Hernia anyone?
- Thread starter TrevorM
- Start date
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Bodhbh
Guru
Just been diagnosed yesterday with inguinal herniaso probably need an operation.
Anyone had this operation and can give me some idea how long I'm likely to be off the bike?
Most depressing just coming out of winter.
I had one done November the yr b4 last, and beforehand made a similar post on a couple of forums. From the responses the recovery time seems fairly variable, so I would be prepared to take it as it comes.
Myself, I didn't even try to get back on the bike till late February, however i was quite mobile, pain free and out and about fairly soon after the OP - the day after I did a half mile walk, the day after that 1.5miles and after a couple of weeks I could carry a rucksack with a moderate amount of shopping 3-4 miles back from the supermarket.
I probably could have gotten on the bike after the 6-8weeks they recommend you lay off, but just couldn't be bothered with restarting in the crappy weather.
Bodhbh
Guru
Thanks (I think). I'd a 100 mile ride planned for May
I did my longest ever ride afterwards, in June, 135miles from Cambridge to Grimsby via King's Lynn. So, wouldn't let it put you off (okay cheating across the Fens, but did have a headwind for a while).
/edit - have you got a date for the OP scheduled already?
No. Seeing consultant on Monday. Fortunate to be able to go private so hopefully get the OP very soon.
Bodhbh
Guru
Well that's something. I've had it done twice and both times was 2yrs from diagnosis to OP on the NHS.
Trevor, join the club. I'm in the same position, I saw the specialist on Tuesday. I too need an op to correct it, he told me it will be an open procedure as opposed to keyhole!!
. He also told me that it'll be a few months before I actually get it done as it's not causing me any pain, so I'm classed as non urgent. So I intend to get out as much as possible between now and then 
. All the best Trevor, if you get yours done before me, let me know how you get on. Best of luck.
. He also told me that it'll be a few months before I actually get it done as it's not causing me any pain, so I'm classed as non urgent. So I intend to get out as much as possible between now and then . All the best Trevor, if you get yours done before me, let me know how you get on. Best of luck.Trevor, join the club. I'm in the same position, I saw the specialist on Tuesday. I too need an op to correct it, he told me it will be an open procedure as opposed to keyhole!!
Good luck with yours, hope you get it soon. I'll let you know how mine goes.
Did your doctor say you can still ride until the op? My GP said no but I'm hoping the consultant has a different view.
I have done 250 miles without any problems since I noticed this at start of Jan.
lowerstill
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Shropshire
Just a minor word of warning my dad had a hernia, got back on the bike a few weeks after and popped the hernia again. Ended up having three operations in total. Each one got wider and wider as the scar tissues built up. So softly softly would be my motto, an week of taking it easy could save lots of weeks later on.
A number of surgeons felt that none of the above methods was entirely desirable and over several years an altogether different technique was devised. This formed the basis for the method now perfected at The British Hernia Centre over thousands of cases. Under local anaesthesia, a small incision is made over the site of the hernia. The peritoneal bulge is returned to where it belongs, as before, but the repair is achieved by placing a piece of fine (inert and sterile) mesh at the opening in the tissue. This is firmly held in place and the outer incision closed. The whole operation takes minutes to perform.
Unlike other techniques, even those now using mesh, our approach does not require any stitching together of the muscle tissue at all, thus eliminating the tension induced by other methods.
The healing process starts to take place immediately in that - sensing the presence of the fine mesh - the muscle and tendon send out fibrous tissue which grows around and through the
mesh, incorporating it in a way similar to the placing of the steelwork inside reinforced concrete. It is not a 'patch' stuck on the outside, but a total, tension-free reinforcement inside the abdominal wall.
The results are also similar to the concrete analogy, in that the 'mechanical load' is spread over the whole area, precisely at the area of weakness, rather than on high pressure points of stitching through the deep, sensitive tissue with older methods. When performed correctly, this technique requires no bed, even after the operation. The patient is able to walk away from the theatre immediately after surgery.
The technique was originally devised as a much-needed alternative to re-stitching failed hernia operations (ie recurrences) done the old way. It was then realised that, as the technique was so very successful with recurrent hernias, it should be used for 'first-time' repairs and thus avoid recurrences altogether.
Unlike other techniques, even those now using mesh, our approach does not require any stitching together of the muscle tissue at all, thus eliminating the tension induced by other methods.
The healing process starts to take place immediately in that - sensing the presence of the fine mesh - the muscle and tendon send out fibrous tissue which grows around and through the
mesh, incorporating it in a way similar to the placing of the steelwork inside reinforced concrete. It is not a 'patch' stuck on the outside, but a total, tension-free reinforcement inside the abdominal wall.
The results are also similar to the concrete analogy, in that the 'mechanical load' is spread over the whole area, precisely at the area of weakness, rather than on high pressure points of stitching through the deep, sensitive tissue with older methods. When performed correctly, this technique requires no bed, even after the operation. The patient is able to walk away from the theatre immediately after surgery.
The technique was originally devised as a much-needed alternative to re-stitching failed hernia operations (ie recurrences) done the old way. It was then realised that, as the technique was so very successful with recurrent hernias, it should be used for 'first-time' repairs and thus avoid recurrences altogether.
lowerstill
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Shropshire
Sounds like you had a very good op there screenman, I'm sure my ole fella would have been much better off nowadays too. His first op was NHS, his second at a military hospital and his third back on NHS. Interestingly they decided they'd be operating 90 degrees off for the first two and the last mesh op was successful, so now he has an upside down crucifix scar! As an interesting side effect he claims that when its cold, particularly on the bike the meshed area is decidedly colder than the surrounding areas. He now uses the old tramp method of a sheet of paper up his racing jersey.
upsidedown
Waiting for the great leap forward
- Location
- The middle bit
I had both sides done at the same time a few years ago with the mesh repair. Spent about 5 days sleeping on the settee as i couldn't get up the stairs, but healed remarkably quickly after that. Was back on the bike in a few weeks and never looked back really.
Good luck with the op.
Good luck with the op.
