How Do I Prevent My Hernia from Reoccurring After Surgery?
Now that you’ve experienced the pain associated with a hernia and the surgery needed to correct the issue, the idea of having to go through the same thing again does not exactly fill you with glee. While there are no guarantees that you will never have a hernia again, there are things you can do that minimize the possibility. Work these approaches into the way you choose to live your life and there is a good chance that you will live the rest of your days without ever having to deal with a hernia again.
Following the Doctor’s Instructions After Your Surgery
The changes to the way you do things begins immediately after you leave the hospital. As part of your post operative care, you are provided with a list of things you cannot do for at least a few weeks after the surgery. Choosing to follow that list to the letter allows your body to fully heal from the surgery. As a result, the abdominal wall that was ruptured has the chance to become strong again.
Many of the recommendations on that list can be adapted for use even after your recuperative period is complete. For example, you will find that hernia support in the general area where the rupture occurred will reduce the odds of the problem developing again. Your doctor can talk with you about the best approach to support depending on the location and type of hernia you experienced. Something as simple as wearing a hernia belt for women under your clothing could provide the support that you need, at least for a few more months.
Keeping Your Weight Within Reason
Did you know that carrying around extra weight places greater stress on the abdominal walls? Choosing to use diet and exercise will go a long way toward keeping your weight at or close to the range recommended by your medical professional. Along with helping to ease stress on the area, the right type of exercise will also strengthen the tissue at the site of the original rupture and reduce the odds of a recurrence.
Stoma Pouch Flanges
Flanges also help to provide additional support to the weakened area. You can buy flanges in more than one design. Your physician can provide guidelines that make it easier to know if a flat flange or a convex one would work best in your case.
Changing the Way You Life Things
You’ve heard people say that lifting with the legs and not the back is a smart approach. They happen to be right. If you want to reduce the odds of experiencing another hernia, you need to learn that lifting heavier objects with your back instead of the legs is the only way to go. The former places quite a bit of stress on the middle part of your body. That’s the last thing you want to do. When your knees and legs are absorbing more of the stress, the pressure on your abdominal walls is kept to a minimum.
These are just a few examples of how you can increase the odds of remaining free of hernias in the future. Based on your individual case, your doctor will likely have some additional suggestions. Follow them to the letter and this is one condition you can avoid having to deal with a second time.