that since I feel that she would be "up-to-date" on techniques for the repair.

I have a few family members offering to come stay with me for a few days, but to be honest, I am not so sure about some of them. When my grandma comes to visit, it ends up being quite stressful (haha)! She is one of those very active people who can't sit still and get very anxious easily (not a typical grandma!). My fiance will be taking care of me the first day and he can stay longer if needed. My mom and dad have also offered to fly in (just one of them) to help out as well, but again, I'd almost feel like I'd have to be a good hostess and that might be more stressful. My family all lives out of town and immediate family out of state.
 
The less stress you can have for the first few/several days, the better. At least you aren't in severe pain... you don't want to wait longer than you have to. They are one of those things that do not get better on their own, and only get worse.
 
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