hernia surgery...

Well, I am sure it depends quite a bit on where the hernia is and how complicated the surgery will be, bit I did have a hernia wayyyy back when I was 18 (I am 47 now).  I had the surgery at the end of the summer before my senior year and it was the most common type for a male...you know right down there by the, ahem,  scrotum.  Surgery went well with no complications.  I was a cross country runner (3 mile PR of 16:52, MOP for my region!) and was bummerd as it shot my pre-school training and pretty much ruined my season (Fall season for cross-country whre I wen tot shcool).  Recovery was like 2 weeks of pretty much nothing, i.e. lying on my back, followed by another 2 or 3 of just "normal" life' followed by slowly easing back into running.  I just remember it hurt like hell to laugh, cough, sneeze, or go number 2...LOL.  Best wishes to you!

Hello

I had a sports hernia repair in August 2008.  8 to 10 inch gash from the top of my thing to my stomach.  30 days no training.  The post op days were not as bad as I thought they would be.


Send me PM if you have questions.

Kevin

As mentioned it depends on the type of hernia and type or repair. I had a hernia repair in my left groin area about two years ago. The repair was an open incision to sew mesh over the hole in the muscle. Doc told me I could do whatever I wanted as soon as the space age wound closing tape they put over it dissolved. That took about a week. Said the mesh they put in was stronger than the muscle and it would be almost impossible to ruin his work. The caveat was how much pain I could tolerate. Took me 3-4 weeks to get back to normal activity, but several months before I didn't feel it at all.

I had an umbilical hernia after my second pregnancy caused by major diastasis recti.  I couldn't lift anything over 20 lbs. for a month, and then was told to take it easy for 2-3 months.  My surgery was in March 2009, and I didn't start exercising until May/June.  Did my first sprint tri that Sept.

I had a groin hernia two years ago. The inscision was horizantal at the belt line about 3" long and a "medium" sized mesh was placed over the muscle tear. 

For personal reasons, I did the entire thing without narcotics, including the big shot of painkillers the doc will hit you with before you come out of the general anethesia. Coming out of general, I felt like my stomach had been run over by a truck. I don't recommend asking the doc to do what I reuested. The post surgery pain was manageable for me with tylenol and advil, but I'm more willing to tolerate pain than most people I know.

I was pretty stiff and sore for about 3 days. I was walking upright at normal speeds in 5 days. I was in the gym by week 2. I was able to do just about everything other than heavy weights and hard hill climbs on the bike in two weeks. It seems to me I was back at full speed between weeks 4 & 6.

The first 3-5 days was pretty tough, but recovery after that was quite quick.  

Umbilical repair with mesh insert on Dec 12/08. Full recovery by early Feb/09. Competing in Scottish Highland games by May.

I had an inguinal repair with a mesh about 4 years ago.

I trained as hard as I could right up to the day before the surgery.

The afternoon after the surgery I walked about a half of a mile at about a 3mph pace.  I kept up the walking and gradually sped up to about 4mph.

After two weeks when the stitches were out I started a slow jog of about a 9 minute per mile pace.  I only ran about a mile.  A friend of mine is a Neurosurgeon and he reminded me that no matter what they say, scar isn't really mature until 6 weeks.  As a result over the next 4 weeks I did pretty non stressful training.  I road my indoor cycle at about a 160watt exertion.  I jogged at a 8 minute per mile pace and kept the distance to 3 miles or below.

By 6 weeks I started adding a little speed and distance.  I started riding my road bike again.

It was probably close to 12 weeks before I was back to full speed.

Good luck.

I had a right side inguinal surgery two weeks ago. The surgeon repaired with mesh, which is stronger than what's down there in the first place (just as somebody earlier mentioned). I had been putting off the surgery but when my training became hindered, I sucked it up and schedule the procedure. I was almost slap in the middle of a 20 week half-ironman training program.

I knew it would slow me down, but wasn't sure just how much. Immediately following the surgery I was very uncomfortable and the only moving around I wanted to do was to and from the couch, to the pot, and to the bed. After a few days I was able to do some walking, but no serious training. I gave myself 9 full days off and on the tenth day I simply told myself I am getting back to work. My first day back was Monday. This week I did 9 workouts (3 run, 3 bike, 3 swim) including a 9 mile run and a 30+ mile bike. My heart felt fine but my legs just weren't under me. I also felt no pair / discomfort where my hernia was repaired. Prior to surgery I was having a lot of pain / numbness. I still feel a little stiff down in my lower abdomen area, especially when swimming when I reach forward and stretch out.

I do think a lot depends on the type of procedure you have done. My doctor told me to simply let pain be a guide - If it hurts - stop...if not - keep kicking. I think we are all capable of doing much more than we think our bodies can handle, so I say be aggressive with your recovery - GOOD LUCK!

"There will always be somebody bigger, faster and stronger...don't stop until you are that person" - M. Amazon

just back from the surgery room yesterday.  I am in the bed->pot->coach stage now... hopefully I can recover in 10 days!

Did you poop yet? Getting backed up was probably the worst part of the whole process for me.

I had hernia surgery 3 years ago. Mesh implanted right arounf the right side of my groin. Doc said take it easy 2 weeks, come back and see me at 2 wk mark. He said another week to slowly get back into any exercise and then by week 4 I should be good to go.
Just listen to your Doc's advice and your body.
Good Luck.

Join the club!  I'm 5 weeks out from my laparoscopic inguinal repair, with mesh.  No problems. Swimming within a week, biking within two weeks, running is up to 6 miles 3x a week now.  Pain is gone, just a twinge when I sneeze, but getting better every day.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Here's my story:http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=195985&posts=17#M2686644

I had an inguinal repair with mesh when I was rowing in college.  Do yourself a favor and make sure you feel 100% with the day to day stuff before you get back at it.  I did just about nothing for 4 weeks and then started training too hard too soon and kept re-tearing where the mesh had been healing....EXTREMELY painful!  I ended up drawing my recovery out because of it. If you feel any pain there back off...