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Does this sound like hernia?

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Posted 10/25/2007 1:48 AM (GMT -8)
I was more or less pain free at week 2 after surgery. The other day, just under four weeks post surgery, I started to have a localized sharp muscular pain just to the left of my incision at the lower end. It goes away when I lie down, but flares up when I walk, cough, or laugh. Gently probing the area it seems I can feel not a bulge so much as a rather hard bump, maybe a quarter inch in elevation. The bump is tender to the touch and is only in this one spot to the left of the incision.

I've been careful about not lifting or straining. But last week I tried wearing my regular clothes a couple of days, instead of the baggy sweats I had worn since surgery. I think the waist was too tight while I was driving. Because of the discomfort I switched back to sweats, but that's around the time this pain started. Any thoughts?
Posted 10/25/2007 10:22 AM (GMT -8)
Loupdemer,

I've had a similar experience in my many abdominal surgeries.

It doesn't sound like a hernia.
It sounds like you overdid it and strained some internal suturing.
Take it easy and don't lift over twenty pounds (or less) until it goes away.

And regardless, DO SEE YOUR PHYSICIAN about THIS!
While it is probably just a strain, it could need attention.

CCedar
ICTHUS

Posted 10/25/2007 12:33 PM (GMT -8)
Loupdemer,


It still hurt me to laugh/cough 2 weeks after surgery... I also had tender areas come and go during this time... I had bumps under/near most all of the incision points for quite awhile... I didn't follow lifting instructions too carefully and thought I had herniated every thing... The bumps were explained to me as being scar tissue of fat which makes hard lumps and they graduyally dissipated and went away after 4-6 months.

Anyway, as Cedar suggests, if anything is worrying or bothering you caqll your doctor/nurse... that's what all the big bucks we (or insurance) paid for the operation was for... :-)

God Bless!

Ray
Posted 10/25/2007 2:57 PM (GMT -8)
Hi Loupdemer,

As the others have said if you are concerned see your doctor asap. I had 2 hernias after surgery, but the pains were quite severe. I could actually push the intestines back in to relieve the pain. There has been another person in our group that had a hernia after PCa surgery, but I believe his was not as severe as mine. In any case you should not be lifting anything that weighs more than 10 pounds for at least the first 2 months after surgery. Thats how I ended up with my hernias.

Good luck,

Glen
Posted 10/29/2007 4:13 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks fellas.

I did go show my sore spot to the nurse at the Prostate Center last Friday. She basically said to keep an eye on it and come back if it got worse. Reassuring, but not nearly so reassuring as your feedback and concern. Thank you.

Since Friday it's improved a lot. I'm sticking with the clown pants until I'm certain, and of course not lifting anything heavier than my fork.
Posted 11/10/2007 7:52 AM (GMT -8)
    Hi ~  Loupdemer   & Loved Ones…   W elcome     to…    ~ HealingWell ~   and   A    “ Special ”    Warm Welcome   to   You !   Knowledge gives us POWER….   POWER takes away the fear.   ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~     Click   on   link   below for important information that will help you ~ help us!!   Welcome New Members ~ to HealingWell     The information (link) listed above is to help you get started on your journey.       It is a journey best traveled with friends.            Welcome ~ New Friend from all the members here... on HealingWell.com   v       IdahoSurvivor ~   Moderator for Prostate Cancer Forum http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1160/1313099593_9f819e3ff8.jpg   v       bluebird ~   Moderator for Prostate Cancer Forum http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb179/mamabluebird1955/mamabluebirdWelcome.jpg
Posted 11/10/2007 7:56 AM (GMT -8)
    Hey ~ Loupdemer, As time permits ~ please touch base and let us know how you’re doing! You did an excellent job in with your “Signature”…. Thanks for reaching out to all of us. In New Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy
Posted 11/11/2007 6:02 PM (GMT -8)

Loupdemer,

I'll be interested in what your doctor tells you.  It's been over a year since my surgery and I still have pain identical to what you describe.  I've been back to my surgeon, as well as, several other doctors with no answer.  They've done an MRI, CT scan, physical exam etc. without any results (but, obviously, no hernia).

Doctors have treated this with "trigger point" steroidal injections, which give about 10 days - 2 weeks of relief.

At this point, I think the doctors are beginning to believe this pain is imaginary!  I'm sorry you're experiencing this, but I'm glad to know I'm not imagining this.

Again, please let me know if you/your doctor finds anything definitive.

Bogart

Posted 11/28/2007 10:08 AM (GMT -8)

I went to my family doctor yesterday,

after having a burning groin pain for 2 weeks.

he told me I have a Inguinal hernia on my right side.

I have read in Patrick Walsh's book that 15% of Rad pros,

have a hernia with in two years. I have to see the surgien on the 10th

now I have read that they may have to do an open hernia due to scar tissue..

does anyone know????

Posted 11/28/2007 1:43 PM (GMT -8)

Hi dek,

Yes that is true. 3 months or so after my DaVinci procedure I had the open operation for a left inguinal. Then about 2 months after that I had a right inguinal open procedure (this one was much more severe). Both times my surgeon advised me that the open procedure was my only safe choice.

The hernia operation is not a big deal, but depending on the severity of your hernia the recovery may take 2-3 weeks. After 3 sugeries in less than 6 months I needed another 4-5 months to fully recover.

Good luck to you on the 10th; make sure you have the surgeon do a careful examination just in case there is evidence of another possible hernia.

Glen

Posted 11/28/2007 3:23 PM (GMT -8)

Dek139,
I'm going to move this comment here as it seems relevant to this thread.

dek139,

I had an inguinal hernia repaired in 1973 and an incisional hernia
following a laperotomy/spleenectomy (car wreck) repaired in the 1980s. 
This is just to say that I know a little bit about hernias.

I do agree and encourage that the pump is something you should exercise with. 
Your tissues need this work.

However, with an inguinal hernia, you should perhaps do your pump exercises while reclined to avoid complications of inducing intestinal constriction in your hernia.
In addition to just a sitting posture and the activity while using the pump,
      - the vacuum alone could cause an issue - drawing the intestines through the opening.

I would carefully survey the location of the hernia versus the base of the pump AND
     discuss this with my physician before beginning your pump exercises.


Sincerely,

CCedar
ICTHUS!

Posted 11/28/2007 4:22 PM (GMT -8)
Just quick update.

Turns out the nurse was right. A week after my last post in this thread, the pain was gone.

I stuck with the tracksuit pants for another couple of weeks, and have just recently and gradually gone back to wearing my normal clothes, starting with the looser-fitting ones first. Was able to wear jeans for the first time about a week ago (2 months post-op).

Thanks again for all the great feedback.

A crisis is one thing, when something is bleeding or broken and there is no question that it's time to rush to the emergency room. But, what really drives you nuts is when you think that something serious might be wrong, but you can't be sure. You can really start bouncing off the walls, and the feedback from this forum can help you put things in perspective and stay sane.
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