Hi Coaches,
A few months ago, I noticed a small bump on the right side of my groin. A physical confirmed that the bump was a hernia, and I was subsequently referred to a general surgeon. He immediately recommended surgery. When I went in for a second opinion, the other surgeon encouraged scheduling an immediate repair. Both said that it was crucial to stop lifting until the procedure was complete.
Not really being too keen on going under the knife (or taking time off from training), I got a third opinion from a surgeon with one of the best reputations in my area. To my pleasant surprise, not only did she tell me that I shouldn’t rush to get the repair done, but that lifting probably wouldn’t make things worse - in fact, she suspected that it may help things, and clarified that hernias are more genetic than anything and aren’t caused by lifting.
Since then, I’ve been able to train mostly pain free. Occasionally there’s some mild discomfort from time to time, but it usually goes away after a couple of days. Also, the size of the hernia hasn’t changed. Since the whole Covid thing started, my training has actually gotten even better since all I have is a barbell and I’ve been able to focus more on the main lifts. My numbers are progressing better than even and I’m hoping to do a meet once things open up again.
Given all this, do you have any general tips for people training with inguinal hernias? Any certain warning signs I should look out for, or anything I can do to prevent the exacerbation of it?
Love the website and keep up the good work!