Rehabilitation after removal of an inguinal hernia

An inguinal hernia is a protrusion of the abdominal organs outside the abdominal wall, through the inguinal canal. The only way to get rid of it is by surgery. Rehabilitation after hernia repair takes 30-35 days, and relapses of the disease occur in 4% of cases. If you do not follow all the doctor's prescriptions, during any operation, even if it was performed by a specialist of the highest class, the risk of complications increases. Therefore, after the surgical intervention, it is necessary to clarify all the points, and if unpleasant symptoms are detected, seek the advice of a specialist.

The duration of the rehabilitation period after removal of an inguinal hernia depends on the age of the patient, his lifestyle, constitution, chronic diseases and the presence of bad habits and the chosen anesthesia.

If the surgery was performed under local anesthesia, the patient can go home the very next day. When using general anesthesia, he stays in a hospital for 2-3 days. Subject to all the doctor's recommendations, complete rehabilitation after removal of an inguinal hernia in men takes a month.

The scar after removal of the hernia is located in the inguinal region, its length is about 5 cm. The postoperative wound is sutured with a cosmetic suture. Therefore, during the year, the trace of the scar remains almost invisible and you can see it only if you carefully examine it.

First week after surgery

Within a week after surgery, the patient needs rest. Requires bed rest and limitation of physical activity. He must also take medication prescribed by a doctor.

Dressings become an important part of rehabilitation after an inguinal hernia. The first is carried out in the evening after the operation, in the future they are carried out twice a day. On examination, slight discharge from the suture may be detected. This is a variant of the norm and in the absence of signs of inflammation, which may be indicated by an increase in body temperature or suppuration, additional treatment is not required.

Medical treatment

In order to cope with pain, painkillers based on ketorolac are used in the form of injections or tablets. They are used 3-4 times a day according to the instructions and depending on the intensity of the pain.

In some cases, antibiotics are prescribed in the postoperative period. Most often they are used to identify the first signs of the inflammatory process. Use drugs from the group of penicillins or cephalosporins in the form of injections or tablets.

In combination with antibiotics, eubiotics are used, drugs that restore the microflora in the intestine and prevent the onset of symptoms such as bloating or diarrhea. It is necessary to use such medicines within 7 to 10 days according to the instructions.

If the patient has frequent constipation, then he is prescribed drugs based on lactulose (Dufalac, Normaze, Lactuvit). They make it possible to restore bowel function and promote soft emptying, which is important in the presence of postoperative sutures.

Rehabilitation at home

A man should take the rehabilitation period after an inguinal hernia operation at home very seriously. Non-compliance with medical recommendations can lead to the development of complications. In order to avoid consequences during the first 3 weeks, you must:

• keep calm and avoid strong physical exertion;
• avoid jumping, running, sharp turns of the body;
• do not allow lifting of weights, the weight of which is more than 5 kg;
• avoid sexual contact;
• refuse to visit baths, saunas, swimming in open water and pools;
• stop drinking alcohol.

In the future, you need to gradually increase the load and start physical exercises. In this case, the patient needs to wear a special bandage or tight swimming trunks.

Wearing a bandage

In order to avoid stress on the muscles in the postoperative period after an inguinal hernia, a special bandage is used, which is worn after surgery. Thanks to its use, the pressure on the seam area is distributed evenly, and healing occurs faster.

Depending on the location of the hernia, left-sided, right-sided or bilateral bandages are used. Their size is selected individually, depending on the volume of the hips. Put on a bandage before taking a vertical position. The duration of wearing is determined by the doctor.

At the end of postoperative rehabilitation after an inguinal hernia, it is better to refuse to use a bandage, since constant squeezing can lead to impaired blood circulation in the pelvic area and the development of muscle atrophy, which in the future can cause re-formation of an inguinal hernia.

Seam care

The sutures are removed 7-10 days after surgery. In order to prevent infection and accelerate their healing, it is necessary to follow the following recommendations after inguinal hernia surgery in men:

• within 14 days it is impossible to wet the seams;
• daily treat the wound with a solution of chlorhexidine, cutasept, iodine or iododicerin (depending on the doctor's recommendations);
• if irritation occurs in the seam area, they are treated with Zinc ointment, Sudocrem or baby powder is used.

During the recovery period after an inguinal hernia, be sure to regularly change underwear. So that the skin does not sweat, you should not stay in stuffy and hot rooms for a long time.

Physical exercise

A set of physical exercises after surgery is performed daily. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the state of health of the patient, if pain appears during the classes, then it is better to stop them. You can not exercise through force. The load should be increased gradually, and before starting classes, you should definitely consult a doctor.

The most effective exercises during the recovery period after inguinal hernia surgery in men include:

• squats. The exercise is performed in a standing position, feet shoulder-width apart, arms extended forward (in order to facilitate the task, you can grab the back of a chair). You need to go as deep as your health allows. Repeat the exercise 10 times;
• scissors. This exercise is performed in the supine position, arms along the body. The legs are raised at an angle of 45 degrees and alternately cross them. The exercise is repeated at least 10 times. In the late postoperative period, the load is increased;
• bike. Lying on your back, lower your arms along the body, bend your legs at the knees, and raise them. It is necessary to slowly perform such movements with your feet as if pedaling a bicycle. Repeat this exercise 10 - 15 times;
• circular movements. Performed in a standing position, feet shoulder-width apart, hands on the belt. Circular movements of the pelvis are carried out alternately to the right and to the left side 10 times. Such an exercise is performed not only after surgery, but also with diseases of the spine, so they need to be repeated several times a day;
• buttocks steps. Starting position, sitting on the floor, legs bent at the knees, hands rest on them. The right buttock rises and pushes forward. In this case, the leg unbends, as if taking a step. At the same time, the left shoulder moves forward and a short breath is taken through the nose. Then a similar step is taken with the left foot. The exercise is repeated 8 times.

Gymnastics Strelnikova

In the postoperative period after the removal of the inguinal hernia, gymnastics by A.N. Strelnikova for men. Regular exercises strengthen the muscles that lift the testicles and spermatic cords, increase sexual potency and improve spermatogenesis.

This exercise should be performed while squatting in front of a large mirror, after getting rid of underwear. Within one second, it is necessary to tighten the scrotum as much as possible, then immediately relax it. When the testicles take their original position, the exercise is repeated. In total, you need to repeat 24 sets of 4 times each. The break between them should be 10 seconds.

During the tightening of the scrotum, the anus is tightened and the stomach is drawn in, which positively affects the functioning of the muscles. In the future, you can perform the exercise in a standing position.

Classes must be alternated, on the first day they exercise, in a sitting position, then standing. This gives the maximum effect.

Diet after surgery

During the rehabilitation period after inguinal hernia surgery, you must follow a diet. This makes it possible to avoid disturbances in the digestive system and reduces the risk of complications.

In the first days after the operation, it is allowed to eat mashed soups, broths, kefir. Portions should be small. Meals are taken every 2-3 hours. For the entire period of rehabilitation after an inguinal hernia in men, the following should be excluded from the patient's diet:

• fatty meat (pork, lamb);
• fried foods;
• spicy seasonings and spices;
• pickles and smoked meats;
• legumes;
• fresh pastries;
• fatty dairy products;
• fruits (apples, apricots, pears);
• vegetables (cabbage);
• alcoholic and carbonated drinks.

These foods can cause constipation and increased gas formation, which in turn can cause complications.

In order for the intestines to work normally, a man in the postoperative period should consume:

• viscous, well-boiled and pureed cereals (buckwheat, oatmeal, wheat);
• lean meat (rabbit, chicken, turkey);
• dairy products (low-fat kefir, cottage cheese, fermented baked milk);
• eggs;
• fish (perch, trout, crucian);
• vegetables (potatoes, beets, cucumbers, tomatoes).

Dishes are best boiled, steamed or baked. In this case, the food should be warm, so it is better absorbed. It is also necessary to observe the drinking regimen. You need to drink up to 2 liters of fluid per day. In this case, non-carbonated mineral water, fruit drinks, kissels, decoctions from dried fruits, herbal teas are suitable.

Inguinal hernia in children

Rehabilitation after inguinal hernia surgery in children is much faster than in adults. The younger the child, the shorter the recovery period. Most often, the baby does not remember what happened to him the next day and plays as usual. New studies have shown that the optimal age for surgery is from 3 months to 5 years. Full recovery after inguinal hernia surgery occurs within 2 weeks.

After the operation, parents need to carefully monitor the hygiene of the baby and the condition of the sutures. Often there is a misconception that after surgery carried out in childhood, the child, when he grows up, will not be able to lift weights. This is not so, in most cases, an inguinal hernia in a baby is a birth defect and is not related to muscle weakness, so another type of operation is performed to eliminate it.

Inguinal hernia in women

In the fairer sex, protrusion in the groin area is 10 times less common than in men, due to anatomical features. The postoperative period after an inguinal hernia in women also proceeds. If you follow all the recommendations of the doctor, proper nutrition, it is possible to recover quickly and avoid complications.

Postoperative complications

Surgery to remove an inguinal hernia is not traumatic and complications are rare. They are mainly caused by improper rehabilitation after surgery, excessive physical activity, diet errors or violation of personal hygiene rules. Complications after hernia repair include:

• prolonged aching pain in the scrotum;
• divergence of seams;
• infection and suppuration of the wound;
• hematoma of the scrotum;
• swelling of the scrotum;

If the testicles are touched during surgical interventions, deformation of the spermatic cord may occur. This leads to problems with potency, spermatogenesis or hormonal imbalance. In severe cases, testicular atrophy and infertility occur.

Postoperative complications include dropsy of the testicle. It can be bilateral and unilateral. In this case, the scrotum in the affected area significantly increases in size. Acquired dropsy does not cause pain and has a constant volume. You can get rid of the problem only with the help of a second operation.

If in the postoperative period after the removal of the inguinal hernia, all the doctor's instructions are followed, then the rehabilitation will pass quickly enough and without consequences. In the future, in order to prevent the appearance of a new protrusion, it is necessary to avoid lifting weights and perform physical exercises to strengthen the muscles. Proper nutrition plays an important role in this case, as it makes it possible to avoid the appearance of excess weight and strengthen the effect of the surgical intervention.