Hernia Questions

Hello, Dr/Coach

I would just like to ask some advice. I have a surgery on the 7th of Dec to repair a hernia on the left side of my lower abdomen right next to my best friend. Problem is, track season starts 20 Jan. My online coach had me go through a strength phase then we started transitioning to just pure speed work and ultimately by now I would have dropped weights except for power cleans and maybe BB jump squats. Th hernia grew bigger and started bothering a lot when more speed were introduced, even though I’ve had it for years. Anyway, that’s not the question. The dr’s obviously HIGHLY encouraged me not to do anything, for about 6 weeks. Only the can I “Start to lift light stuff”. I just want to know is 6 weeks REALLY needed for me to heal? I’ll be doing speed and power cleans and such when I start training again. So, in your experience and knowledge, could I maybe take it down to 4 weeks? Or maybe two? I’ll leave speed training out for as long as possible, obviously but maybe start up strength training sooner? I really just don’t want to do NOTHING.

I’m not training speed atm, only strength.

I won’t hold you liable if anything were to happen to me. If you tell me “6 weeks is just a made up number. We’ve seen wounds heal completely after 2-3 weeks. I wouldn’t think starting weight training by then would affect your surgery sight” or anything like that, and something goes wrong, I won’t blame you or whatever. You can keep this email. I just want some expert advice from an expert coach/dr. But yeah, can’t afford to detrain and lose all my strength and speed I’ve built these past 8 months.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Hey there,

Yes, we’ve discussed this a few times here before. We can’t contradict your physicians advice or comment on your specific situation, but we’ve had many, many clients who have been able to return to activity sooner than 6 weeks after a hernia repair.