Hernia advice.

A snowHead

I know there are a few medical experts on Snowheads so wanted some advice from someone who knows the stresses involved in skiing.

About 4 years ago I had a mesh hernia repair in the right lower side of the groin. Nothing obviously was sticking out the symptoms were much more of fullness and pressure down there.

It's survived lots of cycling and skiing since then.

However 2 weeks ago I was, stupidly, doing lunges to help prepare for skiing on 17th. The next day I started getting the beginnings of the symptoms I had 4 years ago and these have gradually got worse rather than better.

I am seeing my surgeon (privately for speed etc) on Monday to see what's what.

Keen for an amateur view as to whether I am looking like cancelling the family ski holiday or whether I should still be ok to drive down and do some gentle skiing.

I don't mind pain - strong discomfort is a better word - but I don't want to be making things a lot worse for the future.

My GP was useless. "I can't really tell - you'd better see your surgeon, and by the way 2nd repairs are never as good as 1st repairs" Thanks!

Thanks in advance Smile

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

I skied with a hernia in 2009 and I was fine. I had a bit of soreness but it was no problem. I skied because I hadn't had the diagnosis at that point. When I got back, I had the mesh hernia repair and it was all perfect. The following year I had a pain in the same area whilst skiing and like you, I was convinced I had another hernia because my original hernia symptoms had returned. I got it checked out with the surgeon and he said that sometimes the edge of the mesh can lift slightly and give the same symptoms as a hernia. I had a proper test where they fill your tummy with dye and get you to exert pressure and whilst you're doing that they take a scan. My scan showed that the original repair was still good but ironically, the side that wasn't hurting (my untouched right side) was on the verge of becoming a hernia. Two years later I now believe that I do indeed have a hernia on my right side but I'm still going to ski and get it checked out when I get back.

There's a good chance that you don't have a hernia (obviously get it checked though). My friend had exactly the same thing happen to him too. He had a hernia, symptoms returned, he was also told that it was just the edge of the mesh scarring or something. I didn't believe him when he told me because my symptoms were identical to the original hernia.

Good luck

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Had it checked and its as Boris said. Not a hernia but just disrupted all the scar tissue around it giving the symptons.

So :

No snow --- sorted
Hernia ------ sorted
high winds for the ferry - sorted, have a chunnel ticket as well.

just have :

huge amount of snow in alps meaning road to val thorens will be impassable or blocked by a coach - not sorted.

Help!!

Hernia advice.

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