Sports Hernia Blog - Sports Hernia Specialist

Can You Shower After Surgery?

Published June 20, 2019 By Kara Rozendaal

You had your hernia repaired and you are on your way home from the surgery center. You are hot and sweaty from the car ride. Your skin is itchy from the betadine skin prep, and you are starting to smell. You have a box of baby wet wipes, but you really want a shower. Is it safe to get naked and jump in the shower?

After your surgery, the body immediately starts the healing process. After 12 hours, the skin is healed enough to prevent bacteria from entering through the incision. So 12 hours after your hernia repair feel free to take off the gauze and the tape and take a shower. Soap will not hurt the incision.

Afterward, you can leave the incision open to the air. If there is some drainage, put a fresh bandage on overnight.

Only one person in the shower with you until you feel…

Not All Bodies Are The Same

Published June 11, 2019 By Kara Rozendaal

It Would Be Nice everyone’s body was exactly the same on the inside. That way it a surgeon would always know where important structures were located and therefore during surgery, these vital structures could be quickly identified and protected. But the human body makes its own decisions and does not always follow the rules found in the anatomy books.

During hernia repairs, the nerves are the structure most commonly in the “wrong place”.
In the anatomy books, the genital nerve usually is on the posterior aspect of the cord, but it can be found on the floor of the inguinal canal or along the inguinal ligament. The Ilioinguinal nerve usually runs on the anterior aspect of the spermatic cord, but it can run along the internal oblique muscle. The iliohypogastric nerve usually runs along the anterior aspect of the internal oblique muscle, but it can be found traveling within the…

Women Get Sports Hernias

Published June 3, 2019 By Kara Rozendaal

You are a woman and are suffering from inguinal and groin pain. Unfortunately, you have been told that women do not get sports hernias. To add to the problem, when you see your surgeon, he/she only talks with you for a few minutes and barely even examines you. You are told to rest. You are told to take some Advil. You are told to try physical therapy. In short, go away and do not bother me anymore. Then the doctor rushes off to see one of the male patients.

It is true that fewer women than men get sports hernias, but it is also true that women push their bodies just as hard as men. And women often suffer from Sports Hernia injuries. Over ten percent of the athletes that I take care of are women. And if a female athlete does not improve with conservative treatment then surgery is…

Passing Experience on to You

Published May 30, 2019 By Kara Rozendaal

There is a sign in my Auto Mechanic’s shop that says:

“I Cheat the Other Guy and Pass the Savings on to You.”

I smile every time I read the sign. But in a way, this message also applies to surgeons.

No one is perfect (except for my daughter) and during every operation, the surgeon should think, “Could I have done that operation a little bit better?” A good surgeon will then incorporate those improvements into the next operation.

To update my mechanic’s sign:

“I learned from the operation on the previous patient and pass that experience on to You.”

Please do not hesitate to contact me about your sports hernia or your classic hernia.

Bill Brown, M.D.

Feeling Great

Published May 20, 2019 By William Brown, MD

Good morning Dr. Brown.

I just wanted to express my gratitude to you for my hernia repair and your care following my surgery. I am feeling great! Take care and thanks again!

D.T.

Do Not Miss the Inguinal Ligament

Published May 6, 2019 By William Brown, MD

The inguinal ligament is a band of fibrous tissue that starts at the anterior superior iliac spine and runs inferiorly and medially to attach to the pubic bone at the pubic tubercle. The rectus femoris muscle attaches to the inferior aspect and the external oblique muscle forms the superior aspect. It is called a ligament, but functionally it more like a tendon in that it is an extension of the external oblique’s muscle attachment to the bone. The medial attachment of the inguinal ligament is often damaged in athletes with sports hernias. It is very important that this injury is identified because if missed the athlete will have persistent pain after surgery.

The athlete will report pain at the pubic tubercle that is aggravated by acceleration. There is maybe some pain at rest. Direct pressure over the pubic tubercle will reproduce the pain. Often the medial inguinal ligaments and the…