What is an inguinal hernia?
If you have an inguinal hernia, you will notice a lump in your groin area. In some men, a lump can also be felt in the scrotum. You may find that the lump is painful or uncomfortable.
A typical characteristic of this type of hernia is that the lump may not be noticeable when you lie down but becomes particularly noticeable if you lift something heavy.
How did I get this inguinal hernia?
The lump you can feel is caused by some of your bowel pushing through to your groin area. It can do this because you have a point of weakness in the abdominal wall which allows a part of your bowel to protrude through.
This type of hernia is quite common in men. As we get older and our muscles are not as strong, we they used to be, weaknesses in muscle tissue can facilitate the onset of an inguinal hernia.
How can I remove an inguinal hernia?
We can treat your inguinal hernia in a minor surgical procedure performed by one of our Specialist Urologists. The procedure takes around one hour and is performed under general anaesthetic. You will be able to go home on the same day as the procedure if someone comes to collect you from the hospital.
In an open inguinal surgery repair the Urologist will make an incision which allows for the lump to be placed back inside the abdomen.
After inguinal hernia repair surgery
You will need to arrange some time off work after the surgery. In most cases one week should be sufficient, depending on the type of work that you do. Your Urologist will advise you further in this regard at your consultation. You should expect a full recovery after six weeks, assuming there are no delays in your healing process.
Upon discharge from hospital, you will be given a course of antibiotics for one week and some pain relief medication.
The operated will be sore at first, especially when coughing or sneezing for example. Apply a small pillow to the area when you feel as if you want to cough or sneeze as this will make things a little more comfortable. You should avoid straining when going to the toilet as this may be painful at first. It is important to make sure that your bowel habits are normal, and you are not suffering from constipation. If you do suffer from constipation, please let your Urologist know at your first consultation.
Avoid heavy lifting for six weeks and sexual activity until you feel comfortable to do so. Listen to your body and allow it time to heal.
