inguinal hernia

[Mossdog]

I'm looking for any recent advice/shared experiences on this one. I've search the health forum and the most recent threads on this topic seem to be 2009. I'm hoping someone out there has more recent experience.

To be clear I've just self-diagnosed this and will be seeking an appointment with the GP hopefully on Friday am. I've had periodic pain in my right groin for a few months, and just thought if I leave it long enough it'll go away (has always worked for me in the past and I'm still here and breathing ). But noticed earleir this week in the shower that I've lost my previously gorgeous symmetry down below the well honed six-pack. So, if it's what I think it is (and not something nastier - gulp!) I was wondering what the best treatment is now. An earlier thread said key-hole surgery had the most chance of a reoccurrence, but that was 3 years ago - have things got better? Is surgery the only option aside from just ignoring it. Surely there's some newfangled-ultrasonic-whatjamacallit way of dealing with this now which involves remote skype-like treatment where i don't have to change anything about my lifestyle and no-one needs to know I'm 'broken' and I can void stepping through those nasty automatic slidey doors into a .........ok I'll say it.....a hosp**l? If it is an op, how long would I typically have to wait?

All information gratefully accepted, even blatant lies if they assure me of a quick, botherfree fix

Oh and yeah...should I sign up with BUPA now before I visit the GP????

[eardstapa]

Have you had it fixed yet then?:wink: This thread came up when I searched because I'm worried I might have developed the same thing, so any advice you might have since your original post, I'd be interested. I've got the pain (not severe) so far, but not the "asymmetry"yet. By the way do/did you have pain whilst running or generally during the day - when sneezing, or getting up from sitting for example?

One thing I do know is that my dad had a hernia repaired earlier this year and the op was done with an epidural rather than a general anesthetic, which I think sounds a bit less off-putting. He went private, mind. My brother had one too a year or two back, so I'm going to ask them about it too. Of course the main off-putting thing is the idea of not being able to run for how ever long it takes to recover, isn't it?

Have you thought about whether it is an inguinal hernia or a sports hernia? Apparently there is a difference...

Anyway, whether you are pre- or post-op, I'd like to know anything useful before I visit the GP and get told I have to rest immediately or some other such nonsense quackery.

[that_fjell_guy]

Have you had it fixed yet then?:wink: This thread came up when I searched because I'm worried I might have developed the same thing, so any advice you might have since your original post, I'd be interested. I've got the pain (not severe) so far, but not the "asymmetry"yet. By the way do/did you have pain whilst running or generally during the day - when sneezing, or getting up from sitting for example?

One thing I do know is that my dad had a hernia repaired earlier this year and the op was done with an epidural rather than a general anesthetic, which I think sounds a bit less off-putting. He went private, mind. My brother had one too a year or two back, so I'm going to ask them about it too. Of course the main off-putting thing is the idea of not being able to run for how ever long it takes to recover, isn't it?

Have you thought about whether it is an inguinal hernia or a sports hernia? Apparently there is a difference...

Anyway, whether you are pre- or post-op, I'd like to know anything useful before I visit the GP and get told I have to rest immediately or some other such nonsense quackery.

I've got a hernia in the groin area. Went to the docs over 5 years ago, they said its ok as it is. I've got the 'assymetry' i.e. a small, plum sized, bump. No real pain tho' as a rule. Tho' occasional numb feeling, when I just give it a rub. I suggest you both see your doc and see what they say! Its possibly fine for now, but I'm clearly not an expert!!

[philgreen1968]

I had mine done 2007 in an open procedure. Had 2 weeks off while the wound healed then started swimming and aqua running. Ran on the flat at 4 weeks, avoiding running downhills was advised. Then normal training after 6 wks. Bit of groin numbness but never looked back.
Phil

[God's oddment]

I too have an inguinal henia which doesn't actually bother me in the slightest at the moment. However, I'm figuring that since the tear has started then it would be wise to get it sorted out. One friend told me of his which became golf ball sized and he kept having to push it back in. It was painful as well.
Fellrunning, I'm pretty sure, will eke out such a weakness. This way I get to choose the timing of it.
I've seen the consultant, listened to his advice, checked him out online, spoken to a doctor friend and hopefully will have it dealt with in December.
It's a general anaesthetic, not keyhole, mesh over the hernia, out in 24 hours, 6 weeks recovery.

Inguinal hernias are not uncommon in men over 40.

[Daletownrunner]

I too have an inguinal henia which doesn't actually bother me in the slightest at the moment. However, I'm figuring that since the tear has started then it would be wise to get it sorted out. One friend told me of his which became golf ball sized and he kept having to push it back in. It was painful as well.
Fellrunning, I'm pretty sure, will eke out such a weakness. This way I get to choose the timing of it.
I've seen the consultant, listened to his advice, checked him out online, spoken to a doctor friend and hopefully will have it dealt with in December.
It's a general anaesthetic, not keyhole, mesh over the hernia, out in 24 hours, 6 weeks recovery.

Inguinal hernias are not uncommon in men over 40.

I've got one so they seem pretty common, OK as long as I push on it when I sneeze, had a mate who had to tie a jumper (the knot bit on the lump) around his middle at work to push it back in until he had it sorted, Yuk!! I'm just monitoring mine at present if it gets worse I'll have it sorted.

[stustod]

Ive just had an operation (both sides) for a Gilmore Groin/ sports hernia. I had no hernia but the operation was similar ( cut open and patch stitched in ).

I have just blogged my experiences - see below

http://calvaorbust.blogspot.co.uk/

[God's oddment]

Sheesh Stustod. Seems highly inconvenient the way you put it. I'm gonna do as I'm told and hope I get less than half the rehab issues you had.
Think we're talking two slightly different things here.
Anyone know what the restrictions on driving and work are?

[stustod]

God's oddmeat
My biggest problem was the amount of time it took to get diagnosed. Once diagnosed it was 6 wks till the op.
I never had a hernia - I wish I had, it would of got diagnosed straight away. The operation and the recovery is the same (I think).
re driving I got told not to drive for 48 hrs and don't drive til you can do an emergency stop pain free. I never drove for 8 days but could of done sooner. The problem for me was getting in and out of the car,
Im back at work this week after 2 weeks off but will be taking it easy. Its odd really because one side feels totally normal but the other is still painful.
Good luck :-)

[Mike T]

Ive just had an operation (both sides) for a Gilmore Groin/ sports hernia. I had no hernia but the operation was similar ( cut open and patch stitched in ).

I have just blogged my experiences - see below

http://calvaorbust.blogspot.co.uk/

What an excellent blog - interesting and educational. Good luck with your rehab.