Sorry for yet another hernia query, but I haven’t found much information (or similar experiences) that have been helpful for my particular problem.
I started doing weight-lifting (Starting Strength) earlier this year, really enjoyed it, but unfortunately got a hernia on my right-hand side after a few months. I had the operation and read widely online that I should be ok to resume weight-lifting after a few weeks (if not earlier). My surgeon suggested leaving it a month but, as I still had pain in the area, I thought I would play it safe and leave it for 2 months. When I tried weight-lifting again (starting with light weights), at that point, I had quite a bit of pain in the area where the hernia had been so went back to the doctor. He found another very small hernia on the left-hand side (a slightly separate issue) but said that the first operation was healing well and that I should just take a painkiller for the aches when weight-lifting (in practice, this would mean taking painkillers all week round as most of the pain comes afterwards/a day later)
Now I am about 4 months since the operation and still get (worsening) pain/aches from the area of the operation - to the point that I am beginning to wonder whether I have a second hernia on that side. I can’t seem to find many examples of people who still get pain from weight-lifting that far out from the operation. I have booked another scan with my doctor to check things over - but I’d be grateful to hear if anyone has had similar experiences or can offer any advice. I’d absolutely hate to give up weight-lifting/starting strength but, at this point, I am beginning to despair slightly - squats in particular seem to channel a lot of pressure through the area.
I had an inguinal hernia about 4 years ago. It took about a year for the pain to reduce to around zero. I still feel it (as pressure, not really pain) every now and then when squatting, but most of the time I forget that the repair is even there. For about the first 6 months I could only sleep on my right side, for whatever reason laying on my back or left side would start to put some sort of stretch on the area that became unbearable. After that first year, the hernia become a complete background issue that I’d notice every now and then. My point is that you may be feeling this pain now, but if you can re-frame it as just part of the healing process and work around it so you can still enjoy training you’ll be on your way to feeling better.
Thanks for this - that is great to know it has improved! Unfortunately, the pain and discomfort at the moment is too great to continue with training but I shall bear that in mind!
I hadn’t seen that specific podcast, but I did watch his recent video (and I have been looking around the forums here and on other sites - haven’t found much on pain/discomfort several months after the operation though). Thanks the podcast recommendation!