Anyone ever had a "Sports Hernia" aka: "Sportsman's hernia", "Gilmore's groin", or &quot

As a follow-up, my local Dr. suggested I look into getting checked out by the Mayo clinic over the course of a few days. Yet another to research (and see if my healthcare, CIGNA, covers)...

sportshernia,

Recovery for me is still on-going...I'm not the 94% that recovered in 3 months and returned to my sport. I actually think that number is a fallacy because most people who have the surgery are professional athletes and they can spend all day, every day recuperating and rehabbing. I'm definitely able to run and play tennis, but the degree to which I can fully exert myself is somewhat limited...and it's been almost a year.

But tears can take a year to heal...and that's without surgery.

Too, I waited almost 2 years to have the surgery, whereas someone who sought medical opinion quicker, would have a better chance of recovering quickly. The longer you wait, the longer it will take to heal.

After about 3-4 weeks I was walking a lot and starting some very mild, basic yoga/pilates strengthening exercises. I think I tried running at about 2 months...it wasn't until maybe at month 4 that I felt much better. I would take things slowly regardless of what the surgeon tells you...you just can't speed up healing by going to aggressively into rehab. Get to know your body again and be really aware of what motions hurt...modify your lifestyle so you're getting exercise, but not potentially re injuring yourself.

Most people say they are completely healed and back to normal within 3-9 months...it all depends on your body, as everyone has a different recovery period.

I would definitely focus on transversus abdominis workouts, progressively. Get your balance back. Work on your legs and your back. The easiest part is your chest, since that's where most men are the strongest. Go slow, do each exercise correctly. And don't get down if it isn't healing right away...surgery is complicated, especially because of scar tissue.

This recovery period would be a great time to read an enthralling book to keep your mind off of any pain, the healing process, etc.

Let me know what else you'd like to know.

joe

I am 5 months post op and i also get tightness. I figure as long as my strength is still there (which it is) then it's not a big deal, I just keep stretching before working out. Hope that's some reassurance for ya....

I am two weeks post surgery with Meyers. In the past few days, I've begun moving better, but have noticed pain in my abs. It starts from near the incision, and moves up almost to my belly button, and out to my obliques. (but closer to the incision in my obliques)

Has anyone else experienced pain like this?

I'm two weeks post-op from Dr. Meyers, and I'm having abdominal pain. It goes almost up to my bellybutton. Its sore if I stretch my arms out over my head. Was this consistent with anyone else's experience?

how many of you developed problems on both sides? I'm starting to have symptoms of bilateral issues... just wondering.

i had bilateral and many others have had bilatera sports hernias before. the studies from germany show that quite many people with a one sided in jury will develop it on the other side.

and, stretching the arms overhead- yes, that was me all teh way. any kind of trunk extension as well as a lunge pose/stretch caused all kinds of nasty pain. it is still tight but not as painful now, about 21 months out. i imagine that you'd have to either work through it and maybe its scar tissue that will release and you'll end up being ok, because i'll bet taht is also a thing experienced by many others as well.

I had a bilateral repair a week ago yesterday.

how is it going? This is a total bummer. I haven't had surgery, but I'm developing symptoms on both sides and abdominal pains. I was in PT - which was going really well until I tweaked something and got a bunch of inflammation.

those of you which had surgery, are you better off than before? I'm getting a mixed vibe reading the thread. I'm just wondering if the surgery is worth it... it seems like there are still a lot of complications. Any thoughts appreciated...

Prior to surgery I couldn't play hockey, ride a bike, lift weights, run, play golf - nothing. Sometimes walking was painful. So for me, unless I end up in a wheelchair, it can only get better.

Thanks. I hope your recovery goes well. This injury is Satan.

I don't know if you can post things or not, but I thought this article just about sums it up...

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-137720089.html

I hoped I would not need to look at this message board again ....

After switching from cycling to trailrunning, groin pain started on the right, then the left, and worsened over 2 years until I could not run, and it was painful even getting out of bed.

In short, I had all the classic symptoms mentioned on his website and others, and described many times in this forum. So I underwent bilateral groin repair at Dr Gilmore's clinic in London in early 2006.

Back to full exercise after 4 weeks? He must be joking! Rehab was long and painful. It took perhaps 6 months to get back into running. If you've recently been through the surgery, don't be depressed - keep going with the rehab. It took me (in mid 40s) one year to be able to do full abdominal exercises in the gym.

For me, the post-op period was excruciating. I had not been warned of the pain. For 2 weeks, the pain was horrible, and I regretted choosing surgery. I guess recovery time will depend on age, extent of surgery, and individual differences, but surgeons have an incentive to be over-optimistic.

Over the next few months, I got back into running, building up gradually, no pain whatsoever, feeling strong, and enjoying the mountains again. Gilmore was a genius with the knife (if not social skills)! I would have (and still would) recommend him highly.

Two weeks ago, the groin pain came back. It is in the same place, underneath the knotted scar just above the pubic bone. I must now consider stopping running or surgery again. Does anyone have any experience of, or advice on, a second try at surgery? My dog is not going to be happy if we can't go into the hills....

Thanks,

Dog-Runner,

I too am in my mid 40's, meeting with a surgeon next week in Pennsylvania to discuss options. According to some doctors (like the Sports Osteopath that I met with), it is not uncommon for the injury to return if proper flexibility and core strength are not maintained - probably one of the reasons that Dr. Meyers in Phila often releases the adductors - it reduces strain on the the area. You may want to inquire with Dr. Meyers' office - but he has no European based office that I know.

Another interesting point - and the reason some insurance companies still consider the surgery to be "experimental". There is controversy as to whether those that undergo surgery are helped by the actually sewing of the fascia, muscle to the bone, or if the severly curtailed mobility caused by the operation allows the tears/strains to heal on their own.

I'll ask the surgeon if he has seen any 2nd surgeries to the same injury and I'll report back on April 14.

Jaco,

Thank you for your insights. I did not know that releasing the adductors could help. Dr Gilmore decided not to release mine, even though they felt strained then, and that feeling has returned now. That gives me hope. I must also admit to lapsing with the core strength exercises after 6 months.

I look forward to hearing whether your surgeon has any knowledge or experience of second surgeries. Surgery is not for everyone, but even the horror of the first time was worth it for me, a complete amateur with a dull desk job compared to all those real athletes on this board who make a living from sports and the outdoors.

I hope you find your own solution through the visit to the surgeon.

Jaco - you should send Marcia a note; find out how different Gilmore's correction is from Meyers (eg. release of add's). Know that the complaint is often concominant (sp?) with hip tears (labrum) as well as the full spectrum of hip debility/instablity (lower lumbar, etc.).

Came back full on for Grant Hill after seeing William, knife was suggested again but he did a bunch of work with McKetnie (sp?) in Canada and played bball awhile longer.

There can be setbacks; keep your chin up...

Dog-runner!

First of all as always I must apologize for my English since im from Sweden.

I feel for you! The thing I miss the most with training is the endorphins you get when you train.

I have one question to you and all the other guys here. I have read the whole thread and almost no one seems to be scarred of testicular atrophy when talking about surgery, I have seen statistics that says that with primary herniainguinal surgery the risk of testicular atrophy is 0.5-1% and in recurrent hernia repair is the risk 5-10%(due to scar tissue around the cord and in the area). Do you count that factor in when you think of a new operation? What have your surgeon said? That’s my biggest concern and I am going to have surgery in august(can not do it earlier because my company can not run itself)

Just want to hear what you and everyone else think about this since it is not so much discussed!

Carpenter,

It sounds like it's your groin that needs surgery, certainly not your English!

The surgeon never mentioned testicular atrophy and I did not even realise it was a potential risk. Thank you for pointing this out. I will ask him about it, as a 5-10% risk upon second surgery certainly would make me think twice.