The weightlifting slang term "bust a gut" comes from lifting weight heavy enough to cause an inguinal hernia. That's when your lifting tears the lining of your abdominal cavity, allowing your guts to literally spill out into spaces they don't normally belong. It's possible, if unpleasant, to lift with this kind of injury -- but bodybuilding is an activity you should save until after you've been treated for and recovered from the hernia.
Step 1
Visit your doctor to confirm that you have a hernia. Pulled abdominal muscles, gall or kidney stones, even indigestion can sometimes be mistaken for a hernia.
Step 2
Schedule a hernia repair surgery. This is a routine surgery with relatively little risk.
Step 3
Do as little as possible for the first two weeks after your surgery, giving your body time to begin healing. During this period, ice and over-the-counter painkillers can help alleviate the pain.
Step 4
Avoid lifting more than 10 lbs. for six weeks after your surgery. One problem athletes face with this direction is that 10 lbs. is a trivial amount of weight for them -- meaning that it can be hard to gauge what weighs 10 lbs. To err on the side of caution, avoid picking up anything that weighs more than a gallon of water.
Step 5
Check with your doctor four and six weeks after the hernia surgery to see if everything is all right. After six weeks, he should clear you for regular activity.
Step 6
Continue bodybuilding as normal. Your repaired abdominal wall will actually be stronger than it was before the hernia.
Tips and Warnings
- Expect reduced elasticity and range of motion in your abdomen during the second, third and fourth week of your recovery. This is a normal part of the healing process.
- Don't lift weights with an inguinal hernia. It's theoretically possible but risks making the hernia worse. You'll eventually have to get it repaired, so your best bet is to get it done as soon as possible -- thus getting back into training as fast as you can.
References
- "Healthwise Handbook"; Kaiser Permanente Publishing; 2011
- Kaiser Permanente: Inguinal Hernia
