hernia advice?

thedonker · Apr 24, 2007

Looks and feels like I have a hernia, I am going to the docs to confirm it, this will be my third one, the other 2 were over 10 and 15 years ago, any advice on how to get these healed asap so that I can start training again, and must you rest totally?? all help appreciated

LATS · Apr 24, 2007

where is the hernia located? did they use mesh to repair the previous hernias..?

NPCS FINEST · Apr 24, 2007

LATS said:
did they use mesh to repair the previous hernias..?

Not if they were done that long ago.

thedonker · Apr 25, 2007

no no mesh, that is what they are fitting now I guess, I have had absolutly now problems since, but I was doing deadlift I think when I felt the first niggle, I used to do a romainian deadlift to protect against this kind of injury but my new training partner is kinda old school and we do the full dead lift.Then today I was doing ab and core work and the pain just got worse, my training partner just looked at me as if to say to pussy quitting this early!! but I knew I had a hernia or something new, and it is still hurting now, just above the pubic area to my left, constant pain, no visible swelling as yet but, all simptoms the same as before and the pain goes when lying down and the pressure is taken from the abdominal wall. I will see my doc, and she will confirm I think.

The whole idea of resting is the worse thing for me I have not had an injury for a while, like everything else I will try just about anything to get fit and healthy again.

bigheinz · Apr 25, 2007

When i did my umbilical hernia it took me 3 months of totally rest bro, to really heal and dont have the same problem again. No mesh in mine

norm1220 · Apr 25, 2007

Go with a mesh repair and have it done as a lapriscopic procedure. I have had both sides done , the first was with an open incision, and the second was lapriscopic.

I was back to the gym in 6 week with the lapriscopic repair. After the open incision I didn't feel right for 5 or 6 months.

oldfella · Apr 25, 2007

Sounds like you have an inguinal hernia. The only repair is surgery. They will do the less invasive type, laproscopicly. The healing will depend on your surgeon. usually 6-9 weeks of no lifting and light duties at work. You should then proceed with caution as you return to lifting. I gave mine 13 weeks but I had two, one on each side. I started out light and anything that caused pain in those areas I stopped immeadiately. Tried again the following week, and gradually progressed to full lifting after a few months of light progressive weights.

thebrick · Apr 25, 2007

norm1220 said:
Go with a mesh repair and have it done as a lapriscopic procedure. I have had both sides done , the first was with an open incision, and the second was lapriscopic.

I was back to the gym in 6 week with the lapriscopic repair. After the open incision I didn't feel right for 5 or 6 months.

I agree, go with the mesh and lapro repair. I had 3 hernias done at the same time and I was back up in no time. Get a experienced hernia surgeon.

PowerEddie02 · Apr 25, 2007

When you are working out, start to pay special attention to not holding your breath and building up that abdominal pressure.. I know it's hard as hell to do, but that'll help keep the pressure down in your gut and put less stress down there.

A side note: The main reason they say not to hold your breath though is because pressure can get so high that it translates all the way from your heart - up your jugular - to your superior sagital sinus in your brain - down into your csf - and into your spine. Spinal pressures can get extremely high and cause discs to rupture.

thedonker · Apr 25, 2007

Thanks for all the advice, I have been referrered to the specialist to get a verdict, I will wait and see.

maldorf · Apr 25, 2007

I just had 3 hernias repaired all at the same time, with mesh. One was an umbilical and the other 2 were in my left inguinal area. I only took 2 and 1/2 weeks off from lifting, and then lifted really light for 6 weeks. After 8 weeks most docs tell you that you can lift with no limitations. Its been about 3 months now and mine seem to have healed up nicely. When I went back to lifting light I did sets of 20 reps and avoided things like squats, deadlifts, leg presses, and bentover rows. Avoid anything that puts a lot of stress on your core. There were other exercises I avoided too, such as cable tricep pushdowns since that puts a lot of stress on your abs.

So make sure that you get the mesh, its much stronger. The only way that the hernia can be repaired is surgery. Letting it rest now and trying to heal it wont do a thing.

Putin · Apr 25, 2007

How does someone get hernia?

thedonker · Apr 26, 2007

Putin said:
How does someone get hernia?

extract:

Although one type of abdominal hernia can be present at birth (umbilical hernia), the others happen later in life. Some involve pathways formed during fetal development, existing openings in the abdominal cavity, or areas of abdominal wall weakness.

Any condition that increases the pressure of the abdominal cavity may contribute to the formation or worsening of a hernia.

Obesity

Heavy lifting

Coughing

Straining during a bowel movement or urination

Chronic lung disease

Fluid in the abdominal cavity

A family history of hernias can make you more likely to develop a hernia.

personally speaking, I got all mine lifting. Dead Lift causes this latest one, I think but it was really painful when I started working the core abdominal area in training. I also have a family history of such a weakness, my father has also has 3. I was told to not lift from the floor when lifting larger weights in the dead lift, to help prevent this kind of strain in the abdominal area by an old trainer, using the rack just raise up the bar to below the knee by around 2 inches, this is much easier and you can lift much higher weights, but it works more legs that the whole action, which works just about everything. I was told it was called the romanian deadlift rather than the deadlift.

On an different note I have been wondering if IGF would help muscles heal quicker? does anyone know what else may help speed the healing process up??

LATS · Apr 26, 2007

my surgeon made me wait 4 weeks to start lifting.. he is very well know for hernia repair.. he said that after 2-3 weeks the healing is basically done and the mesh will provide the strength in the area until scar tissue can re model.. i started lifting again in 4 weeks and has been fine.. i occasionally get some pain in the area and he says that it will be normal for awhile..
he said that lapro is much quicker and some can get back to lifting in 1 week if the surgery is for a inguinal hernia.. lapro does not fair so well in umbilical repair according to him..

maldorf · Apr 26, 2007

LATS said:
my surgeon made me wait 4 weeks to start lifting.. he is very well know for hernia repair.. he said that after 2-3 weeks the healing is basically done and the mesh will provide the strength in the area until scar tissue can re model.. i started lifting again in 4 weeks and has been fine.. i occasionally get some pain in the area and he says that it will be normal for awhile..
he said that lapro is much quicker and some can get back to lifting in 1 week if the surgery is for a inguinal hernia.. lapro does not fair so well in umbilical repair according to him..

yeah thats absolutely what ive learned. I was able to lift after taking just a little over 2 weeks off. Both of my inguinal hernias were repaired using lapro and my umbilical was done open. I still do get some pains myself, mostly in the morning after a heavy lift. I had a catscan done and everything is looking great, so he thinks its just some swelling. whatever you do, make sure they use the mesh. I enjoyed the use of oxycontins for the first 5 days or so. Before the surgery I swore I wouldnt use anything, but once the pain is there those pills start to look pretty darn good.

the shogun · Apr 26, 2007

DAMN! I cant believe how many of u boys have had 2 or 3 done at the same time :O..... Ive known a couple of guys who have had 1 done and stayed out of action for some time, but I suppsoe might as well get them all done at the same time.....

thedonker · Apr 26, 2007

maldorf said:
yeah thats absolutely what ive learned. I was able to lift after taking just a little over 2 weeks off. Both of my inguinal hernias were repaired using lapro and my umbilical was done open. I still do get some pains myself, mostly in the morning after a heavy lift. I had a catscan done and everything is looking great, so he thinks its just some swelling. whatever you do, make sure they use the mesh. I enjoyed the use of oxycontins for the first 5 days or so. Before the surgery I swore I wouldnt use anything, but once the pain is there those pills start to look pretty darn good.

thats all wonderful news, I though i would have been looking at a least 2 months off. ;-)

thebrick · Apr 26, 2007

the shogun said:
DAMN! I cant believe how many of u boys have had 2 or 3 done at the same time :O..... Ive known a couple of guys who have had 1 done and stayed out of action for some time, but I suppsoe might as well get them all done at the same time.....

Well, I had 2 that were very obvious (umbilical and inguinal). My surgeon told me I had another about to maifest itself, so he said we can do the 2 now and you can come back in a few years for the other or we can do all of them now. I went for the group discount

I know there are some real horror stories out there, but I was back in the gym in a matter of a few weeks with zero problems and pain. My surgeon came very highly recommended from an anesthesiologist that trained at my gym though, so I am sure that made a difference

maldorf · Apr 26, 2007

thedonker said:
thats all wonderful news, I though i would have been looking at a least 2 months off. ;-)

I was taking 200mg test e/wk and 4IU per day of HGH 5on/2 off during the recovery. I healed fast I think, but cant say for sure that using this helped me. It certainly didnt hurt though!