Massive Incisional Hernia & Back pain DISASTER

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Like others who have had a major abdominal surgery that leaves us with a long vertical scar from beast bone to belly button..we did not know that this hernia disaster' could happen AFTER. And that time means it becomes harder to repair, safely, or at all by surgery in time. That surgery can also have MANY complications, be painful, and have poor results after a long recovery. With few pain meds being given anymore due to current unfounded National Paranoia of 'addiction! you will be in for a really tough decision! Worst, over time the belly swells out bigger and bigger and makes you appear 9 mo. pregnant. Sometimes it shows as a smooth arc like a 'beer belly' for men, sometimes it is the intestines shifting underneath as a lumpy bumpy protrusion..

And often before you have repair surgery you can have major growing discomfort as it enlarges, and PULLS on your lower back muscles!

Right now I am desperate to design or find a custom wearable support to stop the agony of stress on my back, seriously making my health, attitude, and mobility much worse.

Here are the basics you may NEVER have been told, and what I'm dealing with, probably others too.

  1. if we had weak stomach muscles (no 6 pack abs) and/or are overweight too- there is a 30-40% chance the tough fascia band that covers over the intestines, UNDER our muscles, will fail, with large gaps opening like swiss cheese, that allows the 'guts' to emerge thru in larger and larger amounts. The only 'good' part is there is less chance of strangulation and painful necrosis starting from trapped waste in the intestine. As bad as that sounds a pinched intestine is a real emergency.
  2. The hernia can start after an infection, post surgery, this is a double whammy if your belly muscles were weak. Nothing stops the fascia from failing and opening like wet tissue.
  3. Over time more and more of the intestines push forward to be under the thin muscle and your skin and fat layer!
  4. Losing as much weight as you can to get your BMI down is needed for a safe repair surgery. Exercise, like walking to keep other muscles strong, and your respiratory system working is needed.

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  • Posted

    This is totally spot on for me! I had a total hysterectomy 3 years ago and had to deal with a bacterial infection (c-diff ) for a month following. Had a horrible recovery. Almost 2 years later, I noticed odd noises and a hard spot by my bellybutton. P.C. and gastroenterologist dismissed as IBS over and over."All bodies make noise". 8 months later I am in pain when cough or sneeze so I get CT scan and it shows 2 Large hernias! During all this i had my knees replaced so there was down time. Any weight I had lost I gained plus more. We moved also and then I was not going to physical therapy so gained a bit more.

    Now to get the surgery done I need to lose at least 50 pounds. But as you say...I have back pain and it is hard to exercise for long. But I have to. I asked the doctor and surgeon and even medical supply place for a recommendation for a type of brace to help me walk. All said..no such thing -do physical therapy. Without using a complete back brace, I don't know what to use. I have a hard time doing 5 minutes of standing because of back pain.

    it would be amazing if you could figure out a comfortable devise that would help. My next step will be pushing a walker! Yikes!

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