The rehabilitation process after inguinal hernia surgery in men is considered an integral part of the post-treatment period. A hernia in itself is not a pleasant phenomenon. Initially, inguinal hernias appear as a protrusion in the inguinal region. Elements of the pathological sac can be organs of the abdominal cavity: parts of the greater omentum, peritoneum, and intestinal loops. Due to the peculiarities of the anatomical structure, a hernia develops more often in men than in women.
Inguinal canal
The inguinal canal in men is the slit-like space between the muscle layers of the abdomen. Normally, it contains the spermatic cord and nerve endings. With the development of pathological disorders, the inguinal canal begins to expand, while a direct or oblique inguinal hernia forms.
Unfortunately, this pathology is quite common today. Therefore, it will not be out of place for any young man to know, at least in general terms, how they treat an inguinal hernia in men.
Hernia therapy
There are many conservative methods of treating this abnormality of the body. But there are radical ways to solve the problem, including the operational method. Nevertheless, surgical treatment remains the most effective. Most often, laparoscopy of an inguinal hernia in men is performed.
Hernia is removed under general or local anesthesia. In the process of surgical manipulations, the hernial sac is removed , the inguinal canal is strengthened, plastic surgery is performed using muscle tissue or artificial polypropylene grafts (the so-called "mesh"). In the case of successful completion of an operable intervention, the rehabilitation process begins next. After inguinal hernia surgery in men, some restorative and preventive measures are provided that support the patient's normal viability. This includes the outpatient period, diet, exercise therapy.
The duration of the recovery process
The duration of the recovery period depends on many factors, the main of which is the selection of the type of anesthesia. With local anesthesia, recovery is faster, and if the patient has no complications, in some medical institutions the patient can be released home after a few hours.
In the subsequent rehabilitation after surgical treatment, patients undergo an outpatient monitoring method. They always come to the doctor’s office, where dressings are performed. The specialist monitors the course of the postoperative period, in case of complications takes appropriate measures to eliminate them.
If, for certain reasons, the patient had to be operated on under general anesthesia, the initial stage of the rehabilitation period is extended. In this case, the patient spends 3-5 days in a hospital. After an operation to remove such a neoplasm in men, doctors pay attention to the presence of swelling, the general condition of the patient, and the presence of complications. If the wound in the area of the surgical suture hurts, pain medications are prescribed.
Rehabilitation after inguinal hernia surgery in men in the outpatient clinic
The outpatient period after surgical removal of inguinal hernia in men lasts, as a rule, a couple of weeks. At this time, it is extremely important to comply with the diet, sleep, and with caution, increase motor activity and physical activity.
The recovery process usually takes place without complications, if the patient visits the specialist on time and follows his recommendations. The doctor, on the other hand, monitors the course of rehabilitation, gives medical recommendations, in case of complications, hospitalizes or prescribes additional therapy to recover from an inguinal hernia operation.
What does the patient need to know?
In the first week after surgery for cutting an inguinal hernia, a man will have a postoperative suture, and this is considered normal. To eliminate excessive pain sensitivity, the patient should take the painkillers prescribed by the doctor medications. The list of main recommendations that must be observed by the postoperative patient:
- you can not lift weight more than 5 kg - you need to increase motor loads gradually, after 7 days after surgery;
- conduct a course of light exercise physiotherapy exercises on the recommendation of a specialist;
- if the patient is prescribed to wear a bandage, then a special postoperative belt should be purchased;
- carefully monitor the hygiene of the postoperative suture, which immediately after surgical manipulation to remove the hernia is treated in a hospital under the supervision of a doctor;
- adherence to a diet that should be balanced, diarrhea and constipation are not allowed.
It is noteworthy that it is best to eat food in small quantities, 4-5 times during the day. The diet should be enriched with protein, which is contained in the required amount in dairy products, chicken, mushrooms, fish. Due to the protein content in food, the process of tissue regeneration occurs faster after surgery to remove a hernia in the groin.
In the case of surgery using a polypropylene mesh implant, it is not recommended to wear a bandage.
Possible complications after surgery
The negative consequences of a hernia in the groin in men develop due to the individual characteristics of the patient and non-compliance with medical requirements in the postoperative period. In rare cases, this effect can be triggered by the mistakes of surgeons (iatrogenic complications).
Iatrogenic complications include several of the most common medical errors.
- Damage to the spermatic cord. This phenomenon occurs due to the negligence of the operating surgeon, when the testes are accidentally damaged during tissue resection and extraction of the hernial sac. In the future, this can provoke a weakening of male potency, a violation of spermatogenesis and hormonal levels, which threatens testicular atrophy and irreversible infertility.
- Wound infection. It is a very dangerous complication, since it can threaten the occurrence of sepsis. In such cases, antibacterial medications are prescribed.
- Damage to a certain part of the intestine during surgery.
- Bleeding, which often causes many serious pathologies.
Other consequences
There are other complications that occur after surgery to remove an inguinal hernia due to any other reasons that do not include negligence of doctors.
- Deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremity (most often develops in men in old age and in inactive patients). This pathological phenomenon is accompanied by pain in the calf muscles, leg fatigue. To prevent such consequences, anticoagulants and thrombolytics are prescribed.
- Dropsy of the testicle. It can be either one-sided or develop on two sides. Pathology is detected quite easily, since an increase in the scrotum is observed, and this requires a new surgical intervention.
- Testicular edema, which is usually observed after surgical therapy and is accompanied by soreness in the testicle.
- Re-development of hernial swelling due to patient disruption during the rehabilitation period. This is facilitated by high physical activity, weight lifting, sudden movements.
- Infectious pathogens enter the area of the postoperative suture.
- The formation of a hematoma. In order to avoid such a complication, ice should be applied immediately to the suture zone immediately after surgery.
To prevent the occurrence of complications, the patient is recommended to observe a sparing regimen, follow medical recommendations.
A very useful physiotherapy exercise complex (exercise therapy) after an inguinal hernia operation in men.
Physical activity in the postoperative period, exercise therapy
Within a month after surgery, physical activity is excluded. Further, the patient may be offered a complex of gentle exercises to restore the muscles of the groin and abdomen, as well as morning exercises.
Proper exercise is important.
At first, classes should be conducted under the supervision of a specialist or instructor, observing their recommendations. In no case should you exceed the threshold of permissible loads during exercise therapy after an inguinal hernia operation in men, as this can be dangerous to health and cause unwanted complications. Therapeutic physical education should help the process of remission, and not exacerbate postoperative complications.
Here are some elementary exercises from the complex of therapeutic physical culture for hernia.
- Sitting on a chair, spread your legs shoulder-width apart to maintain your own balance. Raise your right hand and make a slow tilt to the right side, then do the same manipulations with your left hand. You need to do 10-15 repetitions on each side. This will help strengthen the lateral abdominal muscles.
- Lie on the floor, stretch your arms along the body, press your lower back to the floor. Hold a small ball between your legs. Make 10-15 leg lifts to a height of 15-20 cm from the floor. This will provide an opportunity to strengthen the muscles of the lower press.
- Make 10-15 repetitions of the well-known exercise “mill”: the starting position in the position with the feet shoulder-width apart, tilting at a right angle to the floor, alternately swing the arms with your fingers, while trying to reach the toe of the left foot with your fingers and fingers left hand - to toe on the right foot.
- In the initial position on a chair with a straight back in a sitting position, pull your knees toward your chest, stomach and stomach 10-15 times. This exercise strengthens the abdominal muscles.
It must be remembered that all exercises are done exclusively in a supportive bandage.
Diet after removal of a hernia in the groin in men
At the rehabilitation stage, you need to adhere to simple requirements when choosing food. The nutritional regimen itself after surgery should be balanced by including the necessary substances and trace elements in it. Eat often, in small portions. The main component of nutrition that will allow the patient to recover after cutting a hernia is protein. Therefore, in the rehabilitation period, the patient should eat low-fat cottage cheese, dairy products, buckwheat, eggs, chicken, fish dishes, vegetables.
Nutrition after inguinal hernia surgery in men is aimed at stabilizing the digestive organs, foods that provoke constipation, diarrhea, flatulence are not allowed. At first, experts prescribe a special diet, highlighting foods such as low-fat soups, thin cereals, boiled fish, mashed potatoes and meat.
What to exclude?
It is necessary to exclude from the diet:
- sweets;
- legumes;
- fruit;
- spicy foods; smoked meats;
- rye bread, sweet pastries;
- yogurt, dairy products.
It is strictly forbidden to smoke and drink alcohol after surgery. With caution you need to drink coffee and carbonated drinks.
Postoperative patch
Recovery after surgical manipulations to remove a hernia in the groin is largely dependent on medical support and sterility. Seam plasters reliably hold damaged tissue, preventing the seams from dispersing, protect against infection and moisture. Impregnation of the glue base promotes wound healing and smooths scars. The patient recovers faster after surgery.
A sterile postoperative patch is glued directly to the seam. It can be gel or bactericidal. The usual rolled adhesive plaster on a fabric, paper and silk basis can be used to fix the dressing. Such patches adhere well to the skin, allow air to pass through, do not get wet, and are easily and painlessly removed.
After surgery, a waterproof patch is applied to the suture containing painkillers and antiseptic agents. From the outside, it looks like a napkin soaked with medicine, in a frame with an adhesive composition. The size of the patch is selected 5 cm larger than the postoperative suture. The adhesive strip should be located on the skin and in no case touch the wound.
Postoperative suture care
The first days of care for the sutures is carried out in the hospital, where the operation was performed. The doctor daily removes a sterile gauze dressing, which is first impregnated with a succession, treats the suture with green leaf (iodine is not used, given allergic reactions), after which he reapplies the dressing and fixes it with a patch. At this time, the patient is not recommended to wash, so that water does not fall on the wound area.
If the recovery period goes well and there are no negative complications, on the 5th day after the treatment of the wound with peroxide and diamond herbs, a specialist can remove the bandage. At this stage, the patient can already bathe, however, the seam is not recommended to be wet anyway. After water procedures, you need to slightly wet the seam area with sterile gauze, and then, after soaking a cotton swab in a solution of diamond greens or alcohol, treat the edges of the wound with it.
After several days, it is recommended to start stitching the joints with soap, which contains an antiseptic. After this, the seam gets wet with gauze, but is not processed by anything, if this is not necessary
The skin suture is usually removed by the 7-14th day, pre-treating it with an alcohol solution. A person is discharged for outpatient treatment, recommending not to wet the suture strongly, treat it once a day with alcohol or fucorcin. To accelerate healing, it is allowed to use water-soluble ointments, for example, Levomekol, Bepanten, Dioxizol.
To process the seam at home, you need to purchase three percent hydrogen peroxide, sterile gauze, green paint, alcohol, cotton swabs, and a paper patch. The old dressing can be poured with peroxide to facilitate removal. After that, with the help of a cotton swab with alcohol, the edges of the wound are treated, the same thing is done using brilliant green. Only then is a new sterile dressing applied. The patch to some extent minimizes the risk of complications during rehabilitation after an inguinal hernia operation in men.