How to Avoid Chronic Pain After Inguinal Hernia Repair Surgery
Pain directly after an operation is called acute pain. It is related to the operation itself and resolves as you heal from the operation. Chronic pain is pain that persists even after everything is healed.
Chronic pain after hernia repair can be debilitating and affect every aspect of your life. Be sure that you do everything you can to avoid chronic pain and promote rapid healing.
Avoid mesh hernia repair. Problems with mesh are the most common causes of chronic pain after hernia repair. Sometimes mesh will often become stiff with scar tissue and then when you bend and twist and the mesh does not bend and twist with you, you have pain. Also there are many sensitive structures in the inguinal region. If a nerve or the spermatic cord get stuck to the mesh then you will suffer chronic burning and difficulty with intercourse. Ask your surgeon whether or not mesh is truly needed and ask about one of the classic suture repairs.
Give your body time to heal. After an operation the body will heal everything back together. This process takes time. Do not push yourself too early! At three weeks you will have about 70% of your final strength. At that point it is usually safe to start aerobic exercises.
Choose an experienced inguinal hernia repair surgeon. Yes, hernia repair is a common surgery, but it is still very important to choose an experienced surgeon who has the expertise to get you the best result possible, like Dr. William Brown. He takes the time and has the skill to carefully repair your hernia.
Be in optimal health well before your surgery date. Overweight people and smokers heal more slowly and can be prone to more pain than those at a healthy weight and who don’t smoke. Extra weight puts more pressure on the sutures, which causes pain. Smokers have lower levels of collagen, which is required for tissue to heal better.
If you’re experiencing chronic pain or want to select a surgeon with the experience to help you avoid it, contact Dr. Brown today.