Hernia

[Carsongamer]

Hey guys,

I received the news from my doctor today that I have a Hernia on my groin area. Right off I knew this meant I couldnt' even pass third class medical. This literally killed me, because he then told me that if I didn't get it operated on, i'd never fly again in my liftetime. I already have my Private, and passed a first class medical just fine(the AME didnt catch it).

I plan on getting surgery on it probably summer of next year, right befor my senior year of college. I've been lifting and working out for two years on this thing before knowing what it was, and have been just fine. Anyone know of any good techniques that would allow me to lift and stay in the shape i'm in, or is it just too great of medical risk? My doctor told me I shouldn't, but I can't imagine just sitting around by house until next summer and not being able to stay in any kind of shape(besides running, of course).

Any advice would be great, i'm feeling pretty down about this, but pitying myself wont help anything, so 'im trying to keep my head up.

Thanks guys.

 

[PhrogLoop]

The jokes write themselves, so I'll just go straight to your question. I had the same thing while I was on my disassociated sea tour (insert more jokes here). I was doing lots of lifting and running and training for the Marine Corps Marathon. I scheduled myself for the surgery as soon as possible because I knew (from my doc who was also a sports medicine specialist) that I'd basically have to stop lifting altogether because I didn't want to make the hernia any worse. Core muscles play a part in every exercise you can imagine, even barbell curls. I also needed to heal from the surgery in time to pick up my training again in time to run the marathon. So I had the surgery in July and rested for 4 weeks and gradually built up my mileage in time to run and finish the marathon in October. I rested for about 2 weeks and only after then did I get back into lifting. You could probably start lifting sooner than I did, but I would recommend starting from scratch in a beginner-type program and gradually working back to where you were before the surgery. Thankfully, all of this was a year before I started flying again and by that time I was fully healed and my flight surgeon didn't have a problem with me flying. If I were you, I'd get the surgery ASAP so you don't interrupt any summer or senior year plans. Also, the earlier you take care of this, the earlier you'll heal and get back to where you are now. The short answer to your question is that I don't think you can keep lifting the way you are while putting off the surgery. Best of luck!

 

[Swanee]

We don't have to tell you hernia=bad. Waiting to get a hernia repaired=stupid. Working out on an injury=even stupider. When you workout injured muscles your body tries to compensate. Other muscles now have to do the work the torn muscles used to do. You risk further injury. Why wait until next summer? The older the injury the more difficult it may be to repair and the more scar tissue will play a factor.

 

[Schnugg]

I was diagnosed with hernia while getting flight pay. I had it fixed asap. Was allowed to do overseas tour. Still got flight pay. When repaired, you are good to go with basically no limits after healing up.

Fix it sooner, rather than later.

Push a loop of intestine out thru hernia doing heavy squats and they'll put your face in the dictionary under "Pain Train".

 

[Carsongamer]

Trust me, if i could get it sooner I would, but with insurance issues I cant until then

 

[Gator NFO]

I had my first hernia and didn't know it until I saw the Flight Doc when I checked in for primary. He wouldn't let me start flying until it was fixed. I was down for a total of 6 weeks. About 8 years later, I had my second hernia during my disassociated sea tour and had the surgery on the boat. I was back up to full speed after about a month.