An inguinal hernia, sometimes known as a groin hernia, is the painful protrusion of your abdominal organs through a weak area in your groin. It is fairly common and mainly occurs in men.
Inguinal hernia surgery is available for those suffering from this condition. It typically involves laparoscopic surgery to help relieve discomfort and prevent further complications.
In this article we look at what you expect during inguinal hernia operation recovery.
What to Expect After Surgery: Day by Day
Here we outline your inguinal hernia recovery time-line.
The first 24 to 48 hours
After a general anaesthetic you can feel tired and dizzy. It takes 24 to 48 hours for a general anaesthetic to wear off.
You should get plenty of rest. It’s recommended that you gently move around at home to help your blood circulate and to help prevent blood clots.
If you had a local anaesthetic, take pain relief medicines if you feel discomfort as the anaesthetic wears off.
You can carefully shower or bathe as soon as you like. You should gently pat your wounds dry and keep dressings dry, replacing them if they get soaked.
A week after
After a few days to a week after, you can gradually reduce your pain relief medicine until you do not need it any longer.
You can remove all dressings and paper strips a week after your surgery.
After 1 to 2 weeks, you can expect to be able to do light activities, such as shopping and walking. In fact, gentle exercise can help your body to heal.
You should also be able to return to work after 1 or 2 weeks if your job does not involve manual labour.
Your doctor will advise when you can drive. It's advisable that you are able to do an emergency stop without feeling pain or discomfort before returning to driving. Typically, this is around 1 to 2 weeks after having laparoscopy surgery.
You can have sex when you feel like it but you may find it painful or uncomfortable at first.
Up to 10 days
It can take time for your bowels to return to normal after surgery with constipation or diarrhoea being very common.
It is possible that constipation puts pressure on your hernia repair and delays healing. You can try to prevent constipation by eating lots of high fibre foods including bran, oats, fruit, vegetables, wholemeal breads and pasta and drinking lots of fluids.
If needed, take a mild laxative to avoid straining on the toilet. You can speak to your doctor or pharmacist about this.
10 to 14 days
Often a special skin glue is used on top of the wound which does not need an additional dressing. Do not pick at the glue as it will gently flake off after 10 to 14 days.
2 weeks
If you’re a smoker, try not to smoke for 2 weeks after your surgery.
4 to 6 weeks
You should avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activities until 4 to 6 weeks after your surgery.
Pain Management During Inguinal Hernia Surgery Recovery
You will be given pain relief medicine both during and after your surgery.
At any time, your pain should be at a level that you can tolerate and manage at home.
We will explain any medicines given to you before you leave the hospital. You should take regular pain relief for a few days after your surgery to help control your pain and discomfort. Thereafter you can reduce it down until you don’t need it.
If you find the pain difficult to control, you should contact your healthcare team.
Restrictions after inguinal hernia surgery
It's important to take care of yourself and follow some simple rules after your hernia surgery. Whilst the surgery itself is relatively routine, inguinal hernia operation recovery may take a little while. To aid the healing process, here are some things you shouldn't do:
- Don’t lift objects heavier than 15 pounds for at least 2 weeks after the surgery
- Don’t engage in any strenuous activity for at least 2 to 4 weeks after your surgery
- Don’t remain sedentary all the time - move slowly for 5 to 10 minutes multiple times throughout the day
- Don’t forget to stick to a healthy, high fibre diet and drink plenty of fluids to avoid constipation and straining your stomach muscles.
- Don’t worry about getting back to your usual routine and activities after 1 to 2 weeks, but avoid any intense exercise or sports
- Don’t put off resuming your favourite physical hobbies and sports again slowly after 4 to 6 weeks
- Don’t hesitate in calling your doctor immediately if you have any concerns or experience any pain or discomfort.
Returning to daily activities
You can expect to return to your usual daily routine withing 1 to 2 weeks including walking and light work. However, it may take up to 3 months to return to all activities. The type of surgery and the extent of the repair will affect how long it takes to recover.
Returning to Exercise
You can resume exercise after inguinal hernia surgery when your doctor advises and when you feel comfortable. The amount of time it takes to resume exercise depends on the type of surgery you had and your level of activity before surgery.
You can expect to walk short distances after about a week.
You can try moderate non-impact exercises such as cycling and swimming after 2 to 4 weeks.
It’s best to avoid weight training for 2 to 3 months after surgery and jumping up and down and running for at least 3 to 6 months.
Returning to Work
You should be able to return to work after 1 to 2 weeks. However, if you have a job that involves manual labour you may need more time off.
Returning to Driving
You will need to be able to perform an emergency stop without pain before you start driving again. It’s best to follow your doctors’ recommendations and when they say you can return to driving. Most people can drive again at around 1 to 2 weeks after having inguinal hernia surgery.
Ways to support your recovery
There are a number of things you can do to support your recovery. They include:
- Rest when you feel tired.
- Take pain medication as prescribed by your doctor
- Keep moving. Walking is a good choice.
- Stay hydrated and drink lots of water.
- Eat a high fibre diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts.
- Wash your incision area daily with warm, soapy water, and pat it dry.
- Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation to reduce pain and stress.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing so as not to put pressure on the incision site.
- Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you develop fever, chills, or severe abdominal pain.
Potential complications following inguinal hernia surgery
The risk of complications after inguinal hernia surgery is low. As with all medical surgeries and procedures there is always the possibility of some complications, but your medical team can help to explain the process and reassure you if you have questions or concerns. Your risk of complications will depend on several factors, including your age, health, the exact surgical procedure, and other factors.
Potential complications include:
- Ongoing high temperature or fever
- Bleeding
- Swelling or pain in your abdomen that is getting worse
- Redness around your incisions that is getting worse
- Pain that you cannot relieve with painkillers
- Continuing nausea or vomiting
- Chills
- Persistent coughing or shortness of breath
- Difficulty going for a wee.
Long term recovery and follow up care after inguinal hernia surgery
On average, the healing time for inguinal hernia surgery is at least 6 weeks and up to 6 months to resume some activities such as running and jumping. As always though, exact timings will differ for each patient and their individual circumstances.
If you need to see your consultant again following your discharge, an outpatient appointment will be made for you either before you leave or as soon as possible after your discharge. More information about what to expect after your operation with Ramsay is available here.
Inguinal Hernia Surgery Recovery FAQs
How long does swelling last after inguinal hernia surgery?
Swelling after inguinal hernia surgery can take up to 6 months to go down completely. This depends on the size and location of your hernia, and how well you follow your recovery advice from your surgeon.
What should I wear after inguinal hernia surgery?
After inguinal hernia surgery, you should wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing made of soft fabrics that won't irritate the surgical site.
Men may be advised to wear tight fitting briefs for a few days after surgery to reduce any swelling in the genitals.
How painful is inguinal hernia surgery?
During the procedure, if you have a general anaesthetic, you’ll be unconscious and won’t feel any sensations. Most likely, there will be some pain or discomfort after the surgery when you wake up, but this will be controlled with pain medication provided by your medical team.
If you have a local anaesthetic, you will be awake during the procedure but the area around your hernia will be numb so you shouldn’t feel any pain. As the anaesthetic wears off, you should take pain relief medicines to relieve any discomfort.
Is inguinal hernia repair a major surgery?
Hernia surgeries are common and routine, usually performed as an outpatient operation. Therefore, laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is minor surgery.
If you have open surgery for your inguinal hernia repair it is considered major surgery.
Can I walk after inguinal hernia surgery?
Yes, you can walk after inguinal hernia surgery. Walking can help with healing. In fact, walking is an important part of your recovery and can help prevent complications.
You can start walking outdoors at a leisurely pace a few days after surgery and walking short distances within a week of surgery.
Inguinal Hernia Surgery with Ramsay Health Care
Inguinal hernia surgery is routinely performed by our expert consultant surgeons at a local Ramsay hospital of your choice.
You’ll benefit from rapid and easy access to inguinal hernia appointments, on-site diagnostic tests if required, and typically laparoscopic surgery with less pain and faster recovery times than open surgery. We’ll repair your groin hernia and get you back to your daily routines as quickly as possible.
You can rest assured that our teams are available if you need any further advice or aftercare support after your surgery.