More great news. I can't wait to get to Munich. SH is brutal in the lower ab today. I'm over it and ready to be fixed up. I couldn't be more thankful to have found out about Dr. UM on this board.
Mike in Va
More great news. I can't wait to get to Munich. SH is brutal in the lower ab today. I'm over it and ready to be fixed up. I couldn't be more thankful to have found out about Dr. UM on this board.
Mike in Va
MeLLoDraMa,
Glad to hear of your continued good progress. Did your surgery require urinary catheterization? Was your procedure considered to be under local anesthesia with sedation, or did they knock you out completely?
SH in SC,
Your approach seems very practical and successful. When you said you're doing the proper core rehab work, could recommend any practical exercises for the core, with some detail? Thanks.
Den,
It's good to see you back at this forum. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Surf
Hey Surf,
Thanks! It's been 18 months since I've been able to run or play soccer. I think this has been the most frustrating injury I've ever had because so many doctors are not educated about it. I went to see Dr. Hoadley last month in Atlanta because I liked the very easy to understand website that he has -- and the location was much closer to me. I know a lot of other people went to see Myers and Dr. M in Germany because of their experience -- so I hope I made the right decision. Before my surgery, I spent a week stretching and doing core exercises. It was part preparation and a last-ditch effort to rehab it. I'm hoping maybe that will pay off in a speedy recovery. I feel like my symptoms (very mild inflammation) pre-op paled in comparison to what they were last spring when the injury was at its worst. Hopefully, I'll have some good updates soon! I think the biggest mistake most of us make is that we when realize something is wrong, we don't stop our activities soon enough. Even when I knew I was hurt, I played two more games before calling it quits -- which I completely regret. But who knows, the damage may have been done anyway.
Den,
I feel you brother. After being injured, for six months (on and off) I tried to rest the injury.. When nothing helped, I played soccer through the pain at 50-75% which was too frustrating to put in words.
I can't be a complete UM advocate yet, but I'd advise against using proximity to determine your surgeon. What I can say for UM 2 days post op is I can lift my left leg for the first time in almost a year w/o that annoying dull pain in my lower abs/testicles and unless I regress, I'm guessing I'll be pain free from surgery w/in a week or two. As for cost, unless your insurance company is taking care of it, UM is the best bet in town by about 50% after reading other posts on this forum. This is after I've factored in meds, residence stay, incidentals and airfare (I kicked out about $7500 all in all).
We all have to do what's best and ultimately reasonable for us based upon our own unique medical/financial situation and what we are comfortable with. Good luck w/ your surgery and recovery. Looking forward to hearing all about it.
Surf,
No tubes inserted for this op. Local anesthesia (3 shots in lower abs) and then a shot of valium (I think) via IV to knock you out. I was out for the duration of the surgery and when I woke the procedure was complete. I was woozy for about an hour and after that I was completely lucid. UM's website states local anesthetic only, but quite honestly I was glad to be put under. Needles aren't my favorite, but knives.. naaaaaaaaaaaaaa.. There was no need for me to actually observe Dr. UM sewing up my stomach.
My only lack of comfort at this point is the numbness in my lower left ab.. Part of my nerve was removed and I was advised this is par for the course, but it does feel strange..
Not sure if this ESPN special has been previously posted or if anyone has checked it out on Dr. UM's site, but its very informative and includes interviews of UM, Meyers, Donovan McNabb, Marvel Wynn, and others..
http://www.leistenbruch.de/fileadmin/filme/Outside-The-Lines_klein.wmv
Sky Sports special on Michael Owen.. Also from UM's site.
http://www.leistenbruch.de/fileadmin/filme/Sky-Sports-News_klein.wmv
I am on day 15 now of my rehab and i am up to elliptical for 30 minutes. It feels good when doing it and slightly sore after it. I am walking first thing in the morning around my lake with rolling hills for 3 miles.
I go to the gym at night and do a 30 minuted elliptical and hit the pool (every other day)....I also am doing core excercises and stretches....(NO SIT-UPS)...I started doing this yesterday.
I am still tight/tender during certain movements but my adduction and abduction is getting smooth and stronger each day....
MeLlo,
Keep us posted... I'm a little worried since I did have the mesh applied by my surgeon. But everyone is different -- so I'll have to wait and see how it turns out. But ideally, I guess I would have liked to have seen UM just because of the quick recovery time I have read about. I still have a lot of soreness one day after surgery... still difficult to walk yet. But I'm optimistic for tomorrow. Good luck to everyone!
Den,
I think Dr. Hoadley has a good record of success.
Mello,
Thanks for the update and for the excellent video. Also glad to hear no tubes required.
Albert,
I'm going to do some of the stretches in the training ladder. Thanks.
Surf
Den-
Of course you will have alot of soreness. You were cut open. I am 15 days post-op and today I had a sore day. Not all day but certain times. My flexibility is increasing daily as the tightness dissipates. I tried doing a straight leg raise while stretching.....still way too sore on the RA....
You are only 1 day out. Be patient and let your body heal. I was going to head to the gym tonight....but my body is damn tired. I have excercised more this past week than i have in 4.5 years and it is invigorating....but my ass is kicked....
Happy healing gents
Thanks Albert! I guess the one thing that most of us here forget is that we aren't professional athletes with professional bodies... so a lot of the fast recoveries that you read about by the pros are guys who are tremendous shape with expert trainers.
More than anything, I just want to heal properly regardless of how long it takes. I would love to play soccer again this fall... that's what I'm shooting for.
Den,
I didn't realize you just had surgery.. Perhaps the meds have my attention to detail a bit off.. I sincerely hope my post didn't come off as pesimistic because that wasn't my intent. As a fellow soccer player, I understand how both physically and mentally challenging this injury is and naturally I want the best for you and everyone making a SH recovery. I did some research on Hoadley last night and his reputation amonth athletes in the SE speaks for itself.
How old are you Den if you don't mind me asking? I'm 31, in decent shape and like you, can't wait to start knocking a ball around pain free again..
Hey Mello,
I didn't find your post pessimistic at all... just honest. It's hard to ignore UM's results. I'm 36 and still in decent shape. I never really had an athlete's body, but I take care of myself. The one thing that I have going for me is that my flexibility going into the surgery was pretty good... just knew that I couldn't run without aggravating it. I know a lot of guys are really beat up by the time they have the surgery. But the only thing I've done in the last year is yoga and stretching.
I am feeling much better today in day 2... still sore obviously, but much easier to walk. I am a little worried about the mesh because I've heard some negative things, but I probably won't know for a while how it's going to turn out.
Hey guys,
I suffered with this evil injury for over a year ( started in jan 2008 ) and also had a hip labral tear that I'm sure is related to it, and also had a bilateral inguinal hernia. In total i had to do 3 surgeries in one year, I thought i would never be able to play soccer again.
Fast foward to today and I am 4 months post op from Meyers .
I am happy to report that I am back to playing soccer, I had both abs done and also a left adductor release which according to him was almost fully torn from the bone, I still have some osteitis ( inflamation on the bone) to deal with but it doesn't stop me from being fully active. At 3 and a half months post op I was still feeling some pain so i went to Philly to see him and he gave me a steroid shot that really made a difference , it broke all the scar tissue that was giving me that annoying pain, from that point on all my symptoms went away I couldn't be happier with the results.There is hope.
Flight and Hotel Booked for July 15th Surgery with Dr. Meyers......Its been 5 long years with this
Day two following surgery with Dr. Hoadley in Atlanta... I walked three times today in my neighborhood... 5 minutes X 1 and 10 minutes X 2. Some soreness, but I was able to increase the pace each time. I just finished the third walk and I'm icing down right now. Anticipating increased soreness by morning, but we'll see how it goes. Dr. Hoadley emailed and said that my groin looked fine during surgery, but there was some splaying or widening of the conjoined tendon -- which he says he sometimes sees in patients with a sports hernia. I have a follow-up visit in two weeks. I hope to begin treadmill work next Thursday.
Hello everyone-
Congrats on all who got it done and to JC who is getting it done.
I am day 18 and i must say I am impressed with how things are progressing.
My adductors do not hurt at all...except when i extend my stride when i turn up the speed on the treadmill....
I notice that I MUST do a full stretch routine or my glutes, legs low back get very tight and sore. I imagine this is due to the new positioning i have. I have also redeveloped Plantat Fasciatis so i am trying to work around it. I am also going to curtail the 2x a day walking 3 miles each..I am now going to do a 2 mile walk (brisk)...stretch...strength excercises.....and elliptical and pool at night
I am out of shape by 40 pounds due to the length of how long i was injured.
I also notice when i drive my right calf and shin get extremely tight. I had my right side done and i realize a small task like driving can inflame the area....Lifting and moving the foot works on the adductors....
My scar was 5" and is shrinking slightly (it is like 4" now) and almost not visible. However, it is still real tight. I am planning on a 6 month recovery. I have probablym pushed too hard and when i am at 4 weeks I am going to a Cook trained therapist. I am also starting core x system then too. I realize my core is weeeeeeeeeeeeeak and i will never address my original problem unless i tighten up this whole compartment....
Things are going well, but i can not believe how down/depressed i have become when i have setbacks.....I guess when you taste pain free after 4.5 years.....you hate to go back...
I am battling to stay positive.
Albert,
That is good news my friend! I am in day 3 and already feeling much better. I think most of the inflammation I still have is due to the mesh -- which I am a little concerned about after hearing Dr. UM speak about it. It is shocking to me that some of her patients can jog after three or four days. I walked for 30 minutes this morning without any major problems and planning on doing that three times a day. But there is no way I could run. Hopefully, I can start stretching soon.
I have a tough time with setbacks too, but that is going to happen. I am trying to eat a very good diet to reduce inflammation, including fish oils and bromelain. I'm about the same weight that I was when the injury started so I might have that in my favor. I'm shooting for a four-month full recovery. As much as I'd like to play sooner, it was horrible being out for a long time -- so I don't want to jeopardize it.
Back in the USA.. The flight back to CA was brutal.. 15 hours of flight time.. Ouch!!
Today is day 4 and I jogged and did sprints today pain free.. Unbelievable!! No dull ache or sharp pain when I run.. No pain when lifting my left leg.. I only feel some tightness at the incision site.
As for meds, I'm cutting the pain meds though I'll continue to take the anti-inflammatory because there is still swelling in my lower left ab/groin area.
I must say I was skeptical when Dr. UM said I could run w/in a week. I'm now a believer. I'll pick up the training as the week progresses and if all goes well, I'll be back on the pitch next week!
Den,
Don't sell yourself short on the mesh yet. It's been successful for many.
Al,
Keep your head up brother. I'm looking forward to shedding a few pounds as well now that I can actually do aerobic activity again!
Mello,
That is amazing! I haven't taken much of the meds, but maybe I should for inflammation. I have popped a few hydrocodone and ibuprofen that were prescribed for me previously, but not very many. It is great that you can run... that is mystifying. I don't know how anyone can question U.M.'s results. But to be totally honest, I was surprised I could walk easily after only two days.
Everyone who just recently had the surgery or is planning one, please keep posting updates. I will try to do the same.