A Sports Hernia Shouldn’t Sideline an Active Retirement

sports hernia retirementI’m not quite there yet, but I’m closer now to retirement than I am to the beginning of my career in medicine. Like many others, I have an idea of what my retirement will be like. I receive questions from retirees who’ve had their retirement sidelined by injury. These are active people who are fit, but after an injury they are suddenly unable to continue playing the sports and doing the activities they love.

It’s ironic considering they finally have the time to enjoy these sports more. Which makes it all the more important to seek treatment immediately. Unfortunately, many wait weeks or months before scheduling an appointment with their doctor, thinking the pain will go away with rest. Since sports hernias are difficult for many physicians to diagnose and repair, some go far too long dealing with the pain and give up their sports and activities. It’s frustrating to say the least.

Don’t let a sports hernia sideline your retirement. Take the case of a nearly 69-year-old patient on whom I recently performed a sports hernia repair surgery. Months before contacting me, he’d been exercising and felt a sharp pain. After doing in-depth research, he came across my website (as you have too). He’d accepted that open surgery repair without mesh was the best treatment course for him, and was anticipating a lengthy post-op hospital stay.  

This patient came to me by referral. Faced with a long recovery and more intrusive procedure, he decided to schedule an appointment with me. Within hours of arriving in the Bay Area, he was at my office and it changed the course of his treatment and recovery. I diagnosed and repaired a right direct inguinal hernia with a large indirect hernia, which had a large proximal opening.

Instead of days, this patient was released the same day and removed the surgical dressing that evening. Within a week, the incision was completely healed and his physical therapy was in full swing. Following his physical therapist’s program to strengthen the repaired area and his core muscles, this active retiree expects to be back on the golf course in three weeks.

Read about the experience in the patient’s own words.