Removal of mesh after inguinal hernia repair.

My symptoms are pain in the area of my hernia repair. A constant aching, burning and sharp stabbing pain. It can radiate in my mons pubic area on the side of the repair and labia majorum. Sometimes my inner and upper thigh. Pain is often worsensed when sitting, especially on a hard surface or walking and doing a lot of activity. It can also occur at rest. I can practically pinpoint the spot it is in (can feel like a sewing needle being pushed into that spot), but the pain can radiate to other areas. If you look up mesh inguinodynia it is quite common.

Hi Adele your symptoms seem similar to mine as can pin point the area too but pain also radiates and have a lot of inner leg pain, have you tried seeing a Physio as this did help me for some time

May try. I had an US today but it didn't show anything specific, so am having an MRI on Monday. I do not want to go through with mesh removal lightly. I'm quite scared will not help me and I will still be in pain. It's definitely nerve related to the mesh, but how it all relates is complex. Even the experts have many questions. Was your surgery open or laparoscopic?

Am surprised they did an ultra sound as that hardly shows anything. The mri won't show the mesh properly either as had both of these done. I had mine done lapro and was repaired 1yr and half ago before repair was only having occasional problems but was talked into it by surgeon as apparantly would only get worse over the years. As had lots of complications from repair had the ultra and Mri which didn't show anything and then eventually they went in to explore and doctor said did a little tidying up but that's it's and am still having problems. Like you I had nerve entrapment which seems to have got better with sports Physio but think my problems now is down to inflammation

Hello Adam, I've heard staples or tacks could entrap nerves if repair is done laparoscipally. Do you know if this occured? The groin puts up with so much movement, if nerves are trapped in mesh they would be continually agrivated from daily activity causing the pain. Who knows? I'm starting to think all sorts of theories as to what is causing the pain as no one seems to have a straight answer.

The doctor originally said he used tacks and then changed his mind when I went back after first op and said he sutured it in place and I can't get a straight answer either, I have down the same and have 20 theories in my head all come down to fact I was better and had a life before the operation, there isn't a lot of information on mesh removal and what there is, is very mixed but to be fair so is the info on using a mesh. Where are you based and where have you been seen ?

Yes, I agree. Mesh has it's plusses, including lower recurrence rates, but that is all I can find positive. I am based in Sydney, Australia. The latest doctor I saw said he does not use mesh in femlaes. I'm actually quite slim. 172cm and 58kg so maybe another method of hernia repair e.g. shouldice may have worked for me (I'm not even sure if they do this in Australiia). It seems to be the norm now to always use mesh in Australia. I know one thing I wish I had done my research before going ahead with the mesh repair because my life has changed for the worse. I lived through an emergency surgery for a twisted bowel last September, which led to the hernia and the hernia surgery has been by far the most painful and harderest to recover from. So my decision now is to remove the mesh and take a chance or leave it in and live with something that will change my life forever also. Very hard situation. One day at a time. 

I met a surgeon in January who performs the operation by placing the mesh in between the muscle so it has no contact with internal organs, am based in the UK age 31 and was incredibly active gym 5 times a week, ran 3 times a week and swam twice a week. All of that has stopped. Have you got a date for removal ?

So far May 9/2016 set for removal, but not committing as yet. It is very frustrating going from so active and having to minimalize activity. Did your internal organs get compramised because of you repair? Keep positive.

Adam .. where do you live    ... UK  ?  

If so... you will be able to get a surgeon to remove the Mesh for you and your life will be back to normal ... 

I would push for NHS  to repair .. particularly if they inserted the mesh in the first place ...  but I know you can certainly have it done privately ..

best of luck ..

m

Hello, I was following a thread of hernia mesh removal. Can I ask if you had yours removed and if it was a better experience? I had mine in 10 years for inguinal hernia repair and just after my 2nd intestinal infection I am at my wits end and cant find a Dr here in the Us area of Pennsylvania to remove it so far. Thanks Scott

Having it actually removed was the worst experience far worse than the op to have it put in, as the mesh caused so many problems and infections, the removal was a really complicated procedure which cut through my stomach muscles and freed my bladder, also had 3 nerves cut as they were stuck in the mesh too. The op to put the mesh in has a 6 to 8 week recover but to take it out could be upto 6 months recover as its very slow with a few good days then a few bad. So it all depends on how you actually are with it, if it's only your 2nd infection after 10 yrs and that the only symptom I don't think it's the mesh as it would be constant problems or infections

Dr Kevin Peterson in Las Vegas, Nevada removes mesh. You can find him on the internet to get some information. I recently had my mesh removed and triple neurectomy by Dr John Garvey, a groin surgery specialist in Australia. I am 4 weeks post op. Still having pain, but some days are already good some very bad with pain. It seems to be worse mid afternoon and night after activity, walking, cooking and light housework. It will take at least 6 months to know the results. I have had three operations on my groin for this hernia and subsequent problems. If you follow my past posts you will get some idea of my ordeal. Good luck with your journey.

Its only my 2nd intstinal infection , I also had a Prostate infection a few times, as well as bladder infection. Blood in my urine. ect.

adele I am thinking of having mesh removal. Did you removal was a success for you?

Hi, i am new to this and i know this post was a long time ago now but i am desperate to find a surgeon in the UK to do mesh removal procedure for my husband. He has suffered for years and sounds exactly like what you and Adele have been describing. Please could you let me know if you have had mesh removed and who your surgeon was.

Many thanks

Hi Adam,

?good resource is FDA website make sure you look at warning letters under medical devices then type in mesh. The information there lets us be pro active with knowledge of what devices are causing the problems. I had hernia repair x2 one sewn one large mesh covering whole lower abdominal wall. First surgery failed within months to reoccur with chronic pain. 2nd hernia repair with mesh was good (except for horrible charlie horse) until this year. Now no one will touch me because of the mesh but removal is not a option for my insides would fall out. Mine are large incisional hernias from internal bleed that put 12 liters of blood into stomach cavity while waiting on blood thinner to get out of my system. I am so thankful to blood donors for I would not be here without them. Much success on you journey & recovery.

Hi I had 90% of mine removed as the other 10% was to dangerous to get out, the surgeon was a guy called Aali sheen based out of Manchester where he's part of the Manchester hernia clinic

Thanks for your repky, i will look him up. Do you mind me asking if the removal surgery has worked?

Hello Adam, just wondering how all is going for you?

I actually think I am starting to improve now. I was diagnosed with bilateral femoral hernias a couple of months ago. I have since had them repaired with the same surgeon who took out the mesh and completed triple neurectomy. I really believe in this doctor who would not give up trying to heal me.

I am hoping this positive progress keeps on improving. 

I have been thinking of how others who have been in our situation have been getting on

Regards,

Adele

Hi Adele, I'm pleased your surgeon has persevered and you are thankfully seeing some progress on your long and difficult journey, I hope it continues for you. Can I ask if your femoral hernias were repaired successfully  without mesh? Do you think a lot of your continuous pain was linked to the femoral hernias as well as the healing process?  I ask because my mesh and tacks were removed in March with double neurectomy . The mesh was attached to bladder, main vessel and Psoas muscle, with the added complication of a severed inguinal ligament ( cut by surgeon who placed mesh) and which I believe supports the femoral canal amongst other things, I was very relieved the mesh had gone and saw a significant and immediate improvement, however mobility is still compromised, I felt support had gone when upright where the ligament was cut, an ultrasound last week confirmed a small groin hernia . I am awaiting a review with the surgeon and hoping this can be repaired without mesh but I do not know yet if the ligament can be repaired. I hope my surgeon will persist as yours has and I believe he will. 

Hi Adele good to hear your heading in the right direction. How did the surgeon repair  your bilateral hernia ? I still seem to be on a roller coaster and have good and bad days, this last bad day has lasted 2 weeks now as having issues with the nerves they cut as getting cross fire and having problems with the scar tissue and it stopping my stomach moving properly. Been to see surgeon again and not many options unless have the nerves cut round the back nerve the cord 

Hi Adam, I've just seen your comment and wondered if your surgeon (same surgeon)  thinks the nerves will finally settled down . Can I ask how you differentiate between cut nerve pain and nerves trapped within scar tissue? I wondered if they can see trapped nerves on any scan or can the scar tissue not be released to help both your nerves and stomach ( similar to adhesions?) . Amongst other remaining problems, I have what I believe is a trapped lateral femoral nerve and the pain around my hip bone is more intermittent now the mesh has been removed, although my thigh is numb. It may be trapped under my severed inguinal ligament or in scar tissue due to the mesh, but I have declined having it cut as at the moment the physio is trying myofascial release around it,  she can be a little rough, but I do get some strange crawling sensations back into the nerve albeit for just a short time, living in hopes it may release in time . Could a physio not help stretch the scar tissue around your nerves? 

Hello, my femoral hernias were repaired without mesh using the Lockwood (or low approach) method of repair. My surgeon does a tension free-darn repair and did not use mesh. I do think some of my right sided pain was caused by the femoral hernia as it was quite large and could have been compressing the femoral nerve and femoral artery, but I also had a very large hardened lymph node in my femoral canal entrance.

I hope your hernia can be repaired without mesh. If you surgeon has expertise in the area of hernia repair not using mesh and your inguinal ligament that was cut can also be fixed.

It is absolute hell going through what a lot of people are. I have been having some good days of late and am not experiencing the burning nerve pain I was, at all. Fingers crossed this is my time to heal and start getting my life back. I am still a little sore, expecially the right hand side that has had so many surgeries because it still has swelling and haematoma from the surgery, but i can see it is going down day by day, but very slowly. It is definitely a lot better than 2-4 weeks post op. I am six weeks post op tomorrow and feel better this time than any of my other surgeries even if very unfit. Because of the pain I was experiencing I could not do my usual actitvities and am very unconditioned. Hopefully I can start building up my walking and exercise regime slowly and get some of my fitness back.

When do you see your surgeon? My positive thoughts are with you for a successful outcome.

 

Good to hear from you Adam, but sorry to hear of your ongoing pain. I hope you nerves settle down like mine did. My surgeon sent me for numerous US guided cortisone nerve blocks and I really think they helped, but it took a few months of trial and error.

I had femoral hernias repaired without mesh using the Lockwood (or low approach) method of repair. My surgeon did a tension free repair and did not use mesh. I am not feeling too bad. Although I have been sitting for a few hours working today and I am in some discomfort still from the last surgery. I have swelling from inguinal lymph node removal. This is also slowly improving day to day.

How are you today? It is so bad when you are in constant pain, especially nerve pain because nothing seems to work to calm it down. I used to use ice a lot for pain as it was the only thing that temporarily gave me some relief besides sleeping. Also the ice spray you can buy in an aerosol. I also was taking palexia for pain, not sure if it actually helped. I am still on it now, but hopefully can wean myself off it eventually.

Fingers crossed this time my pain free days will last.

I have also read that amitriptyline or nortriptyline can help with nerve pain. I tried them, but it caused heart palpitations so I ceased using it. 

Wishing you all the best Adam with your treatment and progress.

Adele

I spoke too soon Adam. I was going along virtually pain free until yesterday morning. Out of nowhere the burning started in my groin crease inner thigh. UGH.

My surgeon wants me to have a pudendal nerve MRI study to rule that out. Where I had nerve blocks for the pain in my pubic bone (pubic turbicle) the pain has largely disappeared and not bothering me. I am wondering if the burning is because of lmild lymphedema swelling because my lymph nodes were removed? It is only my right side though. The left one I would not even know it was operated on for femoral hernia and lymph node removal. This was the fourth op on my right hand side. Obviously a lot more damage to deal with. Hoping this is short lived.

I was too confident after a few good days that my days of pain were over.

Are you any better?

Hi Adele , I'm sorry to hear this morning your pain has returned, I hope it is temporary and you can regain the good days. Your surgeon sounds brilliant and determined to find you some relief from your pain. I also had a lymph node removed in January 2016 , it was enlarged just after the mesh placement, presume a foreign body reaction and it took a while for the swelling to go away after removal. I've had nine surgeries since this mesh was placed and two years of hell, only getting some respite when it was finally removed. This mesh creates so much damage and scar tissue, the ongoing pain and suffering is horrendous, which a lot of surgeons are so dismissive of! 

My surgeon is lovely and believes in quality of life, he is skilled at both non mesh and mesh repairs but won't operate unless he feels it can offer an improvement , to repair my ligament is difficult due to scar tissue caused by the mesh and his concern is that he could make me worse.   It would have to be permanent stitches and he said it would be a year before considering the further surgery but it maybe the hernia I have changes that now, he advised he would speak with his colleagues first, so I am awaiting a call from him to see what the step is, but in the interim my mobility is severly compromised, although I am much better since the mesh and tacks were  removed and very grateful to him, I am so pleased I found him and  desperately hoping he will continue to help find a resolution as your surgeon is. Pain relief is not really effective, I stopped taking Pregabilin as it was messing my system but making no real difference to the pain.  I saw you had tried Amitriptyline, that also gave me palpitations. 

It's been a long haul for you and I hope you finally get some respite. My thoughts and hopes are with you. Take care.

Sharon 

Thank you Sharon for your kind words. It is not a good situation to be in.

I hope your recovery keeps improving also. It is so unpredictable.

 

Hi Adele I have just come across your posts on this forum.

I have recently been diagnosed with a femoral hernia and the surgeon who will operate uses a mesh patch. After researching I am apprehensive about polypropylene mesh. I live in Sydney and see your surgeon is a Dr John Garvey. Can I ask you where his rooms are? Glad to hear you are heading in the right direction now- you've had a rough time. Thanks Rose

Hello Rose, sorry to hear of your femoral hernia diagnosis. Dr Garvey is located at 135 Macquarie St, Sydney. You should be fine if you have had no other hernia surgeries as myself. Best of luck.

Thanks Adele I just found him on the net. Hope he's not too expensive and I don't have to wait too long for an appointment.  Hope you continue to improve.

Did you find someone to redo your hernia

Adam i have had the same surgery and i was very active am still but my too hernias are giving me lots of problems constipation  and infections a lot and in pain i had the surgery in between mussels also i am going to a colon specialist the 20th i wont to know if you are having the same problems this is no way to live and are you getting your problem taken care of i have had other mesh surgerys and four surgerys from that i live in sc let me know   

Hey Scott. I know it's old in the same boat as you move was 12 years when i strained myself about six months ago and have had two infections in a row. Second one my whole lower body swelled up life a balloon. I'm starting get scared all the doctors here in Manitoba think it's a god damn joke. Pardon my language. Last doctor I saw this week have me antibiotics and get this Advil. Regular Advil. I can't find anyone understands it they think I'm nuts. There is a doctor in Ontario that will do removal. CT scan is getting scheduled sooner rather than later I hope. Pain is taking its toll on me.. Especially when no one believes you.

hi madge....can you forward the name and numbers of any British doctors who have a good reputation for successfully removing the mesh from men.....thank you ....send to....thank you 

hi adam....do you have more info on your manchester doctor?...the correct spelling and number or hospital where to reach him....thx audrey

Hi Audrey, Mr David Nott has a great reputation look him up, I’m under him at the Chelsea and Westminster hospital London. Good luck 

Hello Audrey, I also had my mesh removed by the same surgeon in Manchester . His name is Professor Aali Sheen. I cannot praise him highly enough and will send you a private message with more detail

Thx we are going with Dr. Sheen in Manchester which is closer for us...thx so much for replying...audrey

Hi Audrey would you kindly let me know how you get on please? I'm at the end of my tether with my pain and Im due to see pain clinic next week. I'm not letting them fob me off I want another opinion before I go any further and look for a solution. This is either nerve entrapment or the mesh causing problems... either way it needs sorting. My surgeon just thinks he can send me to a clinic to fix pain... not address the cause of the pain! Good luck with yours hope all goes well - I'm only in Liverpool so that's why I'm interested so much, I may have to follow in your footsteps x

hi smigger....it is my friend, not i, who has the pain....we found Dr. Aali Sheen in Manchester....very nice and good reputation....maybe that is not too far from liverpool?....good luck and get it out!!!...audrey

Is he private?And is it expensive?I know that sounds ridiculous but I've just been made redundant as well to make things worse... Do I need a referral? Thanks for the reply hun x

Scott, did you ever have your mesh removed?  What doc did you use and how did it go?  Did you also have a plug?  What is physio and did it help you?

I also live in Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia.

I had inguinal hernia surgery with a plug and mesh 3 years ago.  Had slight pain ever since the surgery.  Then 7 months ago the pain increased to the point that it was so bad and intensifying so quickly that my body shut down and I passed out.  Ever since I have been in constant pain that intensifies with movement, sometimes to the point that I cannot move.  

I have had an excellent surgeon tell me if it was him, he would just live with it because removal may leave me worse off.

Very interested in who you saw, what you did and how the results were.

Hey Ed, I’m responding Bc I had to have my mesh removed and I had it removed by dr. Igor Belyanski in Annapolis MD, which is close by to you. I traveled from NYC to see him as he is one of the few surgeons in the US who has the skill and expertise to remove all types of hernia mesh safely. It is true that there is no guarantee that you will go back to 100% if you have the mesh removed but the most important thing is to first make sure it is removed safely with no further damage.

Actually step one is to try everything, nerve blocks, medication and other therapies to see if they help you, if they don’t and the mesh is causing debilitating pain then the second step is to have it removed safely.

I am around 90% better and am functioning in my daily life. My mesh had folded up into a ball that Belyanski saw on a cat scan.

Since my removal surgery which was 7 months ago dr. Bekyanski has successfully removed 7 other guys mesh ranfing from inguinal, umbilical, plug and patch and laparoscopic placed mesh.  No one has been worse off-you have to keep your expectations in check if it is deemed that removals is best-most people never get back to 100% but do feel 85%-90% and it depends on a host of factors.

There is also dr. William Myers in Philadelphia who not only removed hernia mesh but has a bunch of therapies to treat the pain.

Best of luck on the is hellish experience-I know how you feel!

Jonah, thank you greatly for your response and help.  What specific medications, nerve blocks and therapy did you have and who did them?   Did the doc say your's was easier to remove since it was folded into a ball and not attached to other tissue?   Are these problems due to improper installation during the hernia surgery?

I had my mesh put in 6 years ago and never felt right but about s year ago it got really worse with a burning tearing sensation in my groin and thigh that felt like someone was operating on me while I was awake. It left me essentially bed riddened and unable to sit with burning lava like pain in my groin and thigh. I had test after test surgeon after surgeon doctor after doctor tell me all was well. I felt flabbergasted. I tried everything including going to a pain management specialist. Seeing this specialist got me back to going to work but didn’t solve the heavy feeling in my stomach and burning while sitting.

Your going to want to goto a pain management specialist who specializes in groin pain. 

If your pain is due to nerve issues and there are 3 major nerves in the groin that can be affected by the mesh. The pain amanegemt doctor can do diagnostic nerve blocks for each nerve to see if that helps with the pain if it does then other things can be done that are geared to be a more permanent solution. Make sure they do the nerve block with ultrasound guidance. You can research more online.  Which nerves They will start on will be Based on your symptoms. 

They can also prescribe nerve pain medicine-they perscribed gabapentin for me.

The surgeon I mentioned in philly is probably the best guy in the states to goto to try and solve your issues first without Surgery. You should feel lucky he is near you. 

6 months after this debilitating pain started I eventually through tons of research and joining a hernia mesh Facebook group learned of a few surgeons who specialize in mesh issues.

As I mentioned I sent my cat scan to the surgeon I mentioned above and he saw that the mesh had shifted and folded-I knew it had to come out and the surgeon agreed. He said it is slightly harder to get out folded mesh.

When he operated and got inside there he said it was much worse then the scan had indicated the mesh had essentially folded up into a rock hard ball.

The good news for you if it comes to removing the mesh is that the surgeon in Maryland who removed my mesh recently removed a plug and patch from another member of the Facebook group I belong to and he told him that it was much easier to remove this type of mesh. He at the request of the guy did a non mesh pure tissue repair to close up the hernia defect after removal instead of using another piece of mesh.

Anyways my rx is to try and do everything you can to remediate the pain you are going through do tons of research online and become as knowledgeable as you can.

Don’t waste your time with local surgeons or the one who did your surgery they either just don’t know or don’t want to know that mesh can really wreak havocs inside. They will tell you that you can die or lose a testicle or come out worse and while it is true that this is a tricky and dangerous surgery if you goto one of the top knee that does this routinely it is like a routine surgery with the risks of a typical surgery. 

If you haven’t already get a cat scan of the pelvis and also get a mri as some of the few surgeons who deal with mesh issues specialize in reading one of the tests and not the other.

Best wishes.

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How are you these days? Ever get a removal??

Oh my your symptoms are the same as mine . Pain in my pubic area , in the spot of surgery and the nerve down my leg . I don’t know what to do . 

hi there

have been reading through your posts about your mesh repair.

i had a lateral mesh hernia repair 3years ago now.

it is giving me so much pain.

aching and stabbing pains that radiates pain down my inner thigh.

i feel as if no one will take me seriously! I had a ct scan which showed nothing, the hernia hadnt ruptured or come back.

i am seeing a physio and clinical pilates instructor tomorrow and hoping they can help.

your post was 2years ago..... what has been the outcome? have you had the mesh removed?

hello Sophie2609

sorry to hear about your pain. Although your symptoms are similar to many others your source of problem and following treatment may still be different. Mesh removal is last resort. My recommendation would be to go to a very reputable surgeon who is experienced with mesh removal, groin mesh removal specifically. Preferably experienced with woman groin surgeries because there are differences in anatomy with men. There are specialists mentioned on this forum from Beverly Hills, LA, Annapolis, Edmund, Beachwood and some other places in the US. First surgical steps recommended is neurectomy rather than mesh removal. This is less invasive and may resolve your issues.

SOPHIE I KIND OF FROZE UP WHEN THE THOUGHT OF HAVING A SURGERY TO HOPEFULLY CORRECT THE FIRST SURGERY. THE FACT THAT TWO PIECES OF MESH HAVE BEEN PLACED INSIDE ME UNKNOWINGLY. WE SUFFER THROUGH ALL THIS PAIN MEANWHILE SURGEONS BANK ACCOUNTS ON STEROIDS THANKS TO VICTIMS LIKE US. THEY SAY CANT FIGURE WHAT PAIN IS FROM BUT YET N STILL EAGER TO RIP ME OPEN JUST TO ROLL THE DICE AGAIN. HOW DO YOU DEAL ON A DAILY? WENT FROM ALWAYS ON THE GO TO NOT WANTING OR FEELING LIKE SOCIAL EVENTS OR OUTINGS WITH MY CHILDREN N FAMILY.

i will try and find a specialist, i live in kenya. so Us surgeons are nit an option. i am a british citizen so i coild enquire in the Uk.

when i had some massage and ultra sound treatment last year with a physio it did help so i might try and do that for a couple of weeks. but it is getting worse.

i am a textile artist and spend most of my day sitting at my sewing machine. its when i then get up to move or drive that it is the most painful.

maybe swimming would help. it feels like its sort of tight and pulling on nerves and tissue....?

hi anthony.

i just learn to deal with it! take ibruprofen and try to get through the pain but its getting worse a is very depressing. the pain is worse than when i had the hernia,

i had an unbilical repair 6years ago and that has given me no problmes thank goodness.

I had mesh removal surgery with Belyansky .