HERNIA help!

Hey Peeps..

I'll summarize as quickly as I can.

This past Saturday I went bouldering with my son (social distancing style), sent a V6 in my "anti-style" overhung, slopers , crimps..blah blah blah!

My body at almost 40 has been feeling pretty good and I've been climbing fairly hard, and fairly consistent.  Later that evening when I laid down to bed I had very uncomfortable abdominal pain and discomfort.  To be honest I thought it was gas,  and probably TMI but I just tried to fart it out! LOL

After barely sleeping due to the pain I woke up and noticed a small lump/bump just above my belly button that was highly sensitive to touch or press  on.  After a tele/video med appointment with a Dr. at a local university urgent care he suggested I head to the ER.  My reaction having to go to the university ER was not a positive one due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  After an inner pep talk with myself I sucked it up and went. Having a CT scan with contrast, bloodwork, and after being poked and prodded I was diagnosed with an Umbilical Hernia just above the navel.

The Hernia according to the CT was fatty not intestine or bowel but still needed to be monitored so it wouldn't become incarcerated (BAD!).  I was sent home later that evening with a prescription for  Naproxen for pain which made me sick as shit, and yes I did eat with it both times.  I was told to call General Surgery Monday morning which I did, and got the first appointment available which isn't until May 18th due to the clinic being closed due to state shutdown (WV) and no elective surgeries being performed at this time.

So May 18th I meet with the surgeon, and then who knows when the surgery date will be or what type of procedure they will perform.

My anxiety is over the roof with this.  Rock climbing is my passion, it grounds me when things are tough in life and provides me with the exercise I need to stay fit.  Not to mention it gets me outside into nature experiencing beauty and away from the fast paced chaos of everyday chaos.

Have any of you climbed through an umbilical hernia?
Is there any training specific exercises I can do without exerting to much discomfort or pain but staying somewhat in climbing shape? hangboard,cardio, etc?
Have any of you had the hernia repaired?..timeframe back, etc.

I greatly appreciate any insight you all could provide.

I hope this message finds you all safe and healthy during a chaotic time in life.

Peace and Gratitude!

Not sure about the terminology but I had a hernia near the groin. I climbed with it for quite a while. I am scared of the doctors so I only go if its serious. I just pushed it back in and kept going. I def wouldn't want to get emergency surgery so maybe dial it back a bit. try not to strain too hard.

I suffered an inguinal hernia last year. It’s not the same as your condition, but I have to assume it’s somewhat similar. I tried to continue my running, climbing, and stretching routines with it but it was just too painful. I’m not a fan of invasive procedures but I was going nuts not being able to get any exercise.

I opted for laparoscopic surgery which was not an easy decision as I had never been put under anesthesia before. When I woke up from surgery I felt like someone had been wailing on my junk with a baseball bat for the last hour. I was hobbling around for a couple days, could walk normally on day 4, was back to work on day 7, started climbing again on day 12, and started running again on day 16.

I was weak on all fronts, but mostly from the month of lethargy before the surgery. I was back to full climbing strength in under a month. Running took longer to get back up to speed as the tightness in the area of the hernia would cause some major side pain unless I dialed it back. But within 3 months of diligence and focusing on abdominal stretching, I was back to normal. Now I’m in the best shape of my life. The whole experience really made me appreciate good health and taking full advantage of it while I’ve still got it.

Best of luck to you on your journey. It’s scary now, but in a few months it’ll just be another thing that happened in your life.

Obviously the internet is no substitute for expert medical advice, but if it's any reassurance, my son, brother and I have all had abdominal hernia surgery (inguinal, not umbilical, but as I understand it it's basically the same procedure). It's a routine operation and we all made complete recoveries within a couple of weeks. None of us have had any complications or recurrences, and we don't have any restrictions on physical activities. You'll probably experience some discomfort the first few times you go climbing after surgery, but if you're relatively young and in good shape then you should be just fine after a month or so.

Any hernia is exploiting congenital weakness in the connective tissue at the site. These weaknesses exist in everyone to a varying degree but weaker core muscles will contribute to the possibilty of a gap and basically starting a tear creating an opening between the abdominal wall and the outer layers of skin (that still hold your intestines in).

This "hole" can trap a loop of bowel and then cut off its blood supply (incarceration) which is a medical emergency.

If that hasn't happened there is no particular urgency at all and some people have hernias for years and years without treatment in perfect health otherwise. Sleep well.

However, as climbing hard engages your core very powerfully you are at some risk for making the defect worse or to incarcerate some bowel. So probably best to keep it mellow until the operation. Then after a few weeks you'll be free to get your send on with no worries.

From a surgical point of view this is all no big deal at all and very common unless the bowel gets stuck in there with no blood supply which is pretty rare but can happen. No worries till then, but if your belly pain is increasing at all straight back to the ED you go and pronto because you will be very sick (in a surgical sense). If the bowel starts dying from no blood you will need the bowel section to be removed. You don't want that as you may not have your bowel hooked back up again right away etc and that can be a little cosmetically inconvenient living with a colostomy bag for awhile. If you have incarcerated bowel and don't get the operation in time, you die. This is why its an emergency to get back down there if your belly pain is increasing or you have any unexplained nausea and vomiting.

Other than that, no worries!

:)

I had an inguinal hernia repaired a little over a year ago, laparoscopic surgery, and the surgeon fixed the other side too because it was starting to go. My recovery was far more like Martin le Roux and his crew than Eric Varley. General anesthesia sucks, but apparently laparoscopic surgery lets you recover faster than the other type. Listen to your body, take the long view instead of trying to maintain climbing shape right up to the day of the surgery, and don't rush the recovery.

Hey, no hernia here but I've seen them repaired a million times.

First, I've seen people go years without fixing it. Sometimes it ok, other time incarceration is what brings them in. Fun fact, we had an incarcerated hernia on..wait for it..an inmate.

Anyway, it's sometimes so minor that they fix it on the way out, ie gallbladder or appendix.

Other times it's a little bigger job but that's often when someone has a hernia from a previous surgery. A davinci robot and some mesh for that.

Recovery is fairly fast for a young athletic type. You just have to listen to your doctor and don't start too early.

I had an umbilical hernia that progressed slowly for about 7  years and I initially balked at the price of the surgery. I had also heard anecdotally that the surgery wasn’t a guaranteed fix and might make it worse over time (bad advice).

It got worse and worse to the point where my guts would pop out and I would push them back in (sometimes mid route). I got to the point where I had to hold the guts in with my hand to sneeze, cough, laugh, fart, poop, etc. But I still felt like I could deal with it. 
Meanwhile, my core was getting weaker and weaker, it hurt to run, I couldn’t do any rotational exercises like snatches, I avoided compression moves altogether, and any roof climbing would involve pushing my guts back in a few times. 
Then, fed up, I upped my insurance and HSA at work and scheduled the surgery. I got a great recommendation for a doctor. He told me that for my condition the laparoscopic surgery the other surgeon told me about was unnecessary and more expensive. He sewed some mesh all around the tear and belly button and gave me an inny. 
I wish I had done it years ago; I didn’t realize how debilitating it was until it was fixed. I was easy kettle bell swinging about two weeks out. Climbing almost regularly about three weeks out. I had to be the most careful with backbends in yoga that really stretch the ab areas, like wheel or bow (but I had also stopped doing them because of pain). 
I’m two years out from the surgery and never notice it (knock on wood).  I have full mobility in yoga. I’m stronger in my core than ever. I can sneeze like a human.   
Some (possibly good) advice I got was to lose as much weight as you could before the surgery because it would help ease the pressure on the stitches. I don’t know if that really helped or not, but it was good motivation. 
It was my first time under general anesthesia and I loved it, except for the cost. I felt all high and disassociated, but in a socially responsible way. I finally understood the drug thing. 

Ive got an inguinal hernia. Hurt like hell. Surgeon was reluctant to cut on me as I was only 25-26 when it happened. I was referred to physical therapy. Did all kinds of weird resistance band work and continue with some of it periodically. Pain free for 6 years now. Listen to the Dr. Dont push it too hard once you are under your own care and listen to your body. 

ventral hernia

My somewhat related anecdote. I had bilateral inguinal hernias. They weren't too bad - every year ramping up trail running over winter seemed to be the trigger. I thought I was just overdoing it - soreness but not terrible. After a few years of that and hurting particularly bad with indoor soccer mixed in I got checked and diagnosed. I was told it was not too bad so far, but they would only get worse if I maintained my activities. I didn't want to risk "complications" hours into the woods and opted for repair.

I had laparoscopic surgery to implant mesh on both sides. Pretty sore after and an impressively swollen / bruised scrotum. Scars are still fading 7.5 months on. I took it really easy and was told 4 weeks with much reduced activity. Nothing besides a little walking at home the first week. Some longer walks after that but nothing too strenuous. Mixed in more hiking with some uneven surface and hills over the next week, but only ~40 minutes. A little more hiking from there and more effort on the uphills, but backing off if I was even worried about hurting anything. I celebrated 4 weeks with an easy road ride. Some really easy runs and rides from there. I can't remember the specifics of easing back into climbing. I think I was pretty paranoid about overhangs for a while and I had some minor aching that eventually went away.

I was definitely feeling fatigued early on but got back up to speed pretty quickly. Had a big road bike trip in October that went well, and a 60K trail race 2.5 months after surgery (wasn't in great shape for that long of an effort, but finished). I don't really keep any sort of climbing log so I don't have as specific of information there. I feel it came back similar to running and riding.

No pain this year from trail running. Overall I'm glad I got it taken care of then.

I have an inguinal hernia as well, popped up 1.5 years ago.  At first I was hesitant to climb hard on it but eventually I realized it was fine to climb on.  I got a hernia belt (great crag fashion accessory) that does a great job of keeping it in.  Over the last year I have gotten lazy about wearing the belt and it has slowly grown.  

I am by no means an expert on this but my guess would be that an umbilical hernia from a climbing standpoint might be a little more serious as you engage that area far more often climbing.  I would get it looked at sooner.  Also I would definitely look into and abdominal binder if you defer treatment to keep it in place during strenuous exercise.  My theory is the less it pops out, the smaller it stays.

https://ufeelgood.com/products/umbilical-navel-hernia-belt-abdominal-support-brace?variant=8870671253553&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiczf3NeN6QIVCr3ACh2G7QsiEAQYASABEgIJPPD_BwE

Interestingly I have read that the risk for incarceration is higher in smaller hernias as the hole is smaller and more likely to trap the bowel.  Regardless I think incarceration is actually quite rare.  Good luck!

Patrick Vernon wrote: I have an inguinal hernia as well, popped up 1.5 years ago.  At first I was hesitant to climb hard on it but eventually I realized it was fine to climb on.  I got a hernia belt (great crag fashion accessory) that does a great job of keeping it in.  Over the last year I have gotten lazy about wearing the belt and it has slowly grown.  

I am by no means an expert on this but my guess would be that an umbilical hernia from a climbing standpoint might be a little more serious as you engage that area far more often climbing.  I would get it looked at sooner.  Also I would definitely look into and abdominal binder if you defer treatment to keep it in place during strenuous exercise.  My theory is the less it pops out, the smaller it stays.

https://ufeelgood.com/products/umbilical-navel-hernia-belt-abdominal-support-brace?variant=8870671253553&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiczf3NeN6QIVCr3ACh2G7QsiEAQYASABEgIJPPD_BwE

Interestingly I have read that the risk for incarceration is higher in smaller hernias as the hole is smaller and more likely to trap the bowel.  Regardless I think incarceration is actually quite rare.  Good luck!

Patrick..

Thanks for the hernia belt link..I ordered it this morning.  I mean anything that could help right!?

I greatly appreciate everyone's recommendations, insight, strategies and thoughts.  Its not something I want to go through and deal with by any means, especially since I feel pretty climbing fit currently.  Its just nice to hear other climbers have dealt with this and there is some positives to be gained for sure.

Again, please keep the beta coming.  I do sincerely appreciate it.

I will keep everyone up to date on the process.

Peace and Gratitude!

Mike P.

I had an umbilical hernia that I didn't get repaired right away (like a few months I think?). It has held up for several years quite well. I've noticed no difference whatsoever. I avoided anything strenuous for the full recommended time, as I recall a month or so. The surgery itself and immediate recovery was a bummer but I'm soft. I think it does matter how good the surgeon does but I went random basically. I think it depends how big the tear is and where. I had a friend who had a groin hernia repaired in Thailand and it didn't turn out well.

I had a double inguinal hernia repair done last year at age 38.  I went to the doctor knowing I had one hernia, then found out I had two.  
I climbed for a couple months, but it kept growing so I stopped a few weeks before my surgery.  Post surgery, I was back to work (restaurant) in 3 days, but I was in various states of pain/discomfort for a couple of weeks.  I was on hydrocodone for the first few days, but quickly weaned off as the side effects are not conducive to trying to avoid abdominal strain.  

I was out of climbing for about 10 weeks.  I went about four weeks with no real exercise beyond just being on my feet a lot at work and light lifting, then started slowly going back at about 25% increase in load every week.  Even then, there were some uncomfortable twinges when pulling hard for a couple more weeks.

Granted, mine sounds like it was a bit worse than yours.  But, I'd consider myself in above average shape for a near 40 year old, and generally heal pretty quickly, and I still took a good bit of time to get back to full activity.

I think I could have gone back faster, but in talking with my doc he recommended the slow approach as it is more likely to lead to not having to repair the hernia repair.  It sounds like a lot of folks that rush back to activity risk putting additional small tears or weaknesses around the mesh they use for repair, meaning many have to have another surgery within as soon as a couple of years.