Pain, pressure or a bulge in your groin, scrotum or abdomen can all signal the presence of a hernia. What this means is that somewhere along your abdominal wall, usually in the area of your groin or navel, tissue penetrated through the muscle and a portion of that tissue is bulging outside the muscle. Once this happens, the American College of Surgeons states the only way to get rid of it is via surgery. If you exercise regularly or participate in sports, hernia surgery will interrupt your normal routine during the healing process.
Hernia Repair Facts
Your doctor can perform hernia surgery using open or laparoscopic hernia repair. Open repair requires using a larger incision than laparoscopic repair, however, both methods usually resolve your hernia by stitching or stapling a mesh screen over the bulging tissue or by stitching the opening to close it. Neither method, notes the ACS, requires you to remain in the hospital overnight unless you cannot pass urine or suffer effects such as nausea or vomiting because of anesthesia.
Time Frame for Healing
The ACS recommends waiting longer before resuming exercise if your doctor performs surgery using open hernia repair. In general, wait two to three weeks if you are recovering from open repair versus one to two weeks for laparoscopic repair. Alternatively, Adrian March, trustee and consultant to the Colostomy Association, suggests giving yourself at least one month of healing time in order to ensure proper healing. March also recommends speaking to your doctor before getting back to your workout.
Recommended Routine
The best way to get back into your normal exercise routine, says March, is to start slowly and gradually increase both intensity and duration. Sit-ups, also called abdominal curls, are a good exercise to start with and a benchmark to indicate when your body is ready to resume your full normal workout. Start with one hand behind your head and the other covering the incision area. Breathe in and then breathe out as you lift only your shoulder blades off the floor. Hold for a few seconds, lower yourself and repeat for as many repetitions as you feel comfortable doing until you can complete three sets of 15 repetitions. Gradually increase your curl until you can lift your torso first to about a 45-degree angle, and then as far up as you can comfortably accomplish. When you can complete three sets of full sit-ups, you are ready to return to most any form of exercise except contact sports. Follow your doctor's advice if you participate in sports such as football, soccer or racquetball.
Considerations
Allow a full 48 hours between exercise sessions. This is because as March notes, the exercises you perform initially weaken your muscles, whereas they become stronger as they recover during the next 48 hours. Pay attention to any soreness and/or pain and report these symptoms to your doctor. Follow his instructions on whether you should allow more time before returning to exercise.
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