Sports Hernia Blog - Sports Hernia Specialist

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…

Acute or Chronic Pain After Surgery?

Published July 3, 2018 By William Brown, MD

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…

Better Than Ever!

Published June 28, 2018 By William Brown, MD

Hi Dr Brown,

Just letting you know I went out skating for the first time since the surgery and felt amazing. Better than ever! Thank you so much for fixing me! Looking forward to hockey this winter – and will be sure to try to not get injured again.

Thanks,

MP