Health Organization for Pudendal Education

Lernica wrote:Linda,

Isn't a hernia by definition a bulge or tear in the stomach muscles? How can they diagnose a hernia if there is no bulge? Also, it was stated earlier but bears repeating that Dr. Deborah Metzinger (quoted in the NYT article) has lost her licence as a surgeon and has caused many women a great deal of unnecessary pain and suffering resulting from unnecessary "hernia" surgery.

I'm so glad that you have found a source for some of your pain and that you are moving forward with a plan.

Lernica, I have 2 hernias and no bulges. I have 2 holes in my abdomen and when I lay on my back the stuff that would normally push out of those holes falls back. The way they diagnosed it during the ultrasound was they had me put my mouth to the back of my hand and blow without releasing any air. That forced the "stuff" out the holes. My husband could see it on the screen from across the room.

I realize Deborah Metzinger was a bad doctor but that doesn't take away from the fact that hernias can cause pelvic pain. I don't know how she was diagnosing these hernias or what she was doing wrong but she's not treating me and so I feel pretty confident in my diagnosis. Sorry if I sound a little flippant. I'm just trying to work through some anger issues right now about all of this.

No one could blame you for feeling angry Linda, especially reading your account of how they discovered the hernia's you have ( and have had for some time now!). Heavens if that's all it takes, a good puff on the back of your hand!!! I'm angry for you!!
Thank goodness you didn't give up, as many would have done when 'mighty medics' give their opinions. I do hope that one day they all work together and can eliminate problems like yours (which from your account are fairly easy to eliminate!)
The very best of luck, hope the hernia repair is a huge success.
Helen

Linda, please do not beat yourself up over this. Is it possible that you didn't start off this journey with groin or lower abdominal pain? Symptoms often cascade one on top of the other. Once we become disabled from normal activities of daily living, disused muscles become tighter and easier to damage. Is it possible that you damaged your abdominal muscles after your initial injury to the pelvic floor? If you think about it, what did you first notice, and seek medical help, for? Lower abdominal pain (hernia) or pelvic floor muscle pain (PN and OI)? I'm sure it was the latter. If the former, your family doctor would have conducted a simple hernia test by asking you to cough and palpating the area for bulges. As you now know, it is a very common injury, especially with weight lifters. I am SURE you covered this ground early on in your journey.

For what it's worth, I often experience hernia-like symptoms on my PN-side but they are gradually disappearing in lockstep with my hip pain. (I was cleared for hernias some time ago after this issue last popped up on this forum.) I guess what I'm saying is you might have a bunch of stuff going on -- labral hip tear, spasming OI muscle, hernia -- all of which are contributing to your pelvic pain. If I were you I would take steps to address them all and not fall into the mistake of thinking that fixing one will automatically fix the others.

Hugs.

Hi,

I'm not buying into this particular hernia case other than to say that I think Lernica makes some good points for everyone in relation to the potential for all sorts of issues contributing to PN pain- not ALWAYS one single issue but a combination. Although, for some, the evidence seems clear there was perhaps a single factor.

One leg longer than the other>hip issues?> SIJ issues? etc; = pelvic imbalances. And perhaps these would have to be corrected for the "PN" pain to improve? Unfortunately, for some, these conditions may not be resovable? Just my two cents worth.

At least that seems to be what I've been discovering from viewing some of the posts on the HOPE site.

I thought I had already posted this comment so here it is again.

Cheers all.

As it turns out I had a "sports hernia". I don't have the surgical report yet but Dr Meyers informed me that I had a rather large tear that he repaired.

Is it possible that you didn't start off this journey with groin or lower abdominal pain? Symptoms often cascade one on top of the other. Once we become disabled from normal activities of daily living, disused muscles become tighter and easier to damage. Is it possible that you damaged your abdominal muscles after your initial injury to the pelvic floor? If you think about it, what did you first notice, and seek medical help, for? Lower abdominal pain (hernia) or pelvic floor muscle pain (PN and OI)? I'm sure it was the latter. If the former, your family doctor would have conducted a simple hernia test by asking you to cough and palpating the area for bulges. As you now know, it is a very common injury, especially with weight lifters. I am SURE you covered this ground early on in your journey.

I was never checked for a hernia by any of the 9 or 10 doctors I saw in the last 3 years. They didn't even mention the word hernia. I just want to let people know that when the gynecologist, the urologist, and the pain doctor gives up on you, go see a good orthopedic doctor to rule out labral tears and hernias (sports or traditional). And if the first one won't help you, keeping searching until you find one that will!

P.S. I don't and never have had lower abdominal pain.