What to Expect after Hernia Surgery

When patients have to undergo hernia surgery, in most cases they can go home just a few hours after surgery, or first thing in the morning. However, if it is the case that the hernia operated on was a more complex case, staying in the hospital for a few days after may be required. A few days after hernia surgery , patients are feeling back to their normal selves and can return to their regular eating habits and activities. Be cautious though because even though you are allowed to engage in light activities, strenuous activities or exercises should be avoided for at least 4 to 6 weeks. Everybody is different and it is important that you follow the guidance of your surgeon.

While patients are recovering from hernia surgery, there are different things that can be done to make your healing from hernia repair as easy and comfortable as possible. Some of the activities that can be engaged in are:

Taking walks to stimulate blood flow through the body and avoid stiffness in the legs and back.

Keep the body hydrated by drinking a lot of water and other fluids.

Make sure to eat meals that fit a healthy diet full of vegetables and fiber,

Engage in light stretching exercises to avoid soreness in the muscles.

Many patients have reported that they see their surgical wounds begin to heal in about one to two weeks depending on the technique of surgery used on the hernia. Even though there is a quick response healing seen on the outside, the tissues that were repaired on the insides can take up to six months to completely heal. Although there is a heightened risk of a reoccurring hernia because the tissue is already week, there are some measures that can be taken during the healing process to avoid high risk of that.

Some of the measures that should be taken are:

Do not strain the body with heavy exercise or heavy weight lifting until you have been given the clear by your doctor.

Quit smoking if you are a smoker. Non-smokers have shown to have a healthier healing process after surgery.

When passing bowel movements, avoid straining at all costs. This could be why the hernia happened to begin with

Most importantly, during your hernia surgery recovery you should follow all of the instructions of your doctor. All of these things have been shown to help patients in particular cases, but everybody is different. Your doctor will give you a specialized recovery plan and will monitor your recovery with checkups until you are completely healed.