hernia ?'s

florida79 · Mar 1, 2007

i have a low hernia just above the phallus on the left side. anyone else have the surgery and now first hand about recovery time and surgery effecting ur lifting 4 life?

oldfella · Mar 1, 2007

florida79 said:
i have a low hernia just above the phallus on the left side. anyone else have the surgery and now first hand about recovery time and surgery effecting ur lifting 4 life?

Some years ago now I had a double Inguinal hernia. Yes both sides. The doc figured they were actually there from birth. My lifting only aggrevated them. I had them fixed going on five years ago and have had no trouble with them. Mine were fixed laproscopicly no huge incisions. I was in and out of hospital in two days. Up and walking around the morning after the surgery. I could have gone home that day but I lived a long way from the Hospital and had to catch a flight home. So they kept me one extra day for safety. My recovery was reasonably fast. Back at work a week after and started lifting again (very light) about 9-10 weeks post op. Today I lift whatever I want whenever I want and it's fine. The key is to get a good surgeon and explain to him that the gym is your life so he will put the heavy duty stuff in! My surgeon here in OZ was the nations leading laproscopic surgeon. I was in good hands.

MAINEVENT · Mar 1, 2007

I had inguinal hernia surgery myself in July. Man, that first week was TOUGH. More power to you oldfella (it should be Tough Oldfella). I would say around 4-6 weeks is the average recovery time. I was back to light lifting around the 6th week.

Here's the thing, its still a little sore and when I exert myself I can still feel it. From the people I've talked to, they say it takes about a year before you not feeling any pain at all.

oldfella · Mar 1, 2007

mainevent said:
I had inguinal hernia surgery myself in July. Man, that first week was TOUGH. More power to you oldfella (it should be Tough Oldfella). I would say around 4-6 weeks is the average recovery time. I was back to light lifting around the 6th week.

Here's the thing, its still a little sore and when I exert myself I can still feel it. From the people I've talked to, they say it takes about a year before you not feeling any pain at all.

That sounds about right ME. I didn't want to make the first week sound too bad but you def had to be real careful when moving around. I own my gym and getting back to work was a priority for me. I tried light lifting after six weeks and it still hurt so I just waited a little longer. I avioded any movements which tended to pull or put pressure on the sites. I guess cause mine was a double it also took a bit longer. But yes I was still aware of it a year later. I'm careful to exhale hard now on all my lifts to brace the abs and relieve pressure down there.

thebrick · Mar 1, 2007

Like Oldfella I had double inguinal hernia as well as in my belly button. Mine were all repaired using a laproscope at the same time. 3 very small incisions. That is definitely the way to go vs. the old way. I had mine done on an outpatient basis. I went in at 6 AM and went home that mid-afternoon. I was up and around the next day. My personal experience with it was no big deal. My surgeon came HIGHLY recommended and he was worth his weight in gold. I was back in the gym in a matter of weeks and it has not affected my lifestyle at all. That was 6 years ago. My surgeon also told me that sometimes people are born with these weak spots in the muscle wall and they can manifest themselves as a hernia depending on your lifestyle. Lift heavy weights and a hernia may show up early, if you are a couch potato lard-ass, it may not show up until you are old. Lifting weights does not cause a hernia. My advice... get a referral for a GOOD, EXPERIENCED hernia surgeon. It will make ALL the difference.

oldfella · Mar 2, 2007

thebrick said:
Like Oldfella I had double inguinal hernia as well as in my belly button. Mine were all repaired using a laproscope at the same time. 3 very small incisions. That is definitely the way to go vs. the old way. I had mine done on an outpatient basis. I went in at 6 AM and went home that mid-afternoon. I was up and around the next day. My personal experience with it was no big deal. My surgeon came HIGHLY recommended and he was worth his weight in gold. I was back in the gym in a matter of weeks and it has not affected my lifestyle at all. That was 6 years ago. My surgeon also told me that sometimes people are born with these weak spots in the muscle wall and they can manifest themselves as a hernia depending on your lifestyle. Lift heavy weights and a hernia may show up early, if you are a couch potato lard-ass, it may not show up until you are old. Lifting weights does not cause a hernia. My advice... get a referral for a GOOD, EXPERIENCED hernia surgeon. It will make ALL the difference.

Bump that!

LATS · Mar 2, 2007

i just went for my surgical consult for a umbilcal hernia.. the doc said that he wanted me to rest for 4-5 days after the surgery and could go back to lifting (lightly in 7 days and back to regular intensity in two to three weeks).. it sounds like the recovery may be longer than he is letting on??

Zuke · Mar 2, 2007

I had a hernia in 1982. It hurt like hell. I was only 3 years old at the time though so I don't remember much. All I remember is suppositories,enema's and PAIN.

thebrick · Mar 2, 2007

LATS said:
i just went for my surgical consult for a umbilcal hernia.. the doc said that he wanted me to rest for 4-5 days after the surgery and could go back to lifting (lightly in 7 days and back to regular intensity in two to three weeks).. it sounds like the recovery may be longer than he is letting on??

No, that sounds right to me according to my experience. I remember mowing the lawn about a week after my surgery and being back in the gym in a few weeks with normal training.

Ashop · Mar 2, 2007

florida79 said:
i have a low hernia just above the phallus on the left side. anyone else have the surgery and now first hand about recovery time and surgery effecting ur lifting 4 life?

you will need to be very careful for sometime after surgery.

florida79 · Mar 2, 2007

bump this for more experiences. get this i have to wait 6 weeks due to insurance issues and i cant stay out of the gym. just to let u guys know i did it deadlifting with a belt. 500 4 6 reps did not relize it happened until i got a wierd pain 2 days later and then came the buldge. everyone in the gym should wear a jockstrap and athletic shorts. it is after all the most hernia prone activity i assume so be smart!

oldfella · Mar 2, 2007

florida79 said:
bump this for more experiences. get this i have to wait 6 weeks due to insurance issues and i cant stay out of the gym. just to let u guys know i did it deadlifting with a belt. 500 4 6 reps did not relize it happened until i got a wierd pain 2 days later and then came the buldge. everyone in the gym should wear a jockstrap and athletic shorts. it is after all the most hernia prone activity i assume so be smart!

Interesting you mentioned the belt. I thinbk the belt actually added to the problem. I have not worn a belt since my op over 5years now, squats, heavy rows, back work and no probs. The one time I tried a belt , maybe three years ago It made me feel very uncomfortable in the hernia areas so I've ditched the belt ever since.

florida79 · Mar 2, 2007

yeah i think my type would be more likely with a belt considering all the gut force is either pushed below or above the belt. but i think going beltless increases your chances of an abdominal hernia because most the force is excerted out of your stomach. just my theory. but i do believe it would not have happened without a belt.

Big A · Mar 2, 2007

I had an umbilical hernia fixed last week. Today, 8 days later, bandages came off and I am ALMOST normal and active. Supposed to be able to get back in the gym in another week. I don't think so, but we'll see.

BUT, I was in so much pain after the surgery, I had to spend an extra day in hospital. and then it was hell for a few days. But then I woke up on the 5th day, feeling a million times better, and the same every morning since.
For the first few days, I regreted getting it done, it was so bad! Now, I am happy it's over with.

KillerStack · Mar 2, 2007

My umbilical hernia surgery was a breeze. I think I only took painkillers for a couple of days (and it was only acetaminophen). Back in the gym in just a few days.

My boss just had an inguinal hernia repaired on tuesday. They told him he can do whatever he wants to now. The pain will be the only limiting factor in what he can do.

Iceman1800 · Mar 2, 2007

I had left ingunial surgery 3/2005, open incision(not laproscopic) with mesh sewn in. I spent one night in the hospital and started walking the next day. It was around 4 weeks before I resumed lifting and 12 weeks before I went heavy. Go by how you feel but know that you feel better faster than you actually are. Don't rush but don't listen to the doctor saying not to lift heavy anymore. You will recover fine.