Post Op Incisional Hernia Repair

RichardRS
RichardRS Member Posts: 44
edited March 2014 in Prostate Cancer #1
I had an incisional hernia 7 months after Robotic Surgery.
It was repaired....twice.

Apparently such incisional hernias adjacent to the naval are not uncommon.

Recommendation:
If you have one:
Repair it soon. I was told I could delay until the end of summer.. Mistake.

Make sure that the repair is with permanent mesh.
The first time the repair was disolvable mesh. Mistake, The muscles need the permanant structure.

Use a hernia specialist, not the robotic surgeon.
There are many tricks to hernia repair and they are patient specific.

It can be done on an abulatory/out patient basis.

Comments

  • lewvino
    lewvino Member Posts: 1,010
    #2
    After having my gall bladder
    After having my gall bladder out I needed mesh put in for a hernia repair. My robotic surgeon was a little concerned about getting through the mesh for my prostate surgery but they got through fine. Won't have to worry about that again now that the prostate is gone. I agree with you though I should have had the hernia repair years sooner then I did after the gallbladder.

    Larry (lewvino)
  • txbarton
    txbarton Member Posts: 89 Member
    #3
    Hernia Repair
    I had a herniated navel going into my daVinci surgery. Since one of the incisions was at my navel the surgeon said he would repair the hernia on the way out.

    His repair didn't work and is now much worse than before. Not painful but just one more thing hampering my career as a Speedo model.

    I am "a little overweight" still. My son said he would get one of his partners to repair it for free after I lose a more weight. BTW, his partners are gastro-intestinal surgeons, not Chevy mechanics :-) (not that I have anything against Chevy mechanics!)

    VB
  • steckley
    steckley Member Posts: 100
    #4
    Post Op Incisional Hernia Repair
    Hey Richard,

    Thanks for the advice. I go in March 8 to have mine repaired. At the pre-op I will be sure to ask that they use the non-disolveable mesh.

    This is my fourth Hernia repair; however, it is my first unbilical hernia. The previous three were inguinal (only one used mesh ... must have been permanent mesh ... it gave the prostate surgeon a go). Again, thanks for the advice.

    Bob
  • RichardRS
    RichardRS Member Posts: 44
    #5
    steckley said:

    Post Op Incisional Hernia Repair
    Hey Richard,

    Thanks for the advice. I go in March 8 to have mine repaired. At the pre-op I will be sure to ask that they use the non-disolveable mesh.

    This is my fourth Hernia repair; however, it is my first unbilical hernia. The previous three were inguinal (only one used mesh ... must have been permanent mesh ... it gave the prostate surgeon a go). Again, thanks for the advice.

    Bob

    Hernia repair: Exercises that help
    Good luck on your repair. After surgery, I found a very good Physical Therapist and got a prescription from my surgeon for PT. Her main issue is that men mostly use the top layer of four muscle layers in the abdomen hence frequency of hernia. She identified a "spot" between testicles and anus where you can contract a muscle that work the lower layers. I now have six different exercises all using the "spot contraction" as the core. My abdomen feels much stronger, and I find I am walking much better.
  • steckley
    steckley Member Posts: 100
    #6
    RichardRS said:

    Hernia repair: Exercises that help
    Good luck on your repair. After surgery, I found a very good Physical Therapist and got a prescription from my surgeon for PT. Her main issue is that men mostly use the top layer of four muscle layers in the abdomen hence frequency of hernia. She identified a "spot" between testicles and anus where you can contract a muscle that work the lower layers. I now have six different exercises all using the "spot contraction" as the core. My abdomen feels much stronger, and I find I am walking much better.

    Hernia repair
    Richard,

    I had the hernia repair on Monday and per your advice made sure the surgeon had completed a lot of these types of repairs. He used the permanent mesh, etc. All seems to have gone well, but so far I do not have a referral to a PT. When I discussed the exercises with the surgeon, he understood what I was saying but did not know much about the exercises. He did not want me to do a lot of crunches right away.

    Can you give me a bit more information on the six spot contactions? They sound like they are forms of kegels ... I've not been able to find them on the web.

    Thanks,
    Bob

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