Erging after Inguinal Hernia repair

[Tsnor]

...In doing the research it wasn't clear to me why the open method is still considered the "gold standard" when the laparoscopic have so much better outcomes.

Hard to compare outcomes of open and laparoscopic. The difficult cases are all done open.

Similar to the mortality studies that counted people as "non-drinkers" because they hadn't had a drink in 6 months... after their kidneys failed and they went on dialysis. Or the "perfect" weight studies that counted patients at 140 lbs when they had been 260 all their life, excepts for the last 6 months sick in the hospital.

Or ANY study of athletes that tries to tie training to performance outcomes.

[MPx]

Just to close off this thread in case anyone refers to it in future, I thought I report what actually happened in my case.

I saw my consultant for the (nominally 6 week, but actually 40 day) post op check today. Both he and I are very pleased with the results. Looks like its worked well and I'm cleared to build back to full training and other activities. So what did/didn't I do?

We have a big place to maintain and I am always needing to do stuff. I didn't do anything much for the first week, but increasingly just got back on with things when needed after that. I did diligently avoid heavy lifting, but was otherwse active and busy.

Despite some concerns, I got back on the erg after 20 days not 42 - seemed daft to me to be doing all that I was doing about the place but avoiding "training" in isolation. I usually do 5x SS or Grey sessions per week and 2x hard. The SS tend to be 8k or 10k @ around 2:05/6. My first go back was 5k @ 2:12. Seemed fine - no pains or worries. Since then I've been doing 5k or 6ks back at my normal 2:05/6. I've had 2x grey sessions and 2x "harder" sessions. One hard was the 1k for the World sprints - early March really was too soon in my recovery and I know I shouldn't have done it, but I got away with it - phew! Did it about 4s/500 slower than when fit. More recently did the CTC. Harder to judge relative pace, but I've heard some suggest its a 2k+2 paced piece...and that's exactly the pace I managed, so I was happy enough.

I normally do a dumbbell session twice a week. I reintroduced light weights at the same time as the erg... My normal routine takes me through sets with 20/22.5/25kg. I started back with 12.5kg. I did try 10kg as the paperwork directed but it was just too light and didn't feel like I was doing anything. Last time (2 days ago) I used 12.5/15/17.5 and I'll now increase the weights again slowly until back to my old level (wont go heavier as 25kg is the biggest dumbbell I've got!).

So, in my case, I didn't actually have to back off completely for very long, and the activity I've done hasn't compromised the repair. We are, of course, all different. Having my time again, I'd do the same...but with more confidence.

[Sakly]

Just to close off this thread in case anyone refers to it in future, I thought I report what actually happened in my case.

Very nice it turned out well for you!
I'm convinced a fit body can deal much better with stuff, so it doesn't sound surprising to me

[alex9026]

Pleased to hear it Mike. I think advice in general is on the cautious side with these things and I agree with Sascha, a fitter body does tend to lend itself to a speedy(er) recovery!

[Dangerscouse]

So, in my case, I didn't actually have to back off completely for very long, and the activity I've done hasn't compromised the repair. We are, of course, all different. Having my time again, I'd do the same...but with more confidence.

Great to hear this Mike, and I also agree with my esteemed erg colleagues

[MPx]

Sascha/Alex/Stu - appreciate your reactions - and also agree, it seems that being a bit fitter has a real positive payback when things go a bit wrong. (We'll conveniently forget about all the additional injuries, aches and pains that come our way through training that the couch potatoes avoid! )

[Jbrown1215]

Sascha/Alex/Stu - appreciate your reactions - and also agree, it seems that being a bit fitter has a real positive payback when things go a bit wrong. (We'll conveniently forget about all the additional injuries, aches and pains that come our way through training that the couch potatoes avoid! )

Glad your recovery's gone well, Mike. Hopefully many great workouts and fast erg times ahead for you!

[Sakly]

Sascha/Alex/Stu - appreciate your reactions - and also agree, it seems that being a bit fitter has a real positive payback when things go a bit wrong. (We'll conveniently forget about all the additional injuries, aches and pains that come our way through training that the couch potatoes avoid! )

That made me laugh
Telling the truth

[p_b82]

Glad to hear that you've started on the road to recovery without any initial setbacks.

Hope things continue to go as smoothly.

PS - as a couch potato I am perfectly capable of knocking my back out - In fact erging has made it is likely

(I'll ignore the back spasm as a one off / volume related injury rather than the erg itself.... I had in the past put my back out worse getting a laptop out the passenger footwell of the car from the driver's seat! )

[nick rockliff]

Just to close off this thread in case anyone refers to it in future, I thought I report what actually happened in my case.

I saw my consultant for the (nominally 6 week, but actually 40 day) post op check today. Both he and I are very pleased with the results. Looks like its worked well and I'm cleared to build back to full training and other activities. So what did/didn't I do?

We have a big place to maintain and I am always needing to do stuff. I didn't do anything much for the first week, but increasingly just got back on with things when needed after that. I did diligently avoid heavy lifting, but was otherwse active and busy.

Despite some concerns, I got back on the erg after 20 days not 42 - seemed daft to me to be doing all that I was doing about the place but avoiding "training" in isolation. I usually do 5x SS or Grey sessions per week and 2x hard. The SS tend to be 8k or 10k @ around 2:05/6. My first go back was 5k @ 2:12. Seemed fine - no pains or worries. Since then I've been doing 5k or 6ks back at my normal 2:05/6. I've had 2x grey sessions and 2x "harder" sessions. One hard was the 1k for the World sprints - early March really was too soon in my recovery and I know I shouldn't have done it, but I got away with it - phew! Did it about 4s/500 slower than when fit. More recently did the CTC. Harder to judge relative pace, but I've heard some suggest its a 2k+2 paced piece...and that's exactly the pace I managed, so I was happy enough.

I normally do a dumbbell session twice a week. I reintroduced light weights at the same time as the erg... My normal routine takes me through sets with 20/22.5/25kg. I started back with 12.5kg. I did try 10kg as the paperwork directed but it was just too light and didn't feel like I was doing anything. Last time (2 days ago) I used 12.5/15/17.5 and I'll now increase the weights again slowly until back to my old level (wont go heavier as 25kg is the biggest dumbbell I've got!).

So, in my case, I didn't actually have to back off completely for very long, and the activity I've done hasn't compromised the repair. We are, of course, all different. Having my time again, I'd do the same...but with more confidence.

Nice to see that you are back on the erg. Great CTC too.

[Dangerscouse]

PS - as a couch potato I am perfectly capable of knocking my back out - In fact erging has made it is likely

(I'll ignore the back spasm as a one off / volume related injury rather than the erg itself.... I had in the past put my back out worse getting a laptop out the passenger footwell of the car from the driver's seat! )

I found pilates and stretching was the answer to my back issues. Modern life is really bad for backs, so you need a strong core, strong glutes, good flexibility in your hips and hamstrings. All of the things that are what you won't have with a desk job and driving a car a lot of the time.

Even if it's just regular air squats, wall sits, reverse planks, normal planks, side planks, the world's greatest stretch etc, these are all great for addressing it

FWIW, I put my back out many years ago lifting the toilet seat.

[MPx]

Glad your recovery's gone well

Hope things continue to go as smoothly.

Nice to see that you are back on the erg. Great CTC too.

And thanks to you Justin/Peter/Nick for dropping by and saying - appreciated.
.... on that CTC score Nick, I think your's predicts a very tasty 2k whenever you feel the urge for a test!

[Dangerscouse]

Sascha/Alex/Stu - appreciate your reactions - and also agree, it seems that being a bit fitter has a real positive payback when things go a bit wrong. (We'll conveniently forget about all the additional injuries, aches and pains that come our way through training that the couch potatoes avoid! )

Hahahaha, staying fit can be bad for your health

[garylower]

Post-op day 45 - had laproscopic / robotic right incarcerated IG repair. Feel fine and doc says at 6 weeks I'm good to go. Getting back into my routine, slowly, but I'm a bit nervous - don't want to risk a a re-do. I have a habit of overdoing it after a layoff. BTW I'm 71 and hit the gym 3 times a week. Hoping my confidence improves. Love my erg and looking forward to going ful-out. Erg on