noodle soup

I did a search, and this thread came up.

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...ve-hernia.html

Instead of resurrecting a zombie thread, I chose to start a new one.

Has anyone here had hernia surgery, and how long did it take for your recovery?

I was hit by a truck 25 months ago, and had three surgeries to repair the intestinal damage. When I was about to get out of the hospital, my doctor told me to expect to have hernia issues in 6-12 months. For the past year I've been getting some random abdominal pains that feel like a muscle cramp/spasm. The pain isn't crippling, but it's become more frequent.

I plan on getting it looked at soon, but I'd like to hear from some of you about the recovery time.

ckindt

I had a hernia op about 14 years ago. seems I tore a bit of the abdomen wall in the lower right groin area from weight training. I could feel my intestine poking out and could push it back in with my finger. It felt weird, but didn't hurt.
The docs cut me open and put a screen in and stitched me back up. After the pain meds wore off i was in terrible pain during the smallest move. This pain only lasted 2 days. On the 3rd day I was back in the gym.

Sorry to hear about your accident. Hopefully you get it all sorted out soon!

Good luck.

FBinNY 

The recovery time varies tremendously based on the extent of the repair done, and you own body's healing rate. This is simply something you have to take up with whoever is treating you.

BTW - there's always the chance you can dodge the bullet, at least for a while, with external support, so your question may be premature.

Shimagnolo

When I was 19yo: Open surgery. It took took 2 weeks before I could laugh/cough/sneeze w/o it feeling like someone was shoving a hunting knife into my crotch. Probably 3 weeks before I could walk normally, instead of shuffling along keeping one leg forward.

A couple years ago: Laparoscopic surgery. I felt like I could have hopped back on the bike the next day, but the surgeon warned me not to try it for 10 days.

Mike F

I had open surgery last September. Surgeon said six weeks off the bike. Took it slowly after that and then the holidays came so it took a while to get back to whatever form I had. I probably waited to long to get mine repaired. They dont fix themselves and can only get worse. Good luck.

noodle soup

I guess "it depends" is the real answer.

I've been waiting 2 years for this issue to occur, so I'm not freaking out. When they went in originally, they gutted me like a fish.

Don't look if you are easily upset.

https://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...A79494F685.jpg

Shimagnolo

Across the bottom of page: "Calendars", "Canvas Wraps", "Holiday Photo Cards".

Mike F

Anything should be a "walk in the park" after that.

noodle soup

Yeah. That is funny ****.

noodle soup

yeah, I'm not worried about the recovery, more curious about how long it could be.

The he pain is no problem now, but it's all over my abs(depending on the moment). It's getting bad enough that I don't want to ride, and only stupid cold weather ever does that.

Mike F

That's when I decided to get mine done is when I could feel discomfort on the bike. The freaky part was even after 6 weeks, I could occasionally feel the mesh grating against the muscles/innards or what ever. Like somebody rubbing 40 grit against the abdominal wall from the inside. Cant feel that now

ltxi

Three weeks. First time I went back to work at just under two weeks. Painful and full recovery took almost a month and a half. Second time I listened/paid attention to the doctor. But that was late 80's.

bykemike 

Hey, don't sweat that, I could still feel things from that operation for 5 years. It will always be with you although these days (12 years) I only hear from it I lift too much or at the wrong angle.

mvnsnd

Similar experience here. I developed a inguinalhernia several years ago. Had the operation to fix it with the mesh. The first day after surgery was the hardest. I never used the prescribed pain meds, just small amounts of Advil, but by the third day, not much pain left and I was up and around doing things. Back to normal after a week. Could feel the mesh pulling around occasionally for a few months, but it never bothered me on the bike.

the sci guy 

I had double inguinal hernia surgery a few years ago. They did it laproscopically so all I have is a tiny scar in my belly button. They put the mesh in.

I had some pain from the big tacks they use to attach it to your muscles but they dissolve eventually - about two weeks. The worst was laughing, coughing, and God help you - sneezing. I was back to work after 5 days. You'll be sore mostly in your abdominal area for a few weeks when you exert those muscles. You have to be careful in the first week or so to not exert those muscles because you risk tearing the fix.

Bottom line - there's no such thing as minor surgery. Your body is being repaired. Don't risk further or repeated injury just because you don't want to miss Wednesdays group ride. You're not going to the Tour de France. Be smart. If you ride hard, then don't ride. I'd stay of the bike for about 2 weeks minimum regardless. Better safe than surgery.

bobwysiwyg

Had the same procedure and the same experience. I might add, getting up out of bed in the morning the first two days was a b!tch! Don't bother trying to find a painless way to do it, there is none. After that it gets better quickly. I walked around the block, albeit slowly, three times each day and was back to work in a week as well.

TheKillerPenguin

I had umbilical hernia surgery years ago, it was like 2wks until I could stand up straight and about 3wks before I could ride.

It actually retore a couple of years ago when I had some crazy coughing sickness but it's so tiny and my deductible is so high that I haven't bothered getting it fixed again. The more I ride the less I notice it, presumably because my core is stronger.

corrado33

2 weeks for my inguinal. First week I was mostly in bed and or at my computer. Walking, laughing, sneezing, coughing, (pooping) all hurt. 2nd week I drove to work, 3 week I biked to work. A couple of more weeks before I started running again.

But then again I was 27 at the time. YRRM

the sci guy 

Yeah I was 31 when I had my surgery. Older bodies take longer to heal.

79pmooney

Times vary a lot. Until the surgeon has gotten into you and sees how much he has to cut to sort things out, the answer you are asking for isn;t known. It also depends a lot on how the surgeon puts you back together. The old way with stitches is a slow heal. I had a mesh put in and was on the trainer in 10 days and back on the road not long after. But I rode gingerly for quite a while.

Edit: Oh, I was 47.

Ben

Mike F

Thats a good sign something is too heavy then

noodle soup

When I had that massive wreck I was 46, and in the best shape of my life. The trauma surgeon told me several times that I was very lucky to be fit enough to survive the wreck(and have a full recovery). Told me that in 6-12 months he'd see me again to repair some hernia problems. At about 1 year, I started to notice a few little random pains in my abdomen. Now those pains are becoming more frequent, and there are 4 spots between my belt line and ribcage that usually get a little uncomfortable when I stress that area.

My surgeon told me to expect it, and that the recovery would be nothing in comparison, but never talked about a recovery timetable for obvious reasons.

noodle soup

My recovery from that wreck was brutal. I was on a PICC line for almost 3 weeks, and lost 35 lbs of muscle. I was a very lean 6'2" 175lbs before, and 140lbs when I got home.

I went from farting out 5:10 solo century rides, to struggling to ride 10 miles at a 13mph pace.