Hernia recovery

[BrassSection]

Looks like early June I’ll be getting 3 hernias repaired. Anybody have a similar situation, and what was your recovery time before playing again?

[Burgerbob]

Funny story, I have an inguinal hernia I'm having surgery on in the next couple weeks myself. I'd love to hear some info as well.

[BrassSection]

Yeah, I have 2 of those, and one above my naval that’s about 20 years or more old.

[dwcarder]

Welcome to the club?

From what I remember ~15yrs ago, it was outpatient at the crack of dawn and I was home by noon. The
anesthesiologists truly earn their pay. At home, I did not like the brain fog from whatever opioid they gave me so I only used it to get through the night once or twice, otherwise the max dose of tylenol and sometimes alternating w/ ibuprofin worked better. (Then I had to figure out how to dispose of the leftover opoids; our police station has a drop box)

After a week or so I felt really close enough to normal. The challenge was that I had to actively remind myself to take it easy and stay within the lifting restrictions because 15/16ths of you is fine but that other 1/16th is right in the middle. Keep your horn on a stand so you don't have to bend over too much, and playing standing up will be fine after that week.

[BrassSection]

Welcome to the club?

From what I remember ~15yrs ago, it was outpatient at the crack of dawn and I was home by noon. The
anesthesiologists truly earn their pay. At home, I did not like the brain fog from whatever opioid they gave me so I only used it to get through the night once or twice, otherwise the max dose of tylenol and sometimes alternating w/ ibuprofin worked better. (Then I had to figure out how to dispose of the leftover opoids; our police station has a drop box)

After a week or so I felt really close enough to normal. The challenge was that I had to actively remind myself to take it easy and stay within the lifting restrictions because 15/16ths of you is fine but that other 1/16th is right in the middle. Keep your horn on a stand so you don't have to bend over too much, and playing standing up will be fine after that week.

Ditto in early morning and home for lunch plus the opioid. Total knee replacement, after 2nd opioid pill I I didn’t like how I felt and just used Tylenol, worked for me. 10 days after surgery shoveled a foot of snow off sidewalk. Few weeks later second knee replaced. No opioids and shoveled snow 2 days after surgery. I’ll try to obey docs restrictions…May let my Conn 20J tuba sit awhile longer after the upcoming surgery, rarely used anyhow.

[CalgaryTbone]

My recovery was a bit longer - I had my surgery at a clinic (Sholdice) in the Toronto area who only does hernia surgeries. They perform the surgeries in the old-fashioned way - no laparoscopic operations. Their assertion is that there is a reduced possibility of an eventual failure of the stitches, etc. over time. Still, I was out of there in about 3 days, flew back across the country, and had a few days of mostly staying home. I was out of work with the orchestra for a short time - I could have gone back to a non-playing job earlier. In fact, I did my teaching during that period. The doctors suggested not playing trombone for a couple of weeks, and avoiding strenuous playing for about a month, as I recall. Once I was able to start playing, I did so in 10 minute increments, adding more of them each day. Gradually, I moved this up to 1/2 hour sessions, and then increased that over time. Generally pretty seamless.

Jim Scott

[Doubler]

I don't recall that the time it took to get back into it after my second inguinal hernia repair was very long (I was unable play at all when I had my first inguinal hernia, due to a completely unrelated injury). After the initial recovery time, post-surgery playing was more comfortable than it had been when the hernia was untreated.

I suggest paying attention to what your body (and your doctor) tells you. You'll be playing again in a relatively short period of time.

[BrassSection]

Had consultation with surgeon today, left inguinal too bad to do robotics method, going in the old fashioned way. (I know how to fall apart…knee replacement surgeon reported my right knee looked like a bomb had gone off in there) Doc recommends a 4 week horn layoff. He’s a former trumpet player, so he knows something about brass playing. He agreed trombone would be a better horn to try first, maybe 3 weeks. Operation 30th, I’ll report back when playing again.

[Burgerbob]

I started playing 9 days after my surgery, took it very light for a week and started to ramp back up. Feeling better than ever right now at 4 weeks.

[BrassSection]

Successful surgery on both inguinals yesterday, home for lunch. Have two 4” long incisions under my belt line. Slightly uncomfortable, no pain pills needed yet. Trumpet playing doc still sticking with 4 week horn layoff. I’ll see what’s up at 3 week checkup.

[Doubler]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

[BrassSection]

Day 4 after bilateral hernia repair. Some tenderness, but nothing really I’d call pain. 0 pain pills following surgery. Jumped on one of my tractors today, to move a trailer to bring round hay bales into the barnyard. Feeling better every day, so far I’ve only picked up a horn to move it into the office.

[dwcarder]

Take it easy though! I was feeling pretty good and really had to check myself not to be overconfident.