“How long does the pain last after hernia surgery?”

Hi there,

Sorry to hear you are still having pain. It is definitely no fun. Incisional pain however, typically lasts from 2 to 14 days - plus or minus a few days. Other factors that can affect the time of healing is the size of the repair, locations, comorbidities such as diabetes, use of corticosteroids (even topically) smoking, etc. Can all delay healing. Use of arnica and bromelian supplements help with bruising and the healing process as a whole. Also, preventing infection at the site is key as this can really delay, even cause dehiscence (opening of the surgical wound site). So, to answer your question, you are still within the typical time period. However, if there is any concerns such as severe pain, rudeness, oozing, or other signs of infection at the wound site, contact your provider or go to the nearest urgent care or emergency room.
Best wishes for a speedy and less painful recovery.

Depends on the size of the hernia and the type of surgery. With laparoscopic repairs of uncomplicated surgery, pain should be subsiding within a week or two. For more complex hernias, pain may last a few more weeks. If it doesn’t significantly improve by 2 weeks, there’s likely an issue.

Can last up to 3-6 months. You may need Physical Therapy.

I typically prescribe narcotic pain medication for 5 days after surgery and rarely do I ever have to refill it. Many patients will take over the counter pain medication as needed for the next week. I usually tell patients that they will be 80% recovered by 2 weeks, but it may take 4-6 weeks for the vague aches and pains to go away completely. If you have pain that lasts longer than that, you should check with your surgeon.