How many here developed an inguinal hernia after Prostate surgery?

Posted by tomf @tomf, Jul 5, 2023

My wife was tyrannical making sure I did not overexert for my first 6 weeks post op and even then I was very careful not to overdo. Yet I developed an inguinal hernia anyway. The studies show this happens about 15-20% of the time depending on the surgery being robotic or open. Was I just unlucky or did many of you develop inguinal hernias too? And if you developed one, did you follow up with surgery to repair it?

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I had one. Had to wait 3 months post op to have it repaired. They did an open repair due to my prostatectomy and did not put a temporary urinary catheter in which was normally done. And I returned to MD Anderson to have it done. I wanted to be at the same place where I had the prostatectomy at(just in case). It was a piece of cake compared to all the other treatments I had it was just the waiting that sucked.

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I had a R P in 2006 and have had 5 hernias since then . Several were hernia recurrences.

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I had robotic surgery in September, 2022. I have a hernia at the belly button incision. I too was very careful not to lift anything, but many normal movements put strain on the incisions such as getting out of bed, standing up, etc. I am not doing anything currently about it.

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I had both abdominal diastasis and a hernia. Had both repaired surgically.

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I had a robotic prostatectomy at Johns Hopkins in November of 2021. I'm not entirely sure when the hernia occurred, but in March 2023 I had a robotic repair of an inguinal hernia - again at Johns Hopkins. In my case, this was a recurrent hernia. The original hernia was over 10 years ago. Neither the surgeon who performed the prostatectomy nor the one who performed the hernia repair felt that the hernia was related to the prostatectomy. I have some doubts about their conclusions, based upon some reading I've done. I think it's entirely possible, and perhaps even likely, that the pressure from the gas that they inject to inflate the region during a laproscopic prostatectomy could easily further weaken tissues and hasten the occurrence (or recurrence) of a hernia.
The surgeon who performed my first hernia repair had told me that nothing you do (or don't do) is likely to impact the odds of developing an inguinal hernia.

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@ssonkin

I had a robotic prostatectomy at Johns Hopkins in November of 2021. I'm not entirely sure when the hernia occurred, but in March 2023 I had a robotic repair of an inguinal hernia - again at Johns Hopkins. In my case, this was a recurrent hernia. The original hernia was over 10 years ago. Neither the surgeon who performed the prostatectomy nor the one who performed the hernia repair felt that the hernia was related to the prostatectomy. I have some doubts about their conclusions, based upon some reading I've done. I think it's entirely possible, and perhaps even likely, that the pressure from the gas that they inject to inflate the region during a laproscopic prostatectomy could easily further weaken tissues and hasten the occurrence (or recurrence) of a hernia.
The surgeon who performed my first hernia repair had told me that nothing you do (or don't do) is likely to impact the odds of developing an inguinal hernia.

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I'm interested that your hernia repair was laparoscopic because @round5 said he had an open repair due to his prostatectomy, and also that they skipped the urinary catheter. I can imagine our recently repaired urethras don't benefit from having a Foley catheter shoved up them, but for those of us who haven't regained full continence yet, I can't imagine them doing anything else. @ssonkin what was your experience with catheterization during the hernia repair?

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@tomf

I'm interested that your hernia repair was laparoscopic because @round5 said he had an open repair due to his prostatectomy, and also that they skipped the urinary catheter. I can imagine our recently repaired urethras don't benefit from having a Foley catheter shoved up them, but for those of us who haven't regained full continence yet, I can't imagine them doing anything else. @ssonkin what was your experience with catheterization during the hernia repair?

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My recent laparoscopic hernia repair did not require catheterization. My previous, open hernia repair did not require catherization either. @round5 may have required the catheter as he was only a few months post prostatectomy. In my case I was well over a year post prostatectomy and my continence was very good, if not 100%.

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Hi, I sure did. One developed 11 months after my surgery, which was in January 2022. I watched what I did after my surgery; despite this, one bulged out on my right side. It got larger and more uncomfortable as time went along. Initially, I was hopeful it was just a minor bulge and wouldn’t affect me. About 10 years early, I developed a hernia. It never affected me in any noticeable way. I had some delays getting into see a doctor and just decided to wait it out. Which I did until I get the second hernia. My old hernia now bulged out too!
I got them jointed repaired in April 2023. My surgeon opted to do open surgery instead of robotic. He didn’t want to encounter scarred tissue. He thought it would be safer. The surgeries went well. I had them done in surgery center. I was 99% continent at the time of my surgery. After my surgery before I could be released, I had to pass a urine-flow test. Short story; no residual affects from the hernia surgery, my bladder control jumped around for three weeks and I’m 100% continent again. I’m active and feeling fine. I’m grateful - praise God. (You can see my proof in the attached photo, I’m on the left side.) Good luck with your surgery.

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It's been almost a year since my RALP surgery and two days ago I had my right inguinal hernia repaired laparoscopically. It went well and recovery is smooth so far. I am writing for a few reasons. First, I truly believe the hernia, which didn't exist before the surgery was at least partially caused by the prostatectomy ( input of gas, rummaging around, who knows?) but no one wants to own up to it. That's understandable, and a fair trade off to get rid of the cancer. Second, the surgery is harder for the doctor because of the scar tissue left behind after the prostate removal. But my surgeon was experienced and prepared for it. Third is the effect so far on my incontinence.... the surgery may have helped me somehow. Maybe it is because I am very carefully standing and sitting and moving around, but I have been drier these last two days than any of the last 12 months. Now I must admit I was doing well in Pelvic floor therapy prior to pausing it this week and I had progressed quite a bit on the road to dryness. But I am wondering if the added mesh support down there is helping somehow. Perhaps my bladder is aligned in a better position now? I have my fingers crossed and wonder if any of you experienced this too?

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I had a robotic prostatectomy in 2006 and salvage radiation in 2013. I have had 4 inguinal hernias . My general surgeon said my abdominal muscles were probably weakened from surgery and radiation .

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