What to expect after hernia surgery?
After the surgery, you should be relatively comfortable. The surgery is painless, and when you wake up numb, which provides about five to six hours where you feel absolutely no discomfort.
At least for a day or two if there’s still little anaesthesia in your system. You may feel like you have a light stomach. Therefore, eating light will help. Your doctor may recommend you to walk, drink some water.
Put the bottled water by your bedside; that way, you ensure you’re hydrated. When you get up if you feel the urge to cough or sneeze, use your hand or a pillow. Put some gentle pressure over the operated area. It will be a lot more comfortable.
Some people afterward do get some constipation due to medications or the surgery itself. So, you could start fruits, fiber, vegetables, prune juice, or stool softeners.
In terms of showering, you should keep the bandage dry if possible. So take a shower a couple of days after surgery. For about five days, you can take a sponge bath to keep yourself clean. But you’re keeping the surgery area itself nice and dry.
Phases of Recovery
I. Short term recovery phase: Immediately after the surgery
II. Long-term recovery phase: Few weeks after surgery
I. Short Term Recovery Phase
Patients should not plan any work or family activities for the first three or four days after hernia surgery. The patient must rest at home and roll-on ice on the operated area to let the hernia heal.
Patients should not take long walks, avoid going to family reunions, and postpone joining work. During those first few days, the swelling and the bruising can be worse than it is. By staying at home, icing, and relaxing, you can minimize your pain and the amount of swelling.
II. Long Term Recovery Phase
After three to four days, you transition into the long-term recovery phase, which is about three weeks. Whether you have open or laparoscopic surgery, our hernia specialist in Pune will advise no heavy lifting for three weeks after your surgery. Nothing more than ten or twenty pounds, a bag of groceries, a gallon of milk, a laptop, or a light briefcase.
During the third week, you can do some light treadmills or jog. But take care you don’t strain and push yourself any harder. Usually, a mesh is used to strengthen the muscle.
It takes about three weeks for 90% of the strength of that mesh to deform. So, you should avoid lifting and straining anymore.
Now in terms of driving, you should wait for a couple of days to drive just because you still may be using pain medications. Your doctor will generally recommend you to wait around two to three days to start driving. But you can’t drive sooner as long as you’re not on any heavy prescription.
Ultimately after three weeks, you should be completely recovered. You’ll be able to do everything that you were able to do before your surgery.
There’ll be no limitations on weights, no limitations on exercise, no limitations on any cardiovascular exercises that you want to do. You’re free to do anything you want to after those three weeks