Discussion: Recovery from inguinal hernia surgery

All of the posts about one of the most common surgical procedures are old. Has anyone had laparoscopic surgery for inguinal hernia that involved the newer velcro style mesh? I would like to hear from those that have had this done. I'm concerned about the long term effect on running without pain. Any one with experience?

I had this operation. I was able to start jogging about 4 weeks after and came to 60-80km/week volume within one year. I completely gave up any weight training though and try to compensate with more hill runs.

Talk of using surgical mesh caused a fight between my docs. My surgeon wanted to go nuts, with mesh on both sides. My urologist wanted none of it since mesh complicates further abdominal surgery....a radical prostatectomy for instance.

But I went ahead with my surgeon's advice when I was in my mid-60's...about ten years ago. Recovery was quick and painless. But any pelvic scan since then has shown the inguinal herniation still exists. So I'm not sure the operation was a success. But at least it has enabled me to cross a radical prostatectomy off my "bucket list!"

I had one done the old fashioned way 20+ years ago, and one done laparoscopically with mesh 8 or 9 years ago. Recovery from the first was excruciating and long, still a tender area even a few years later. Recovery from laparoscopic was a week or so. I also had an appendix removed laparoscopically a few years later, same doc, same incisions. That was a little tougher, maybe three weeks before I felt good again. While the doc was in there for the appendix he looked over the hernia site, said it looked perfect.

Only just seen this. I had this op 4 years ago, keyhole with polypropelene mesh, one side only. I have quite mixed feelings about it now.

Surgeons advice a week after on exercise was "any thing you like, expect discomfort but don't push through it". I was jogging/shuffling after 14 days and ran (low knee lift) within 10s of my then current 4k best times after 21 days of the op. But I had the op within 5 months of the original hernia (end of O season) and mine was a very straight forward procedure & hernia.

However, I have had problems with my inguinal liagment on the same side on and off for the last couple of years (at the bottom of abdomen above leg crease). The ligament has numerous core and leg muscles attached to it. Plus a couple of years ago I had a few months when it felt as though there was some inflammation in the area of the mesh that has completely disappeared since.

If I had my time again, I'd look into a none mesh solution, just not 100% happy with foreign body in me. I get the feeling that a lot more research has been carried out on the immediate benefits of mesh and very little regarding longterm studies of how the mesh and body interact in future years.