Sports Hernia Blog - Sports Hernia Specialist

Thinking of an Inguinal Hernia Repair Without Mesh?

Published September 11, 2018 By William Brown, MD

Which Surgeon Should You See?

A noticeable bulge in your abdominal region. A burning sensation in the area. Pain in the groin when you use those muscles when you cough, strain or lift. Pain that subsides with rest and comes back with activity. These are the most common symptoms of an inguinal hernia, and since it won’t repair itself on its own, you should see a hernia specialist.

Why a specialist for inguinal hernia repair without mesh? Hernia repair is a common surgery, and many surgeons use mesh, which can cause a plethora of other problems. To avoid these problems, research the benefits of non-mesh repair and choose a surgeon who has decades of experience with no mesh hernia repair techniques.

Dr. William Brown, a leading hernia specialist says his patients already know that they have a hernia and want a non mesh repair or they’ve been suffering…

What to Expect During a Physical Examination for an Inguinal Hernia

Published August 28, 2018 By William Brown, MD

Preparing Yourself for Possible Hernia Surgery

According to the American Family Physician website, “Hernia is a general term describing a bulge or protrusion of an organ or tissue through an abnormal opening within the anatomic structure. Although there are many different types of hernias, they are usually related to the abdomen, with approximately 75 percent of all hernias occurring in the inguinal region. Abdominal wall hernias account for 4.7 million ambulatory care visits annually. More than 600,000 surgical repairs for inguinal hernias are performed nationwide each year, making it one of the most common general surgical procedures performed in the United States.”

And every inguinal hernia repair surgery begins with a physical exam for diagnosis. Your medical history and a physical examination are sufficient for an accurate diagnosis of your hernia the majority of the time. Simple as those sound, the examination is not to be rushed since glossing over…

The Impact of Obesity on a Hernia Repair Surgery

Published August 14, 2018 By William Brown, MD

What You Need to Know

One of the causes of an inguinal hernia is weight gain, and a hernia can take months or years to develop. The tear in the abdominal wall can occur and grow larger as weight increases strain and pressure in the area. So, not only does weight gain increase chances of a hernia, obesity has a negative effect on post-surgery recovery and results.

What’s the difference between carrying a few extra pounds, being overweight and being obese? Being considered overweight or obese refers to a body weight that is greater than what is healthy for your height. Of course, the taller you are, the more weight you can carry. You can determine whether you fall into the overweight or obese category by calculating your body mass index (BMI). Calculate your BMI.

BMI Categories:
Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5–24.9
Overweight = 25–29.9
Obesity =…

Pursuing My Passion Once Again

Published August 14, 2018 By William Brown, MD

The Trouble with Hernia Mesh

It started out as a sports hernia which was misdiagnosed as prostatitis. A CT scan in ER eventually determined that I had two inguinal hernias and an umbilical incisional hernia (2.5-3cm). Despite my request the surgeon used a mesh on the left inguinal and the umbilical hernias as overlays with open surgery. Within 6 weeks both meshes partially tore off. Upon tearing, the inguinal mesh began to rub against the spermatic cord. This required convalescence with at most two 20 minute walks per day. The testicular pain would begin at 10 minutes into the walk and increase until it became unbearable at 20 minutes and would require laying flat on the back the rest of the day.

This went on for 3 months until I found a hernia specialist in Los Angeles. The new surgeon found that the umbilical hernia mesh had partially opened with…

Four Things to Evaluate When Choosing Your Hernia Repair Surgeon

Published July 24, 2018 By William Brown, MD

Choosing the Right Hernia Repair Surgeon

Hernia repair is a common surgery by today’s medical standards – as common as cesarean sections and appendectomies. That’s not to say that you should settle for any surgeon to repair your hernia. Hernia repair is a surgery, which is serious, even if common. Surgeons have areas in which they specialize.

Once your hernia is diagnosed, next comes selecting a surgeon to perform your repair and guide you through a successful recovery period. A referral from your general practitioner, a friend, a coach, neighbor, family member and an internet search can help you develop your short list.

Schedule a consultation appointment with your first choice. If you’re not completely comfortable with him or her, it is well worth the extra co-pay to schedule an appointment with another surgeon. And so on, until you are confident in the surgeon’s capability to repair your hernia.

Dr.…

The Problems with Using Mesh for Hernia Repair Surgery

Published July 11, 2018 By William Brown, MD

Things you Need to Know

Your hernia has been diagnosed and now the journey back to your old self can begin. The next step is choosing the right surgeon who is experienced in the type of hernia repair that you prefer. There are two basic methods your surgeon can use to repair your hernia. One of them uses sutures and your own tissues to close the hole. The other involves using mesh to “patch” the hole.

“Patching” a hole in theory is a great idea. However, if you’ve ever been disappointed by how well a patch really works in the long run then you’ll understand why Dr. William Brown uses the suture method to repair his patients’ hernias. Remember the blow-up plastic baby pools that come with a plastic patch should the pool get a hole in it? That patch may stop the air and/or water from leaking in the…