FORUMS > Injury & Prevention Forum Rules

I recently started weight training and I've developed a periumbilical hernia just two weeks into my program (and am now likely to need surgery to repair it). It's really ironic and frustrating as I began weight training primarily to help prepare for some other surgery I have coming up in late July (to reduce recovery time and improve the results).

Anyways, has anybody else had this condition? If so, how long did it take before you were able to lift weights again? Were you able to continue any exercises before surgery?

Considering I was already lifting really light weights, I'm gonna feel pretty lame when I get back to the gym!

I can't comment specifically on the periumbilical hernia.
I just had surgery, 6 or 7 weeks ago, for a inguinal hernia. I started a thread about it here: http://www.realjock.com/gayforums/34206/

There is lots of great info about hernias in general on the injury and prevention equivalent forum at http://bodybuilding.com. I found that to be some of the most extensive and useful information about hernias online, especially as regards weight lifting and recovery.

For me, I'm just now getting back to the gym. I haven't pushed myself at all, because I didn't want to re-open the incision. I got a patch inserted, so I doubt the hernia hole will re-open, but the incision has felt weird.

Depending on the type of surgery you get, recovery varies quite a lot. Look to find as much info online as you can. I didn't find that my doctor gave me much useful information ahead of time. He said they don't know what causes hernias, and he said that the recovery varies greatly between individuals. I would recommend that you get up and walk as quickly as you can force yourself to after the surgery. This will speed up your recovery, or at least, it seemed to in mine and from what I've read.

Keep us posted too!

Thanks so much for the info and links...

Oddly, my diagnosis is no longer so clear. Following an initial visit to my GP, I had an ultrasound which confirmed his diagnosis, so he sent me off to a surgeon to scope out repair/surgery options. However, the surgeon I saw wasn't so convinced that I actually have a hernia (following a physical exam), despite acknowledging that the ultrasound result seemed fairly clear.

So, the surgeon has advised to hold off for a month and monitor how I feel to see whether it may be something different (e.g. a muscle tear). I'm quite relieved about potentially not having to have surgery, but am a little frustrated/impatient about having to wait for a month to work out what's going on - I'm really wanting to get back to the gym in order to prep for another (completely unrelated) surgery I'm having in late July.

Anyways - I hope that your return to the gym has been smooth and not caused any probs re: the incision!

Several years ago, I had a small, what appeared to be periumbilical hernia. It only popped up when doing an exercise that involved crunch-type movements. I got the wait-and-see answer. However, it turned out to be a developing vernal hernia. Don't wait too long--get a second opinion if necessary.

You can do a search on youtube and find videos of vernal hernia repair just to give you an idea of what you might face. I just sent emails to two doctors asking about scheduling surgical repair of mine. When I asked last year, one told me recovery would be a minimum of 8 weeks.

atari84 saidI recently started weight training and I've developed a periumbilical hernia just two weeks into my program (and am now likely to need surgery to repair it). It's really ironic and frustrating as I began weight training primarily to help prepare for some other surgery I have coming up in late July (to reduce recovery time and improve the results).

Anyways, has anybody else had this condition? If so, how long did it take before you were able to lift weights again? Were you able to continue any exercises before surgery?

Considering I was already lifting really light weights, I'm gonna feel pretty lame when I get back to the gym!

I've had two...one on each side...one when I was 8, the other when I was 12. It's minor surgery, even more minor these days. You'll be laid up for a few days, but probably won't be able to workout for about 6 weeks.