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Inguinal Hernia Repair – What to Expect After Your Surgery

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Inguinal Hernia Repair: What to Expect After Your Surgery

How Long Will the Surgery and Recovery Take?

  • Surgery Time: The procedure usually takes about 1 hour.
  • Recovery from Anesthesia: It takes around 1-2 hours to fully wake up after anesthesia.

Most patients feel well enough to go home the next morning. If you’re feeling good, can eat and drink without issues, and have someone to care for you at home, you might even be able to go home the same day.

Common After-Effects You Might Notice:

  • Bruising: It’s normal to see some bruising around the surgical area, and sometimes it can spread down to the scrotum. This should go away within 1-2 weeks.
  • Swelling: A little swelling is expected, but if your scrotum becomes twice its normal size, please contact us or your GP right away for advice.

Managing Pain and Discomfort

You will likely feel some pain or discomfort for about 5-7 days after your surgery, with the first 3-5 days being the most uncomfortable.

How to Manage Pain:

  1. Take regular painkillers for the first 3-5 days:
  • Paracetamol: 1 gram every 6 hours
  • Anti-inflammatories: Like Nurofen or Brufen (if advised by your doctor)
  1. Stronger Pain Relief (if needed):
  • If the pain is more intense, you can take stronger medications like Tramadol or Oxycodone (only if prescribed).
  • Some people find these helpful for sleeping or when going out for a short walk.

Taking Care of Your Wound

  • Keep Dressings Dry and Clean:
  • You can shower with the dressings on. Just pat them dry with a towel and use a hairdryer on a cool setting to dry them completely.
  • Avoid soaking the area in baths or swimming pools as this can cause infections.
  • When to Remove Dressings:
  • After 7 days, you can remove the dressings.
  • An easy way to do this is to make them really wet in the shower, and they will peel off smoothly.
  • Stitches: They are dissolvable, so you don’t need to get them removed.

Physical Activity: What to Avoid

To allow proper healing and avoid complications:

  • Avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activities:
  • For 2 weeks after laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery
  • For 6 weeks after open surgery
  • How much can you lift?
  • Avoid lifting anything heavier than 5 kg (about the weight of a full shopping bag).
  • What can you do?
  • It’s okay to do light activities like walking around the house or short trips to the shops.

Overdoing physical activities too soon can strain your abdominal muscles and increase the risk of the hernia coming back.

When to Seek Medical Advice:

  • Severe or increasing pain that doesn’t improve with medication
  • High fever or chills (could indicate an infection)
  • Redness, warmth, or pus around the wound
  • Scrotum swelling to more than twice its normal size

If you notice any of these signs, contact your doctor or GP immediately.

This information is meant to guide you through your recovery. If you have any concerns, always consult your healthcare provider.