What to Expect After Hernia Surgery

After a hernia procedure, most people endure some discomfort. Bruising and swelling around the incision are common side effects. Other indications that may be felt up to a year after the operation include groin pulling, burning, and tugging. These feelings are normal after any surgery.  

On the other hand, each person may have a unique experience, which means that what you sense may be less intense than what others feel. The most important thing following a successful operation is to take necessary precautions; allow your body to heal correctly; and, if anything looks out of the usual, consult with your doctor to ensure that nothing is wrong.  

The extent to which people recover from hernia surgery varies substantially from patient to patient. For example, someone undergoing open surgery may suffer mild discomfort, whereas someone undergoing laparoscopic surgery may experience substantial agony. Laparoscopic surgery is supposed to be less painful, however this is not a guarantee. Finally, your experiences may differ significantly from the so-called "norm."

Timeline of Recovery

Day One through Four

Activities that are too physically demanding for the patient should be avoided. Only fundamental duties should be performed so soon after the procedure, such as light shopping that does not require too much walking, going around the house, eating, showering, and so on.  Expect to be absent from school or work for a few days to allow your body to recuperate. You will feel mild to severe discomfort, which may necessitate the use of prescription-strength pain relievers. 

Day Four through Seven

By day four, most patients can return to school or work. Do not lift anything heavier than 10 pounds while your body is still recuperating. If you return to school or work, limit yourself to 50% or less of what you are normally expected to perform, including any walking, physical effort, and so on. By this point, you should be able to engage in any activity that does not place an undue strain on you or force you to lift an excessive amount of weight. You may still have pain that necessitates the use of over-the-counter pain relievers (ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and so on). You can (and should) do light workouts like short-distance walking, easy stretching, and so on.  

By the 2nd Week

You should be able to return to work or school, however, some restrictions, such as avoiding lifting more than 20 pounds, may still apply. Expect to be 75% of your regular self. Bike riding, jogging, Pilates, and yoga are all options. Even after a week, you may still have some soreness and stiffness, discomfort, and occasional pain; these minor symptoms should be treatable with over-the-counter pain relievers.

By the 3rd Week

By this time, you should be able to resume your school or work commitments, though some minor restrictions, such as not lifting more than 20 pounds, may still apply. You should be operating at roughly 85% of your normal capability.  Cycling, jogging, Pilates, yoga, surfing, swimming, golf, tennis, and light weight lifting (no more than 20 pounds) may be increased in quantity and intensity. You should no longer require pain relievers.

By the 4th Week

Most patients will have returned to their school and work duties by now, with no limits on lifting. You should be 95% of your normal self; you should anticipate being 100% in a few days or weeks, depending on your age, how rapidly you heal, and whether you were healthy before the procedure. Most patients can resume their typical physical activity, such as heavy lifting, contact sports, and full competition/training.

Even thus far into the healing process, you may have lasting feelings such as tugging, pulling, burning, pains, swelling, heaviness, intense pain from time to time, and discomfort—this is usual for most postoperative hernia patients. As time passes, you should see a gradual, consistent reduction in these intermittent symptoms; if this isn't the case, consult your doctor. 

Post-surgery Expectations 

Sexual Activities

You will discover that being able to participate in sexual activities without suffering too much pain is an excellent sign of how quickly you are recovering. Your capacity to resume such activities should be on par with your ability to resume a job or education. In other words, there is a steady recovery gradient to follow, which can be described in percentages similar to those in the recovery timetable above.  

You may have to wait for some time before returning to pain-free regular sex, just as you did for school, job, and exercise.

Constipation & Avoiding Straining

Some of the medications routinely used to relieve pain and discomfort after surgery may cause constipation; if you aren't used to taking pain medication daily, you may be more susceptible to side effects and odd reactions.

As a preventative strategy, many people may benefit from using a stool softener (e.g., Colace). You may begin doing so on the day following surgery and continue to do so until normal bowel movement returns.  

General Activities

If you were given general anesthesia during the procedure, your cognitive and motor skills will be impaired for a short time afterward. Avoid using any form of sophisticated machinery, eating alcohol, or signing any legal documents for the next 48 hours, until all of your faculties return to normal.  

Within a week of the operation, you should be able to execute most easy tasks. After the first week of recovery, you may be able to return to school or work. However, keep in mind that certain people may require additional time to recover, especially if your job is physically exhausting.  

Although you will be advised to avoid hard exercise, bear in mind that exercise can aid in the healing process as long as it is not too strenuous. This may include intercourse, which you could resume as soon as it isn't too painful.  

Driving Ability

Consult your doctor to find out when it is safe to resume driving. One way to tell if you're ready to drive is to see if you can react safely and promptly to an unexpected scenario, such as having to stop unexpectedly or swerve.

Possible Post-Operation Complications

Contact your surgeon, if you’ll have any of the following symptoms:

• Any pain you can’t control with OTC painkillers
• A fever that persists
• Any kind of bleeding
• Chills
• Increasing pain or swelling near the incision site
• Urinating with any difficulty
• Ongoing vomiting or nausea
• On-going redness around the incision
• Persistent shortness of breath or coughing