Question:
Any of you have trouble doing stomach crunches with mesh hernia repair?

I can do them, but sometimes they bother me more than others, but I always feel the mesh in my stomach regardless when I do them. I guess I just never thought the hernia repair would be something that I felt so often. The surgeon that repaired it said I would have times when I would reach for something and I would feel it, but he never once said it would be a persistent factor in an exercise program.    — Tparker (posted on April 19, 2005)

April 19, 2005
I had a ventral hernia repair in September '04 with no problems. Heck I never even need pain pills, not even in the hospital. I started working out in February and although crunches were uncomfortable, it was painfull. Now I can do them with no problem and do not feel the mesh at all. Hopefully, it will just take your body a few weeks to adjust. Good luck. Lisa
   — tigerpaws

April 19, 2005
The synthetic mesh not infrequently causes those issues...I avoid it when possible. Be sure and check with your doc as to when its safe to start working out those abs again. I keep my tummy tuck patients off crunches for a year...of course, they really dont need to do much more than some mild toning there anyway!
   — DrL

April 19, 2005
I had hernia repair in October with a big piece of mesh used. My surgeon said he sewed it to the bone in some spots. It causes pain where the mesh is sewn almost daily. Sometimes worse than others. I would ask the surgeon's nurse about doing crunches/sit ups to be sure it isn't too soon. I have been taking Bextra for my arthritis and it helps the mesh pain really well. Now that the bextra is off the market I don't know what I am going to do. I see my PCP next week about it. Good luck.
   — catleth