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  1. #1
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    hernia - or - that lovely stabbing pain in your balls

    I was diagnosed with a hernia after getting occaisonal kicked-in-the-balls plus stabbing pains in the groin while rowing. The pain isn't constant - it just comes on usually after about 10 minutes of reasonable hard rowing, and even then it doesn't always appear, nor does it appear at all if I'm not pushing it at all.

    The sports medicine people and the orthopedic surgeon who diagnosed me have sent me to a general/abdominal specialist surgeon for a "proper" diagnosis and potential surgery, but said that in the meantime I can continue rowing if it's not hurting.

    My question is along the lines of do these things go away with time? If I just chill out, will it disappear, or does it have to be repaired? I had one hernia before, at the age of 3, that was operated upon, so it appears from that (and from family history) that I'm genetically prone to this shit. Can I strengthen that part of my abdominal wall so it doesn't happen again? Any info from those who've previously enjoyed that ohhhhh fuck feeling in their groin would be much appreciated.

  2. #2
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    In general, no it will not go away without being fixed and to my knowledge there is really nothing that you can do to strengthen to try and prevent it.
    fighting gravity on a daily basis

    WhiteRoom Skis
    Handcrafted in Northern Vermont
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  3. #3
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    Feb 2004
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    Ain't it amazing how much the pain seems to be eminating from the boys rather than the abdominal wall though. As Vinman said only way it's going to get better is with a surgical repair.

    As I recall my docs told me that they hernia could increase in size with additional strain so I am surpised to see that your doc is telling you that it's ok to keep on rowing.

    I can tell you that with the type of pain I felt with mine I would be hard pressed to perform at a competitive level doing anything. I'm inclined to think an occaisional kicked in the balls feeling while racing is going to play hell with your times.
    Damn, we're in a tight spot!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
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    Hernia's BLOW! I've had two - one in infancy, and another when I was 18. Surgery is your best bet to FIX it - they do not heal on their own. I've always had the "feel" of it being there, even after the surgery, but to date, I've had no issues, and once it's fixed, it should be stronger than normal - whatever that means. I was given no rehab for it other than to take it easy for about 3 months. It's not really serious, but annoying, and you always know it's there, especially if you strain.

    Good luck - ski season will be over soon - get it fixed then.
    Gravity. It's the law.

  5. #5
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    Unfortunately for the "waiting on it" idea - I can't row with it - every time I go hard it hurts. Ski season isn't an issue so much as I'm not skiing this season anyways in order to row (team ban >). I see the surgeon on Friday... but if it's a 3 month recovery I'm absolutely fucked for this season of rowing anyways. I've heard a week recovery?? Could PT make this shorter? I've put in a fucking shitload of work getting into this shape, and I don't think I want to do it more than this year, but I want this fucking racing season.. and if there's anyway to pull it out without doing serious damage, I'd like to know.

  6. #6
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    It won't go away...I pulled my groin playing hockey 3 years ago, and last night in the shower. I didn't stop playing of course and just kept working it's way up. So now I've had a "sports hernia" for about 2 1/2 years. I don't know if I'll ever get it fixed, it's more annoying than painful. I haven't even told my doc about it, cause I know he'll ride my ass.
    If it's green, smoke it...if it's pink, poke it

    BUY THESE------> 193 iM 103 - $50 https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...d.php?t=179797

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by seldon View Post
    The pain isn't constant - it just comes on usually after about 10 minutes of reasonable hard rowing, and even then it doesn't always appear, nor does it appear at all if I'm not pushing it at all.
    Thank you for this thread. I have two hernias one in the upper part of my abdomen the other near my belly button. I was told that they will get bigger if I don't have them fixed. The only time they were causing any problems was when I skied at the end of the day it felt like I did a million sit ups. Now at the end of my runs I get the same pain that you describe. And if I take a day off the pain is still there just weaker. How long is recovery form this type of surgery?
    People should learn endurance; they should learn to endure the discomforts of heat and cold, hunger and thirst; they should learn to be patient when receiving abuse and scorn; for it is the practice of endurance that quenches the fire of worldly passions which is burning up their bodies.
    --Buddha

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  8. #8
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    If it is a simple hernia repair, you can expect to be able to go back to light activity after ~3 weeks. you won't be 100% for 6wks+.
    fighting gravity on a daily basis

    WhiteRoom Skis
    Handcrafted in Northern Vermont
    www.whiteroomcustomskis.com

  9. #9
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    Is light activity the same as no skiing and less then 3 mile runs?
    People should learn endurance; they should learn to endure the discomforts of heat and cold, hunger and thirst; they should learn to be patient when receiving abuse and scorn; for it is the practice of endurance that quenches the fire of worldly passions which is burning up their bodies.
    --Buddha

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  10. #10
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    So the update is that one general surgeon thinks I have a "loose ring" but not necessarily a hernia. Unfortunately I got one of those totally unathletic doctors who thinks that "take 2 weeks completely off" is a reasonable thing to tell me. I'm seeing someone else tomorrow.

  11. #11
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    I meet with the surgeon on Monday. I hope I'll be able to ski a few days after any surgery if not I'll wait. I have my race season all set up a 14 mile race in April, a 30 mile race at the end of July and a 50 mile race in the fall this could fuck it all up.
    People should learn endurance; they should learn to endure the discomforts of heat and cold, hunger and thirst; they should learn to be patient when receiving abuse and scorn; for it is the practice of endurance that quenches the fire of worldly passions which is burning up their bodies.
    --Buddha

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  12. #12
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    Dec 2003
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    surgery a week from today. laproscopic - he says light activity after 1 week, light-moderate after 2, back to most after 4. game on rehab, motherfuckers.

  13. #13
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    look at it this way, the stabbing pain in your balls will make it so your legs/back/arms/lungs/stomach won't hurt quite as much a good 2k
    Three fundamentals of every extreme skier, total disregard for personal saftey, amphetamines, and lots and lots of malt liquor......-jack handy

  14. #14
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    surgery March 9th which is a Friday I should be able to ski by Monday. But I was told that it would not fix pain in balls.
    People should learn endurance; they should learn to endure the discomforts of heat and cold, hunger and thirst; they should learn to be patient when receiving abuse and scorn; for it is the practice of endurance that quenches the fire of worldly passions which is burning up their bodies.
    --Buddha

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  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tuckerman View Post
    surgery March 9th which is a Friday I should be able to ski by Monday. But I was told that it would not fix pain in balls.
    had surgery yesterday. based on how i feel now, you won't want to ski three days later unless your pain tolerance is a lot higher than mine.

  16. #16
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    Hopefully your hernia didnt look like this one.

    http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3Den%26sa%3DN

    I actually just saw a picture of an even worse hernia, and I saw the CT scan to go along with it. Pretty much all of the guys intestines were in the huge bulge, outside of his abdomen, and he was just living his life like that, no problems. Freaky.

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by seldon View Post
    had surgery yesterday. based on how i feel now, you won't want to ski three days later unless your pain tolerance is a lot higher than mine.
    seldon, good luck and heal fast !!!!!!!!
    what's so funny about peace, love, and understanding?

  18. #18
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    cheers! it's already feeling loads better and the inflated feeling is going down, which is all good.

  19. #19
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    Had a teammate with a hernia he got rowing. Be glad you got your ish fixed. He tried to row with his and effed himself up for a year.

  20. #20
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    no bruising at all. weeiiiird. i already want to get on a bike (recline or something at first) but i was told a week before starting activity. freaking can't sleep worth a shit now that i'm off the percs w/o working out...sa.d.s..12.21..21

  21. #21
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    Ok Im out and yes it hurts like hell. I woke up from after the procedure and was asked how my hart felt and was told that they ran test because they thought I had a heart attack while under. Any way now I can't ski or run until they figure out whats wrong with my heart. So I went in to have my hernias fixed and come out with some kind of heart issue. The next few weeks should suck.
    Last edited by Tuckerman; 11-07-2007 at 01:15 PM.
    People should learn endurance; they should learn to endure the discomforts of heat and cold, hunger and thirst; they should learn to be patient when receiving abuse and scorn; for it is the practice of endurance that quenches the fire of worldly passions which is burning up their bodies.
    --Buddha

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  22. #22
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    well... i've been rowing for just over a week and a half now (steady state) but just went back with the team, for a 3-practice day, and I want to die. Whatever you do by yourself/on a bike/running can never keep you in the shape you get in rowing with a team, which was blatantly obvious to me. I'm exhausted but the hernia repair is only sorish and only hurt a couple times today, so I'm pretty happy about that, and frustrated as fuck that I'm a shitload slower than kids I used to smoke.

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    i may have to get that surgery, but im in the middle of my last season rowing and the guys in my boat / my coach really need me back. It looks like you are about a month out of surgery, could you pull a 2k right now and come close to a pr? how about 2 weeks after surgery? 1 week? I wanna figure out if i should fight through it and delay surgery til after championships or just get it over with so i can get back in my boat when im recovered

  24. #24
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    a month out, i'm back to right where I was right before it started hurting... so right now I'm pulling just under where I pulled mid-January. I wasn't cleared to even get on an erg until 4 weeks after surgery. To be honest, given everything that happens in rehab (maybe it's just my bad luck, but I've now pulled the opposite hip flexor overcompensating) and how short the season is left (what, 6 weeks till eastern sprints?) I'd fight it out. I lost my seat in the process so now I'm getting tossed in for the "easy races" against mit, dartmouth/rutgers, and missing out on HYP and sprints, which is better than nothing but not all that it could be.

    On the other hand, the way it was hurting (nausea, stabbing pain in my testicles), I really couldn't row worth a damn without just wanting to puke at CV pace. So I'd basically tell you that if fighting it out is a viable option for you given the level of pain you're in/risk of strangulation (see a doc about this), I'd fight it out, get the surgery, and then over the summer do the rehab right - don't rush it like I did and get compensating injuries. But if it hurts too badly to row right now, you really don't have alot of choice, but you won't be back for longer than you think. Who do you row for?

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    navy lights, you? also i saw the doc and he told me that as long as i can bear the pain i can put off surgery unless other bad stuff starts happening, so im back in the boat after a week off. i get this horrible stabbing pain from time to time, but so far ive been able to row through it. im just keeping my fingers crossed that it doesnt get worse.

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