Conquering Post Sports Hernia Surgery Blues
After a successful sports hernia surgery, take your recovery slow and steady. Follow the recovery plan designed by your sports hernia specialist, and you will be back to sports in no time. Some athletes fight the urge to jump right back into their normal routine immediately. Others let fear keep them on the sidelines more so than necessary. The right way to approach your recovery is somewhere in the middle.
Re-injury is not something any athlete wants to happen. If you spend time recovering from a sports hernia, the last thing you want is to start the process all over again. If you follow your recovery plan carefully, coming back from a sports hernia is not complicated or a lengthy process. Dr. William Brown has years of experience helping professional athletes recover, and he works with each patient to create his or her individualized recovery plan.
Along with following your tailored recovery routine, listen to what your body is telling you. If something doesn’t feel right, it is time to talk to your specialist. After completing your recovery, you should be back to normal. Any lingering pain, tightness or numbness is not par for the course and should be addressed with your physician.
After surgery, it can be difficult mentally to separate avoiding injury from avoiding everything. Do not let a previous sports hernia scare you away from the activities you love. Instead, learn to recognize your limits. Sports hernias occur when your muscles are subject to extreme stress and strain. So, take your activities slow and steady at first. Keep skiing, but maybe don’t attempt the black diamond course on your first run. Offer to help a friend move, but don’t try to carry a couch all by yourself. Avoiding re-injuries is all about knowing and accepting your limits.
It is helpful to continue with the stretches and exercises you learned in physical therapy. They are designed to strengthen the muscles most susceptible to injury, and they are easy to incorporate into your exercise routine. Otherwise, make sure to include core training. Crunches, planks and other abdominal exercises can help strengthen your core – the abdominal muscles affected by sports hernia injuries.
Once you have recovered, don’t live in fear of re-injury. You put in the time and effort to get off of the sidelines, so don’t spend your time sitting there. Recognizing your limits and building core strength help you avoid re-injury. If you have any concerns, speak to your sports hernia specialist. Recovering from a sports hernia takes patience, but a previous injury shouldn’t keep you sidelined forever.