Sports Hernia

[cj190 0]

Wondering if anyone had had one and could help me understand what I have been diagnosed with. I apologize if this has been discussed already.

[quasi 0]

Google says:

http://orthopedics.about.com/od/sportsinjuries/a/hernia.htm

[chuck 2]

Based on my experience the first thing to do would be to get a second opinion. Different Doctors will use this term for a variety of conditions and treatment options vary from rest/rehab all the way up to surgery depending on severity - in my case i received that diagnosis - went for a second opinion and ended up off the ice for 8 wks or so - during that time i did a series of rehab stretching and strengthening routines off ice - some of which i still do to this day. the first doctor did some examination of the area and made his diagnosis based on his "experience" with this injury - second doc had xrays taken (make sure it isn't a stress fracture) then a series of test movements and exams - he even had me come back after 2 wks to check progress to insure that it was correctly healing - all in all a very tricky injury to manage - good luck and hope you are able to get back on ice soon.

[flyguy1697 0]

Finally someone else in my shoes. I played on what I thought was a groin strain for about a year and a half. Kept stretching and stretching before games and taking advil, everything was good. In mid-august it was unbarable. I went to the doctor and after x-rays and then MRI's I was diagnosed with 4 stress fractures on my right pelvis and 3 on my left. After 10 weeks of rehab and core strengthining nothing was better. The doctor then sent me to two other doctors and both of these doctors diagnosed me with a sports hernia on top of my fractured pelvis. I just recently got back to the ice and I have to get surgery at the end of the season. All of the doctors told me it was from over use while two of the three told me that it is very possible that it was from my skates and how far they leaned me forward. Flyers equipment manager told me this is very common and that Marian Gaborek is plagued with the same sort of injury and his keeps recurring. I still play in pain and it is brutal. The doctor is going to insert a piece of mesh in my groin at the end of the season to strengthen my muscles around it and make it more felxable. Can't wait for that.

[cj190 0]

Ive also skated for a year on what I have thought is a groin strain, stretched all the time, but still has gotten worse and worse. I stopped skating for 6 weeks, thought it would be all good, but its not. Can any of you hook me up with some good exercises I could try BEFORE I decide to get cut open. And I feel your pain, this sucks, especially because it is so hard to ID what it is!!! Flyguy, I wish you all the luck in a speedy recovery. Know your gonna be at your best when you get back and just always keep that in mind when you are bummed about not being able to play.

[Gongshow11 1]

you have to get surgery to fix it. it's a torn ab causing groin pain

[flyguy1697 0]

Its a little tough to swallow when you have to come home from junior A here int he states when you can't play anymore. Had to come home and join my local midget team again not to say that we don't get scouted because a few kids on my team are high d-1 recruits with one already committed to Brown but its still tough. Really hurting my college status for next year so it looks like i'll be playing juniors next year to get my break. Best of luck to you and honestly stretching and all that won't do much. Your going to have to just take anti inflamitories and just stay loose. Don't over work yourself either. Play when you have to. Screw non league games and such and let your coaches know your deal. I had to do it.

[DangleDangleChamp 0]

Its a little tough to swallow when you have to come home from junior A here int he states when you can't play anymore. Had to come home and join my local midget team again not to say that we don't get scouted because a few kids on my team are high d-1 recruits with one already committed to Brown but its still tough. Really hurting my college status for next year so it looks like i'll be playing juniors next year to get my break. Best of luck to you and honestly stretching and all that won't do much. Your going to have to just take anti inflamitories and just stay loose. Don't over work yourself either. Play when you have to. Screw non league games and such and let your coaches know your deal. I had to do it.

To all that are contemplating getting surgery I would say to just go ahead and get the surgery. Its a Lathroscopic surgery where they make 3 small incisions. The whole process takes a total of about 30-35 minutes. Try and do it on your break when you go home from Juniors. I flew home from my Junior team and got surgery. I was off the ice a total of 3 weeks.

[mack 44]

Ugh, no one google image "sports hernia."

[wullymc 0]

To all that are contemplating getting surgery I would say to just go ahead and get the surgery. Its a Lathroscopic surgery where they make 3 small incisions. The whole process takes a total of about 30-35 minutes. Try and do it on your break when you go home from Juniors. I flew home from my Junior team and got surgery. I was off the ice a total of 3 weeks.

I totally agree. I was pain free after about 1 1/2 weeks after the lathroscopic procedure. They inserted a mesh. You will feel much much better.

There are 2 methods for a repair: Mesh and Shouldice method. The shouldice method might be better but the recovery time is much greater. I would suggest doing some google searches on Sports Hernias.

I feel for you. It sucks but get it fixed asap!

PS: Don't watch any funny movies during recovery period! ;)

[Zamboni 6]

I was expecting the small incisions-woke up a lot later than expected with a regular incision and xl mesh. You should realize until the surgeon can view the tear he's only guessing from experience what its going to take to patch you up.

Shouldice method is best, not everyone is a suitable candidate....their hospital is in Toronto and only does hernias. No mesh, they stretch ab flaps over each other to cover the tear basically.

I needed the mesh, for a few days you will feel worse than when you went in. Painkillers can bung you up, careful with that....the new mesh feels like barbed wire fence digging into your bowels.

Hope I didn't scare you guys...put off getting the surgery and the tear will grow requiring a bigger mesh patch.

[cj190 0]

Zamboni, can you comment on that some more, about playing will make the tear grow bigger and require more mesh.

[D-MaN88 0]

He means the longer you put off getting the surgery to fix it now, the longer the tear in the actual muscle grows therefore requiring more "mesh" to fix the tear/injury.

[wullymc 0]

Get it done asap. You will just be out of hockey for about a month. Play more and you're going to do more damage.

[hockey is life... 0]

These bad-boy hernia's sound and look nasty

[wullymc 0]

How many people here have had a groin hernia on one side and have gotten it repaired and then experienced a hernia in the other side? How long after the first surgery did you find out that the other side now has one?

I got my hernia repair in May and now have one on the other side. I have an apt in Jan so it looks like here I go again. :(

[cj190 0]

Im sorry to hear that. What I think happened is that I have had several knee dislocations playing ice hockey on my left knee. Consequently, the sports hernia is on my right side, because I believe I compensated my by putting more wight on my other side. Perhaps what happened is that your other side compensated for the side with the sports hernia. Its amazing how interconnected the human body is. For those wondering about sports hernia, there are 2 major repair methods that I know of.

1. Small incision with mesh--pioneered by Dr Cuttey

2. larger incision without mesh and a loosening of the hip muscles--Pioneered by Dr. Meyers

Also, there is a doc in Germany that is doing some pretty amazing things but I am unsure what she is doing different. Many MLS players are flying there for her surgery.

Can we please get a discussion going on what method is the best and why? I am in the Bay Area, and there are very good docs but each uses a different method and I would like to hear which people think is best.

[cj190 0]

And anyone with this also have hip pain as well? My MRI showed up negative (consistent with sports hernia) but also positive for some hip problems, probably will get another MRI for that...

[cj190 0]

Hey guys had the surgery a few days ago. Had the open incision method. It is very painful the first few days. I will keep you all updated with how the recovery goes and how long to get back to sports.

[cj190 0]

Recovery time to walk normally again was 2 weeks. Let me know if any bay area people need a good doc for this surgery. Although real test is if I play again, so far things down there feel good.

[Hipster 5]

Oh man, those suck. Unfortunately, Hockey produces a lot of hernias because the upper body and lower body are so often heavily taxed and torqued in completely different directions. I had a mesh patch. It was relatively easy and I was up an around in a day or so, but I do think someday I'll have problems with the other side. I've gotten some twinges there already.

Sometimes I wonder if the surgeon doesn't purposely leave the other side alone so he gets another 5-7 G's kick at the can a few years down the road.

I'm a cynic by nature.

[cj190 0]

I sure hope not, but its possible. If I now favor my right, its very possible something could develop on my left. I did not do mesh though, I was opened up and sewn back together.

[BobMcRobertson 0]

Can any of you guys who had the groin issues/hernia throw some symtpons out there? I pulled my groin a couple of months ago and does not et better, it's even to the point where at times I get pain shooting into my 'nads. Not a good feeling........I did go the Doctor, and good old Navy medicine tells me to "take some Motrin and rest a little". Thanks.......

[houk 0]

Hey there. I'm a chiropractor and I often see alot of groin injuries.

There are basically two types of hernias. Inguinal and non inguinal. An inguinal hernia is a hernia in the inguinal canal. This is located 5 inches lateral to the belly button and 5 inches below. This often needs surgical repair because it will herniate into the testicles causing excruciating pain and swollen testes (not fun). A non inguinal hernia is one that is not in the canal. Basically a sports hernia is an inguinal hernia.

I see an absorbant amount of groin injuries in hockey due to the need to pivot and pushoff while skating. Some symptoms of groin injuries are pain upon abduction of one leg(trying to swing one leg out to the side), pain upon a situp in the groin area. More often than not, the area will feel weak. Groin pulls are basically a strain of the adductor muscles which allow the leg to swing out to the side and bring it back again. They usually take about 4 weeks to heal and if not done properly can be reinjured (just ask kyle wellwood or vesa toskala). Acupuncture, physio and chiropractic can all help.

Hope this answers some questions.

[gxc999 7]

I know someone who's had multiple hernia surgeries and make sure you don't force yourself back into any physical activity too early or you might be in need of another operation and even longer recovery.