Author Topic: Inguinal Hernia (Read 23843 times)

sg37409 · « **Reply #150 on:** July 11, 2019, 09:35:58 am »

thanks bludger. It sounds like good advice even though its not exactly what I wanted to hear. I have private health care and might initiate a consultation there.

SteveC · « **Reply #151 on:** July 11, 2019, 09:49:52 am »

My GP’s attitude changed completely when I mentioned private cover. Getting a hernia done on the NHS is really hard at the moment. As soon as I said I had insurance through work he told me he’d had the same op, how good it had been and so on. Still took six months during which time things deteriorated but all has been fine since then

mark · « **Reply #152 on:** July 11, 2019, 01:48:38 pm »

Quote from: sg37409 on July 11, 2019, 08:58:06 am

Quote from: sg37409 on November 14, 2016, 11:27:48 am
I was wrong. Ive got 2
Still in denial a bit despite confirmation from doc. Now begins the glacial process of treatment. Will look into my private healthcare options. If I'm to be off the bike* id rather it was in jan/feb time.

Doc reckons day surgery, but possibly a general rather than local. Seems they put some mesh or chicken wire or something in to stop things falling through in future.
*The 8 week layoff as advised to Skungo is very alarming.

Around 2.5 yrs since diagnosis, and its bothering me a little more recently. I have a bit of a cough which doesnt help, I try to press on it when coughing to stop it bulging out. I'd say from being only slightly noticable, its become a faint ache at times. I cant really see any pattern to it, although I use a walking stick if I'm walking a lot (held on my right) to protect my "bad" l.leg. The tension across my body seems to trigger it a bit.

What bludger said, get it done, the sooner the better. 5 months after my surgery life is far more pleasant, and my symptoms were nowhere near as bad as yours. I gained a bit of weight after the operation, but I've lost that and right now I am physically back to where I was before the symptoms began to present themselves. The day surgery/general anesthetic option worked well for me, better than sitting in a hospital for a few days. If your health insurance requires you to pay part of the cost out of your pocket, do it. It will be money well spent.

sg37409 · « **Reply #153 on:** August 12, 2019, 02:25:02 pm »

Quote from: mark on July 11, 2019, 01:48:38 pm

Quote from: sg37409 on July 11, 2019, 08:58:06 am
Quote from: sg37409 on November 14, 2016, 11:27:48 am
I was wrong. Ive got 2
Still in denial a bit despite confirmation from doc. Now begins the glacial process of treatment. Will look into my private healthcare options. If I'm to be off the bike* id rather it was in jan/feb time.

Doc reckons day surgery, but possibly a general rather than local. Seems they put some mesh or chicken wire or something in to stop things falling through in future.
*The 8 week layoff as advised to Skungo is very alarming.

Around 2.5 yrs since diagnosis, and its bothering me a little more recently. I have a bit of a cough which doesnt help, I try to press on it when coughing to stop it bulging out. I'd say from being only slightly noticable, its become a faint ache at times. I cant really see any pattern to it, although I use a walking stick if I'm walking a lot (held on my right) to protect my "bad" l.leg. The tension across my body seems to trigger it a bit.

What bludger said, get it done, the sooner the better. 5 months after my surgery life is far more pleasant, and my symptoms were nowhere near as bad as yours. I gained a bit of weight after the operation, but I've lost that and right now I am physically back to where I was before the symptoms began to present themselves. The day surgery/general anesthetic option worked well for me, better than sitting in a hospital for a few days. If your health insurance requires you to pay part of the cost out of your pocket, do it. It will be money well spent.

Appointment to see the guy next month.

sg37409 · « **Reply #154 on:** October 30, 2019, 11:03:19 am »

Got mine done yesterday. Seemed to go ok. Recovery starts today

bludger · « **Reply #155 on:** October 30, 2019, 11:15:05 am »

Great news. It is a pain in the arse for a few weeks but having it gone is a life changing improvement. Best wishes for your recovery

hellymedic · « **Reply #156 on:** October 30, 2019, 02:50:16 pm »

Quote from: bludger on October 30, 2019, 11:15:05 am

Great news. It is a pain in the arse for a few weeks but having it gone is a life changing improvement. Best wishes for your recovery

Anatomy was never my strong point... Seems I'm not alone!

Wishing you a smooth recovery!

sg37409 · « **Reply #157 on:** October 30, 2019, 04:08:55 pm »

. Thanks bludger and helly

hbunnet · « **Reply #158 on:** October 30, 2019, 04:53:46 pm »

I've had both sides done, last one at the end of this summer. In each case I was back to normal in 6 weeks simply by gradually increasing gentle exercise.
Good luck with recovery.

sg37409 · « **Reply #159 on:** November 10, 2019, 10:04:44 pm »

I had mine (bi-lateral) done via keyhole, and my recovery is going well. Back at work and out of my stretch "lounge-wear trousers" (thank god) after 1 week. 10 km on the bike after 12 days along the flat. All seems to be well. Wont be pushing the cycling but am keen to ensure I can do it to same level as previously.

bludger · « **Reply #160 on:** November 10, 2019, 11:02:19 pm »

That's great news, you'll be back to form before you know it.

DuncanM · « **Reply #161 on:** November 15, 2019, 10:12:27 am »

I went to the GP yesterday suspecting I had one of these. He couldn't find an inguinal one but thinks I have a femoral one and has referred me. I'm now waiting for a letter. I hope it arrives soon - I had a bowel obstruction 10 years ago and I don't want to go through that again.
The doctor said I could do my normal stuff including riding my bike, but I don't fancy doing CX and jumping back onto the bike landing on that leg, so I think my CX season is over.

I'll keep riding the turbo though.

DuncanM · « **Reply #162 on:** December 02, 2019, 01:05:23 pm »

Ultrasound scan says no hernia. Back to the GP whenever I can get an appointment - wonder what the next step is.

tatanab · « **Reply #163 on:** December 02, 2019, 01:43:34 pm »

Quote from: DuncanM on December 02, 2019, 01:05:23 pm

Ultrasound scan says no hernia.

That happened to me a couple of years ago. Swelling, constant low level pain and a slight feeling of nausea like a aftermath of taking a knock in the nuts. Ultrasound showed a collection of what they thought was fluid. I was told "it is not going to kill you, so the choice is yours" (this was going private). I went for surgery where they found a benign deposit of fat. After removal, recovery was quick and all my symptoms went away.

DuncanM · « **Reply #164 on:** December 16, 2019, 04:35:55 pm »

Quote from: tatanab on December 02, 2019, 01:43:34 pm

Quote from: DuncanM on December 02, 2019, 01:05:23 pm
Ultrasound scan says no hernia.
That happened to me a couple of years ago. Swelling, constant low level pain and a slight feeling of nausea like a aftermath of taking a knock in the nuts. Ultrasound showed a collection of what they thought was fluid. I was told "it is not going to kill you, so the choice is yours" (this was going private). I went for surgery where they found a benign deposit of fat. After removal, recovery was quick and all my symptoms went away.

They didn't find anything strange at all. Saw another doc today - he's somewhat confused and is taking the "don't know what's wrong - lets get some more data points" approach and signed me up for a bunch of blood tests. I find it unlikely that will provide any more information though.

I figured I might as well go see a physio too. He took the "there's no hernia" for granted given the ultrasound and gave me a set of exercises. He thinks I've been compensating for weak abs and an old foot injury by over using my hip flexors and groin muscles and has given me some stretches and exercises (and told me to put arch support in my bike shoes). He also suggested I raise my bars as being crunched over will make the hip flexors more crucial. I guess we'll see how that goes as well. Maybe I should finish my recumbent (or redesign it so that I can get a 26" wheel on the back so it can go on the turbo). Presumably that would unload the hip flexors...

DuncanM · « **Reply #165 on:** January 02, 2020, 11:53:11 am »

Blood tests show nothing interesting.

I've persuaded the doctor to refer me to the Sports Medicine team at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre. I'll probably give them a call on Monday and see how long it would be before I can see someone through this referral. I can't imagine it would be quick, so might have to see if I can speed it up by going through the parallel private clinic.

DuncanM · « **Reply #166 on:** March 03, 2020, 03:36:17 pm »

After much pestering, I got a letter giving me an appointment on 8 June.

Gonna go to the same people at their private clinic in mid March.

DuncanM · « **Reply #167 on:** March 24, 2020, 04:06:19 pm »

Bah! Mid March would have been OK. The actual date was yesterday, so it's been cancelled because they don't know when they can reschedule it for. Also, my WFH setup is not good for my hip flexors.

I think it will restrict me from getting very much Turbo work done on lockdown as well.
I know, first world problems...

bludger · « **Reply #168 on:** March 24, 2020, 04:37:45 pm »

Bad luck Duncan. I'm sorry to read about your delay. It isn't to be made light of, your mental and physical health is valuable.

Think of it that you're being community spirited in your ration of NHS goodness is being used to save lives.

DuncanM · « **Reply #169 on:** May 07, 2020, 12:08:10 pm »

Surprising news on this - I had a phone call today from the doctor who I was due to see on 8 June (also the same doctor that I would have seen privately if it hadn't been cancelled and refunded). I've been referred for an MRI for a proper view of what's going on, and hopefully it won't be too long a wait as all of those got cancelled and are now being re-booked.
And I've completed my WFH setup so now that's much more ergonomic, and I'm back on the turbo (though taking it easy and doing traditional base).

DuncanM · « **Reply #170 on:** May 29, 2020, 06:22:24 pm »

The doctor who referred me for an MRI said she thought that my issue was one caused by compensation for an issue somewhere else. That made sense, because 3 or 4 months before it started happening, I tore a ligament in my foot, meaning I couldn't walk properly for a while, and my right foot still has a lower arch than my left. Today, when I mentioned this to the physio (first physio appointment via video), he did some stretch and strength tests, and our conclusion is that I'm using the outside of my right calf loads more than the rest of it. This means that the groin muscles then have to take the burden of straightening everything out again. So to treat my groin problem, I'm doing calf raises focusing on using my big toe!

DuncanM · « **Reply #171 on:** June 14, 2020, 10:17:11 am »

Yay, MRI appointment last Friday due to cancellation.

Now 2 weeks wait to see if it found anything.

DuncanM · « **Reply #172 on:** June 30, 2020, 09:36:30 am »

Saw consultant (different one to who they told me it would be on the phone, so had to do my history again, only without my notes). He did all the usual leg wiggling tests and made my hips pop incredibly loudly.
The MRI shows a cam on the femoral head consistent with FAI, but he couldn't get it to impinge when manipulating my leg. His conclusion was that it was muscular, and that my super tight hip flexors are the problem (and the foot injury compensation idea is a red herring, it was just the straw that broke he camel's back). So yet more physio, this time with the head guy at the Nuffield Orthapedic Centre who is interested in FAI and hips in particular. Dunno when that will be though, or if it will amount to anything.

I've stopped riding completely as getting 15 minutes into a ride, everything tightening up and having to stop was too depressing. The turbo is packed up for now, the garage is getting a long overdue clear-out, and I'm thinking I'll stick a project car in there instead.

DuncanM · « **Reply #173 on:** July 15, 2020, 09:19:11 am »

I called the Nuffield yesterday and asked about physio. They aren't even able to say how long the wait time is they are so far behind. Also, they are only doing online physio (which is odd given I had to go on prem to see the consultant).

I'm going back to my private physio tomorrow, and we'll see what he says given my MRI results (if he can see them).
Not ridden a bike since May. I've stopped missing it, though I do get a pang when I see cyclists out training.

DuncanM · « **Reply #174 on:** August 10, 2020, 01:42:42 pm »

Update - physio couldn't see the MRI stuff, I just had to give him the letter from the consultant. He did some work on my foot/calf and hip flexor, and encouraged me to keep up my exercises. I've been doing them and loads of stretching regularly, but it seems to make no difference. Beginning to wonder what the point is. Still no bike riding.