Hernia? What am I in for?

[driver]

Right off the bat, yes I plan on heading into my sports doc soon but it will be a few days before I can get in due to the long weekend, so thought I'd get some feedback from you guys in the meantime;

I'm 25 and I've been training since 18; dieting, dedicated and heavy lifting since 21.

The day before yesterday, it was chest and bicep day and I changed up my exercises as I do every 6 weeks or so; although I was annihilated by the exercises I hadn't done in a while, I had no strains or pains that arose during the workout. After my workout, I spent 30 mins on the stairmaster, which I also haven't used in months (usually stick with the bike for cardio).

Yesterday, I noticed some slight pain in my groin area - the right side, in the 'seam' where the pelvis meets the leg, about 4 inches below and to the right of the naval. When I palpate the area, there is certainly a bulge there and it is slightly painful when palpated (1/10 in terms of pain, but it's there).

I did some quick research on line, and I fit the bill 100% for an Inguinal Hernia, which is when tissue pushes though a weak spot in the groin muscle. F*ck. Obviously first thing I've done is schedule an appointment with the Doc, but that isn't until late next week, so I am left wondering...

Bodybuilding and fitness is my life - this is what I do; while it doesn't define me as a person, it is a large part of who I am and my way of life. It has changed and shaped my existence in so many ways - it has shaped my personality, built my self-image, provided me the opportunity to meet my Fiancee, and helped immensely in my career; on top of those, there are countless inarticulable ways that the bodybuilding and fitness lifestyle has helped me as well - I am sure many of you can relate.

Everything I have read about Inguinal Hernia's is that the ONLY way to repair them is via surgery, and the only way to prevent them from reoccurring after surgery is no more lifting.

I cannot even fathom to think that my days of lifting may be limited - like I said, bodybuilding and fitness is my life and my passion; Like many of you, I have invested an immeasurable amount of time, sweat and sacrifice into my lifestyle to be where I am today; I am sincerely worried that my lifestyle and my passion is about to be taken away from me.

I want to hear from some of you who may have had to deal with a Hernia; how was the surgery? Was surgery your only option? What was recovery like?
How did it affect your lifting? How did it affect your lifestyle? And anything else you may be able to add about the ordeal, good or bad.

Thanks guys, looking forward to the responses.

[physique]

well dude

i just had surgery for the same thing this past tuesday. i can tell you surgery is the ONLY option, otherwise if u leave it it could kill you!

sugery wont happen overnight, go to reg doc, he will refer u to a specialist. from there it could be a month up to a year to get in. i was lucky i has min e within 3 weeks of seing specialist.

as far as training when u have it, it depends on the size. mine was the size of a softball so training for me was out of the question. hell blowing my nose or walking would cause it too fall out.

as for no more lifing after surgery, i dont know where u read that! as thts bs. i point blanked asked the doc when i could train again he said 4-6 weeks. when hey put the mesh in there its actually stronger then it was before, just like when u break a bone.

worst thing i think is not being able to push out fart or push out a shit. u eat laxatives like candy and eat lots of fruits and high fiber foods and it still doesnt help much. at least not with me. sleeeping isnt very comfortable either.

thts it bro. just remember to ice the wound after surgery, will help with pain, and swelling. so far my package doesnt look swollen, unlike a few buds of mine who had the same surgery and told me to expect to see my package look like it was assulted.

[RagingRandy]

All repairs are not the same. My Dad went to Shouldice in Thornhill to have his done. While there he talked with many guys up from the States paying huge money to have it done there because of multiple failed operations in the US. Some told him that they had friends that once they had the operation done there they never needed another. Do your research. Do not accept the first answer you get. Keep on asking questions until you get the answer you want and go for a second, third, and fourth opinion. Good luck.

[driver]

Thanks bro's - thankfully it is not that large, but it's there for sure. I've been reading all afternoon - I've read reports ranging from never lifting heavy ever again, to guys back in the gym 3 days post-op. I guess the only real way to answer the question is to have the damn surgery and play it by ear...

I just got home from the gym - did back and hamstrings and it didn't bother me one bit. It is only painful if I actually palpate it.

Thankfully I landed an awesome sports doc with a mind for training as my 'GP' if you will, so I am sure he will tell me straight up what I can or cannot do in terms of my weight lifting and time off. I'm booked in for next friday so we will see.

On another note, I really should post over here more often; I spend most of my time over at Nexus.

[physique]

it will eventually get worse if not taken care of. dont be like me and wait 6 years.

it never bothered me, so i never dealt with it, only reason i knew i had it was i caught pheunomia when i moved to BC. eventually though it started hurting more and more.

just deal with it is the best advice

[jaws]

I got a few friends who have been lifting heavy from day 1 since they sarted lifting and I know of 2 of them who got bad Hernias in which one guy had it that bad it looked like he was growing another dick just down around the lower abdominal area. He had surgery this year on it in which docs put an mesh in there (not sure on the whole procedure) to help things heal a little and hold his guts inn LOL!

[PdH]

...

[GYMBRAT]

agreed with above, I've had 3 of them f**kers in 25 yrs......not good but ya must get it fixed no matter what or it will just get WAY worse trust me!

[bluenoser]

I had my surgery about 6 years ago they did the mesh thing and I was back lifting in 6 weeks no problems at all. The doc. said I shouldn't have any problems with the area they repaired. However there is a high chance that the other side may blow out. My trainnig style has changed I don't do the heavy squats like i use to but it has not really affected my developement.

[lovetotrain]

After surgery you're back to new. So definitely go for it.

[Praetorian]

Get the surgery done as soon as you can. If you are in Ontario the best place is Shouldice....one of the best in the country! They use the newest techniques and youll be back training in approx 4 weeks.

http://www.shouldice.com/

P

[IronMan]

I had my umbilical hernia repaired last year, Aug 17th 2009. I have had this hernia for over 2 years and finally got the surgery after I competed in SABBA Provincials. I took the 6-8 weeks off from everything, so obviously no gym. I slowly got back into working out. I eased into it for about 4 weeks. Then hit it hard again, got too big too strong too fast and wasn't working my core at all like I usually would have done, and like I especially SHOULD have done since I just had a umbilical hernia repair. I ripped it right open again the second week of November. Its now worse than I was before I had the surgery to repair it. So I now have to get it done again, and this time I hope the repair is stronger, and will definitely work very hard on my core and keep it very tight. That Shouldice Surgical Hospital in Ontario looks very good P!!

[Andre Gregoire]

I got an inguinal hernia too doing heavy deadlifts with a tight belt on and doing too much valsalva... plus the genetically weak stomach lining...

In Quebec took nearly 3 months to get it operated on, I had to get it done, couldn't sit down without pain at all. After the operation took me about 3mths to go back to heavy lifting.

I have to admit it took me a long time to not be scared of doing heavy Deads and Squats again but the way they fix you up with gortex material it's stronger then before.

[clicker666]

Although this thread was brought back from the dead, I was glad to see it.

I developed an inguinal hernia recently, and then to add insult to injury, an ischiorectal abcess. Serious gross.

No lower body work until I get the surgery for the hernia, and god knows how long that will take. No dieting until the abcess is healed.

Figured since I was full diet and no lower body, I might as well work on my bench press.

[rated_rko]

i have a sliding hernia what am i in for? surgery wise guys?

[clicker666]

i have a sliding hernia what am i in for? surgery wise guys?

Hiatus Hernia - Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiatus_hernia)

I have no personal experience with this type, but here's the wiki for it. Sounds as if they don't do anything unless there's severe issues with discomfort / acid reflux. Reading the description it sounds as if doing a valsalva (as we do when lifting heavy) might be related or problematic.

[rated_rko]

thanx clicker666
yeah they scheduled me for a ecoscopy in july such a long wait... i lost 40lbs since i first started experiencing the problems...they gave me panteloc for the acid reflux for a month and i finished it up and started having terrible acid reflux again...and burping while working out...so im thinking ill end up having surgery after they do my ecoscopy

[GYMBRAT]

I got an inguinal hernia too doing heavy deadlifts with a tight belt on and doing too much valsalva... plus the genetically weak stomach lining...

In Quebec took nearly 3 months to get it operated on, I had to get it done, couldn't sit down without pain at all. After the operation took me about 3mths to go back to heavy lifting.

I have to admit it took me a long time to not be scared of doing heavy Deads and Squats again but the way they fix you up with gortex material it's stronger then before.

Exact same situation as myself, still leery of the deads...

[clicker666]

I miss my deads and squats. I can't wait to have this thing fixed.

[punkrock]

I had an ingual hernia... E.T the extra testical haha. It sucked, and I was advised to to alot of tightening up and muscle building in the the ab area. Lower, doing planks, side planks, and whole bunch of different physio exercises. Hadn't had one in since.

If you start training right away to you can weeken the tissue again and if you keep getting tears eventually they put a screen in there to stop it from pushing through. Doesn't sound like a real good time.

Take a month of easy physio in my opinion.

[Abscess]

Get the surgery done as soon as you can. If you are in Ontario the best place is Shouldice....one of the best in the country! They use the newest techniques and youll be back training in approx 4 weeks.

http://www.shouldice.com/

P

Yup, got mine done there (inguinal hernia). They are world renown. Plus because of their unique method (sewing the muscle back together with a fine stainless steel thread), you can start training again as soon as you feel ready. I was back in 10 days. Note that taking craps is a pain in the ass after though, lol.