Hernia

[d4damage]

Hello everyone,

I'm after a bit of advice if anyone's gone through this.

About 3 weeks ago I was doing weighted pullups, as I got tired my form got a bit loose and I leaned back to get more leverage. I felt a bit of a tug in the center of my abs but it wasn't painful.

Later that night, I woke up to it hurting me. It was a sharp pulling sensation. When I examined myself, I found a small lump just above my belly button. It wasn't visible, but I could feel it. It was very sensitive to touch.

I've been for 2 ultra sound scans now. The specialist has told me that it's a minuscule hernia with some fat coming through.

The lump has gone down and hasn't bothered me as much pain and pulling wise. But I haven't been able to train properly. I now have to wait to see my GP with the results.

Is this likely to go away and heal properly or do I need to push for an operation to fix it ?

Thanks.

[Heckman]

Is this likely to go away and heal properly or do I need to push for an operation to fix it ?

Thats exactly the question you should asking the specialist.

[d4damage]

The one that was running the scan gave me the impression that an opp was needed to fix it but wouldn't recommend it because I could live with it.

I guess I'm just anxious and don't like waiting for answers.

I want to get back to training too.

[Andre Gregoire]

I have had a hernia, it was in the groin but it's the same type of injury. You need to get an operation, there is a tear in your stomach lining, it won't repair itself, it will just get worse.

If it get's too bad you can get serious things like strangulation of the intestines if it pokes through... Get it fixed.

[slide]

I dont know about healing properly...I had an umbilicial hernia that I had fixed around Labor Day 2009. It was protruding through the belly button and there was no way it was going to fix itself.

Surgery was quick...but the recovery was slow. I didnt lift "hard" until the New Year (I think it was 4-6 weeks before I picked up light weight). Now...good as new and strong as ever...

-slide

[Doberman]

Living with it and being optimal are two different things. I know a very heavy guy who has had a hernia for 6 years. He tells me whenever it pushes through he just pushes his intestines back in...and he's not joking.

[Sammich]

It won't clear up by itself with time, and you will (eventually) need surgery to fix it. The good news is when you get healed up that area will be stronger than before and you won't have to worry about it.

[chris.tan]

I've been working around a small umbilical hernia for years. I now belt up for any lift 315lbs or greater. Weighted ab work causes more irritation so I just do bodyweight stuff and don't push it too far.

The hernia wont get better. Mine has very slowly become worse. I just have a tiny bit of fat that pushes through. Since I have to move and lift things at work, I've avoided getting it fixed. I simply train in an extra safe way.

Best of luck with your case.

[d4damage]

Thanks everyone.

[Pheedno]

It should be repaired , considering it happened under stress that will be applied in the same way again.
I have two hernias(umbilical and mid abdomen) but they were break through from surgical incisions. I've had them since before lifiting and they've never gotten worse. I'll eventually get them done, but they aren't inhibiting. Yous, most definitely, will be.

[d4damage]

Has anyone got any advice about training until I get an op ?

[Andre Gregoire]

I had a groin hernia so I bought an elastic belt/support thingy from the pharmacy that I wore during workouts and it helped keep it in.

Besides that, don't wear a lifting belt and avoid anything that hurts the area. I found I was doing lots of machines and dumbells because you have to do stuff where you can kind of relax the stomach.

Probably the best advice if you aren't super lean is to cut back on calories and do non-painful cardio to stay lean. The muscle will come back quickly after the operation but if you gain a ton of fat, like I did, it takes a while to take it off after.

[d4damage]

I'm fairly lean at this point as I hurt myself about 14 weeks into my cut.

[slide]

Has anyone got any advice about training until I get an op ?

I didnt change a thing WRT training...trained "heavy" and lifted the same was I always did. I did wear a belt for the "heavy" sets, but that started to hurt with the pressing into the belt, etc (more uncomfortable than anything). But, thats me...I cant say I would recommend the same.

-slide

[d4damage]

I've seen the specialist now. They told me its a "defect" in the abdominal muscle wall.

I've said I want the operation but they told me a load of things that made me feel like things aren't going to get sorted.

Because the lump I had has gone down, they might not be able to find the hole when they open me up. It's going to be a suture rather than a mesh because it's so small. And the discomfort I'm feeling might not ever go away.

I'm now on the waiting list which is around 16 weeks :-/

I'm feeling a little depressed about the whole situation and the future of my training career.