Hernia Mesh Removal
Posted , 3 users are following.
Hi all I am a 40 year old (was) very active male and I was diagnosed with a left inguinal hernia via an ultrasound (which may or may not have been the correct diagnosis), and was implanted with a mesh in sep 2020 and have been in a roller coaster of pain since. I am not able to sit for more than 5 mins and cannot stand for more than 30 mins. I tried nerve block with steroids and that made things worse, set me back at least 6 weeks. Any activity I do causes a lot of pain and long time to recover. Some say its nerves but it feels like it is not just nerves. One surgeon is suggesting mesh removal. I am scared to death of a 2nd surgery and very confused as to what to do. Anyone out there done a mesh removal for an inguinal hernia and what was your experience with that? Any suggestions for me? Very much appreciate everyone's time and input, thanks very much!
-bobbhai
0 likes, 3 replies
Mickfinn bobbhai
Posted
Hi Bob,
Sorry to hear you are having problems with your hernia repair. I'm 40 and have just had my hernia surgery 10 days ago. like you I'm very active.
Do you mind me asking where you had your op done? I had to go private , the Hospital of St Elizabeth and St John. Nerve pain is one of my main concerns. I have have had burning shocks of pain on my groin since having the surgery, is that similar to what you are suffering? Did the pain start immediately or after some time? I stupidly lifted something to heavy yesterday , getting ahead of myself in my recovery and the op is really aching today.
From what i have read it's often the nerve pain that people think is mesh pain. Has a consultant given more info about mesh complications which makes you think it is the mesh causing the problem.
When you say its been a roller coaster of pain, do you mean you have had extended pain free periods since the op?
Andy
bobbhai Mickfinn
Posted
Hi Andy, when I say "my pain roller coaster" what I mean is that I rest and my pain seems to be getting better, and then I attempt an activity, something not too big, such as sitting for more than an hour, or have to make a drive out to see a doc that requires sitting in the car for an hour and some waiting at the doctor's office etc. Those types of activities will set me back and my pain comes back, and that take again few days to weeks to recover.
My surgery was done by Gerald Hayward, who is in the Ellicott City, Maryland, USA area. My pain varies, but mostly it is tightness and achy feel that I have. But sometimes I will feel burning sensation, sometimes sharp pain, sometimes throbbing and I have even felt small electric shock type of pain radiation from one spot in my waistline. This pain radiation from the waistline used to be wider after the surgery. I used to feel pain in the lower groin and little lower and left of my bellybutton. After about 4 months this area has shrunk and I can pin point the source of the pain appears to be this middle waistline spot, and pain went upwards and downward from here. I felt something was not right within the first week after the surgery. I suspect I have muscle/mesh related pain as well as nerve pain. Yours sounds more like just nerve related pain to me? Especially if your pain does not appear to be related to doing any kind of activities. I have talked to many surgeons, and pain doctors, and they do not know what could be causing the pain, some say it may be the mesh, some say it may be the nerve damage. I tried a nerve block, which made my pain worse. I am still recovering from that experiment. All this has made me scared to do try more injections and 2nd surgery frightens me even more. I may not have a choice but to have a 2nd surgery, if I am not able to sit-up soon. Good luck with your pain my friend, hope it works out for you soon, and let me know if you have other questions...
paul11346 bobbhai
Posted
hi bob...u sound like me....did you get the mesh removed yet?