Sports Hernia

[Bleeding Blue Note 0]

Has anyone dealt with a sports hernia before? If you have, I was wondering what kinds of exercises you do both on and off ice (aside from the typical stretching) to help rehab and get back into shape. Thanks!

[D-MaN88 0]

I had one a couple seasons back and with the numerous and at first painful stretching when I could I started a very thorough core workout. If I can find the stuff I did around here I'll type it up and post it for you. But paired with everything natural such as getting back on the ice and skating, I worked twice as hard off at getting my core section and stamina back on course. My advice is just while concentrating on getting your legs back, to also hit the core workouts as it will be a big help when you get back to 100%.

[Bleeding Blue Note 0]

Thanks for the response. Getting that muscle group back into shape has been a tedious process for sure, but I hope to fit enough to start playing again this season.

[D-MaN88 0]

It is a tedious and painful process there's no doubt about that. It's just one of those things that you have to train through it. I still don't know where I put my exercises, I have to stop back in to my physical therapist this week so I could ask and see what types of exercises they suggest. In the meantime good luck and I hope you have a fast recovery!

[Bleeding Blue Note 0]

Thanks! I've started doing some light skating and stick work lately, but don't want to push it right now. I really don't want to go through this again. :)

[Gongshow11 1]

have you gotten surgery?

[Bleeding Blue Note 0]

have you gotten surgery?

I haven't actually, which was probably really stupid of me. I did a combination of chiropractics and acupuncture, as well as enzymes and a ton of rest. One of the guys on my team is a chiropractor, so he's been helping me through it.

I did initially go to the hospital because of the pain, to make sure it wasn't something like a kidney stone. I got X-ray and a CT scan, but from what I hear, Sports Hernias are pretty hard to diagnose, and the at the time I had no idea what one was.

[iceholes 0]

have you gotten surgery?

I, Sports Hernias are pretty hard to diagnose, and the at the time I had no idea what one was.

very true, and most times do not require surgery like a regular hernia...

[Gongshow11 1]

have you gotten surgery?

I haven't actually, which was probably really stupid of me. I did a combination of chiropractics and acupuncture, as well as enzymes and a ton of rest. One of the guys on my team is a chiropractor, so he's been helping me through it.

I did initially go to the hospital because of the pain, to make sure it wasn't something like a kidney stone. I got X-ray and a CT scan, but from what I hear, Sports Hernias are pretty hard to diagnose, and the at the time I had no idea what one was.

i had two buddies with sports hernia, both of which required surgery. One is fine, the other still feels pain.

[Storm 0]

For those who don't know...

What is the treatment of a sports hernia?

There are no treatments that have been shown to be effective for sports hernia other than surgery. That said, the initial treatment of a sports hernia is always conservative in hopes that the symptoms will resolve. Resting from activity, anti-inflammatory medications, ice treatments, and physical therapy can all be tried in an effort to alleviate the patient's symptoms.

If these measures do not relieve the symptoms of a sports hernia, surgery may be recommended to repair the weakened area of the abdominal wall. In number of studies have shown between 65% and 90% of athletes are able to return to their activity after surgery for a sports hernia. Rehabilitation from surgery for a sports hernia usually takes about eight weeks.

A sports hernia occurs when there is a weakening of the muscles or tendons of the lower abdominal wall. This part of the abdomen is the same region where an inguinal hernia occurs, called the inguinal canal. When an inguinal hernia occurs there is sufficient weakening of the abdominal wall to allow a pouch, the hernia, to be felt. In the case of a sports hernia, the problem is due to a weakening in the same abdominal wall muscles, but there is no palpable hernia.

I had 2 inguinal hernias. Surgery and time ... good as new ... I think?

[sabres48 0]

A hernia is when you have blood in you intestines (or liver i dont remeber), correct?

[RussianPlayer 0]

Mine was not hernia, but had same symptoms. I have muscle real tense in back that would trigger groin area.

[shooter27 116]

Don't know if you've already resolved your injury, but I would definitely suggest surgery. I had one come up in college and had surgery two days later. I was lucky, it happened during training camp, so between that time, and the end of first semester break I only missed about 6 games over the 6 weeks I was out.

[wetwilly17 6]

i had two of them simultaneously. one on my stomach, the other in the groin. forget about doing anything the first week after surgery, you will be in a lot of pain. once you are able to walk around, try to move around as much as possible and gently stretch the affected areas. be very careful not to re-injure it because the area will be very tight for a month or so after surgery. the more you work it (again, not too hard) the faster you will recover.

[indaslot 0]

From the Mayo Clinic website:

The pain of a sports hernia can be relieved with analgesics or ice packs, though they may also have the perverse effect of ultimately worsening the condition. If an athlete continues to play through the problem, the tissue weakness, strain or tear will likely worsen.

The best treatment for sports hernias is nature's own -- to lay off the offending activity and rest for a period ranging from a few weeks to a few months. It is also useful to engage in exercises that strengthen the abdominal muscles and increase their flexibility. This course is especially effective for professional athletes; because they are young and strong, they tend to have tremendous recuperative powers. On the other hand, they also tend to be exceptionally eager to get back in the game and seek a quick fix.

But quick, reliable fixes are not to be had. While surgical procedures exist -- suturing the tear (if it can be isolated) or patching the area with a synthetic mesh -- they offer no guarantee of solving the problem or preventing its recurrence.

Fortunately, though, given enough time, patience and self-restraint, the problem will usually heal by itself without such interventions.

-- David R. Farley, M.D., General Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

[ramensandwich 1]

reminds me of a weird al song: living with a hernia.

Living with a hernia video

[wetwilly17 6]

From the Mayo Clinic website:

The pain of a sports hernia can be relieved with analgesics or ice packs, though they may also have the perverse effect of ultimately worsening the condition. If an athlete continues to play through the problem, the tissue weakness, strain or tear will likely worsen.

The best treatment for sports hernias is nature's own -- to lay off the offending activity and rest for a period ranging from a few weeks to a few months. It is also useful to engage in exercises that strengthen the abdominal muscles and increase their flexibility. This course is especially effective for professional athletes; because they are young and strong, they tend to have tremendous recuperative powers. On the other hand, they also tend to be exceptionally eager to get back in the game and seek a quick fix.

But quick, reliable fixes are not to be had. While surgical procedures exist -- suturing the tear (if it can be isolated) or patching the area with a synthetic mesh -- they offer no guarantee of solving the problem or preventing its recurrence.

Fortunately, though, given enough time, patience and self-restraint, the problem will usually heal by itself without such interventions.

-- David R. Farley, M.D., General Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

i wasn't playing hockey at the time i first noticed my hernias. i tried letting them heal on their own. the hernias only got worse until after a year they were too painful and i had to have surgery. since my surgery (6-1/2 years ago) i have not had any problems.

[cj190 0]

They are wrong. A true sports hernia will not get better with time. The muscles have torn apart and will not magically heal with time. What I think they are referring to is the fact that a sports hernia will get better in the sense that the pain will eventually subside and you will be able to engage in normal every day activities. However, try to go back to sports and you will re aggravate it.