The post Hernia International Carpenter appeared first on The Hernia Clinic.

There are many different types of hernia, named according to the site of the weakness of the abdominal wall. All hernia may gradually increase in size over time. They can be asymptomatic, but may cause symptoms of aching or pain. A lump may or may not be palpable. One of the key concerns is the risk of a hernia becoming obstructed or strangulated. The first signs of this are a sudden increase in pain and tenderness of the hernia. The swelling may increase in size and it may not be possible to reduce the hernia, that is to push the swelling back in.

The post What is a Hernia? appeared first on The Hernia Clinic.

It is always important to rule out other causes of groin pain, including lower back and hip problems. This is the point where an assessment by a Physiotherapist with experience in Hernias and all the associated issues is essential. If there is a true hernia then you will be referred to Rob Hicks for a surgical opinion. If it is not a hernia the actual condition can be addressed with Physiotherapy.

However, if it is a true ‘Hernia’ or ‘Sports Hernia’ then it will not usually resolve without surgery. At The Hernia Clinic, we can offer the most current and appropriate surgical techniques to correct the defect, which is followed up by an integrated rehabilitation package. This will include biomechanical assessment and a graded rehabilitation program.

The post How do I know if it is a Hernia? appeared first on The Hernia Clinic.

The post The Rehab Program for Return to Sport appeared first on The Hernia Clinic.

However, as some of the structures involved in the surgery are integral to the core stabilisers you have to be careful not to strain too much too soon. Therefore working under the control of a physiotherapist with knowledge and experience of the surgery is essential.

Once you are past the ‘danger’ period you can return to pilates and gym work under the supervision of the instructors. Your physio will advise when you are ready.

Conditioning

The Rehabilitation process is patient-specific. There is a lot of general work relevant to everyone but the mid and end-phase rehab has to be tailored to the individual and their needs, from the weekend gardener to the elite sportsperson.

The post Core stability and conditioning appeared first on The Hernia Clinic.

The rehabilitation process is very carefully laid out from day one to a full return to activities at the end of week 3. Obviously, this is in the case of a simple straightforward hernia. Any added issues will compromise this timescale. Often hernia is accompanied or the cause of other issues which will be allowed to start healing or be treated by the repair of the hernia.

The post Restoration of normal function appeared first on The Hernia Clinic.

Use some massage oil or ‘Bio-oil’ to rub along the scar, gradually increasing the amount of pressure on the scar and layers beneath. In the early phase, you will feel a solid ridge under the scar which is part of the natural healing process. With massage, you can reduce this and also reduce the sensitivity of the scar itself.

A physiotherapist can help with this process in the early stages and we would encourage you to contact one of our physio partners to help with this.

It is particularly important for sportsmen to maintain the function of the lower core muscles. Ordinarily, the individual core muscle layers slide across each other during normal movement and it is important to preserve this after surgery.

The post Scar tissue minimisation appeared first on The Hernia Clinic.

The post Rehab overview appeared first on The Hernia Clinic.

When the mesh is inserted into the abdominal cavity, for example for the repair of an incisional hernia, the mesh is coated on one side to prevent the bowel from sticking to it, (Dynamesh IPOM, coated with anti-adhesive polymers, Proceed or Parietene Composite)

There is a huge range of meshes available, supplied by a range of companies. In principle, however, there are two main types. Heavyweight small porous, and lightweight large porous meshes.
The heavyweight meshes are designed to guarantee mechanical stability. They create a dense scar plate.

In contrast, lightweight meshes are designed to mimic the physiological movement of the abdominal wall. Meshes in this group have large pres and high flexibility. There is a significant reduction in scar tissue formation with these meshes.

Studies have shown that mesh complications are rare. However, some of the reported risks of mesh are serious and can be severe. Early results suggest that complications are less common with lightweight large pore mesh.

Complications of mesh repair

• Seroma
• Infection
• Chronic pain
• Recurrence
• Fistula
• Degradation

The post Surgical Mesh appeared first on The Hernia Clinic.

• Hernia Recurrence
• Nerve injury
• Wound Infection
• Mesh Infection
• Pain
• Testicular injury
• Seroma

The post Complications after surgery appeared first on The Hernia Clinic.