Hernias: Post-Repair Exercise

While you may be eager to get back to your regular lifestyle and start engaging in your normal routine of physical activity and exercise, there will be a required amount of time needed for recuperation. The time for recuperation after hernia repair surgery depends on each individual person, so it is important to discuss the details of your recovery period with your hernia repair specialist in Los Angeles. Do not rush into exercise routines that may be too strenuous, as you should start slowly and have a plan that gradually increases the amount of activity over a practical period of time.

The most common form of hernia, though they can possibly happen with any organ within the body, occurs when the intestines poke through a weakness or tear within the abdominal wall. While the amount of pain varies for each individual, a hernia will not heal on its own and requires hernia repair surgery. Los Angeles hernia specialists are available to provide you with the necessary treatment. If you experience pain and what looks like a bulge protruding from underneath your skin, you should seek out expert medical treatment.

Since abdominal exercises are designed to build up your muscles, it is advisable to take time to rest after the patient returns home, as the surgery will have disrupted these same muscles. 

Again, every individual patient is different, so it is important to take a look at your unique case during the scheduled time with your hernia repair surgeon in the Los Angeles area. The pain and discomfort should subside before performing abdominal exercise. Such exercise may be good or bad for your body, depending on the type of surgery, how much rest your body has received, and what you and your doctor determine is best for you after the surgery.

One should only continue with an abdominal exercise if it is possible to begin without feeling pain. You should start very slowly by lying down on a mat and, without applying pressure, work on the abdominal muscle that runs along the stomach (or rectus abdominus). Lift your knees up in the air and then gradually lift your shoulders up. If there is no pain with this initial movement, repeat the exercise at a very slow and careful pace. These exercises should be followed with resting up during the next day, since you body is still recuperating and will need to recover its strength.

If the exercise goes well, you may attempt to lift your shoulders higher and closer to your knees. Again, be very careful not to exceed the limits of your body’s strength during this recovery time period. Set up an appointment in Los Angeles with the hernia repair specialist to learn more about abdominal exercises and how to heal from the procedure.

Sports Hernia vs. Hernia

A hernia is a protrusion of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it. This can occur in men, women, and children. There are five main types of hernia: inguinal, incisional, femoral, umbilical, and diaphragmatic. Hernias often occur when pressure in the compartment of the residing organ is increased and the boundary is weak or weakened. The propensity of hernias is often age related and can run in families, but it can also be caused by other illnesses such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or Marfan syndrome. Conditions that increase abdominal pressure such as obesity, straining during a bowel movement or urination, chronic lung disease, and fluid in the abdominal cavity can lead to hernias. Hernias often happen in the abdomen, the cranium, and the spine. Hernias can be caused by a wide array of triggers, but depend of the individual case as well as the type of hernia.

In contrast, a sports hernia affects the pubic joint of athletes such as football and hockey players. It is a syndrome characterized by chronic groin pain in athletes and a dilated superficial ring of the inguinal canal. Athletes are required to twist, turn, and run at high speeds. Considering this, it is no surprise that sports hernias often occur to high school, college, and professional athletes. An athlete who has damaged one of the core muscles in the lower abdomen or pelvis will experience a great deal of pain when trying to bend or rotate the area. Additionally, he or she will feel a lot of tenderness when the area is probed and examined by a physician.

When a hernia is discovered, it is not immediately operated on. Indeed, many times the best course of action is not to operate on a hernia. Instead, it is best to monitor the hernia to see if it grows larger or more obtrusive. However, the only permanent fix for hernias is surgery. Yet, based on the individual patient, hernia surgery may be too risky. Surgery for hernias works by securing the weakened wall tissue. Any holes are plugged in, usually with medical cloth. This surgery can be performed with traditional open surgery or through the use of a laparoscope. This will require less recovery time and be less invasive for the patient.

Sports hernia must first be examined by a doctor to determine the full scope of the problem. Patients are encouraged to rest, ice the area, and attend physical rehabilitation. However, this often is not enough to fix the condition. An MRI scan will show the extent of the tears in the muscle insertions and if laparoscopic hernia surgery is required.

If you have a hernia, click here to contact a hernia specialist.