Stupid Things People Do to Risk Their Sports Hernia Surgery Recovery

sports hernia surgery recovery time frameThe pain of a sports hernia injury can be debilitating and require extensive physical therapy, rest, and in some cases, surgery. If you’ve had surgery for a sports hernia, you are probably wondering what can you do to ensure that you don’t jeopardize your recovery.  It’s a common question:  what is the sports hernia surgery recovery time frame?

First, it’s important to follow any and all post-operative instructions that you have been given. Yes, that means exactly as written. Although you may feel ready to begin more intense activity, doing so may re-aggravate the sports hernia injury and sideline you for an even longer period of time. Any kind of physical activity involving your core muscles, the abdominals and groin, will put pressure on and strain your repaired hernia, so it’s important to take resuming activity one step at a time to ensure that your injury heals properly and quickly.

Another danger to your recovery is taking the word “recovery” too literally. Recovery should be a time for your body to get back up to speed, not a time for you to lie down all day, not moving at all. It’s important to stay active so that your other muscles, in addition to the sports hernia repair, stay strong and do not atrophy. Resting too much can also cause your surgery to take longer to heal fully, as your muscles are not regaining their strength from before the injury.

During your recovery period, you may be asked to perform any number of strange exercises with strange names, but all are in the interest of helping you get back to life and sports as usual. It’s important to talk to your physical therapist and doctor to make sure that you understand what is expected of you during the process. It’s crucial that you perform exercises correctly as they are made to improve a specific set of muscles that relate to your injury.

If you have questions, the worst thing you can do is not ask them. Too many patients have surgery and then simply follow their recovery path, ignoring warning signs along the way. Your doctor, surgeon, and physical therapist know what they are doing – don’t be afraid to ask. You may even give them a vital heads-up that something isn’t going right, so they can get you back on the right path.

Finally, while taking it too fast or too slow can be harmful, it’s important to take sports hernia recovery at your own pace. Your body knows what it can handle, so it’s crucial to listen to the signs it gives you. Consult with your physical therapist or doctor if recovery isn’t going as planned. The time frame for getting back to normal activity is around six to twelve weeks, a very wide margin. Being in good shape before your surgery can help decrease that time, but everyone is different, and every sports hernia injury is different.

When you’re on the road to recovery from a sports hernia injury, it can be tempting to shoot ahead or hang back, but taking it step by step will help ensure that you recover fully from your surgery and get back in the game.