Hernia Mesh Removal Surgery Recovery Time

It can take up to four to six weeks to recover from hernia mesh removal surgery. The procedure can be quite tiring on your body so it’s important that you take time to rest so you can heal properly. You may find that even the most simple of tasks are tricky for you to carry out while you’re recovering.

Doctor taking care of patient

However, this largely varies on the individual operation and the patient’s condition. If you’re wondering when you’re going to be able to start work again or start to feel back to normal after your surgery, this post will outline everything you need to know.

We’ll cover:

Why Might Your Mesh Need to be Removed?

Mesh repairs offer a great level of strength that reduces the risk of developing a hernia again. This type of repair is the preferred method for hernia repair because of the reduced time spent in the operating table and in recovery. But recently, there has been an increase in people suffering from side effects.

For example, the area can become infected or your body might have a foreign body reaction that may weaken the repairs and lead to your mesh failing. This obviously isn’t ideal.

There have also been occasions when the procedure was originally a success but you might experience complications years later. For instance, the mesh might migrate from its original position and move to other parts of the body. This causes significant pain and even may erode into nearby organs (depending on where it moves). Follow up operations may then be needed to correct the problem.

Finally, it’s possible that the mesh could be placed in the wrong position to start with. This can be pretty serious as not only will it not deal with your hernia, it will also cause other pretty serious issues too. It can lead to chronic pain and even lead to hernia recurrence.

In all of these cases, mesh removal is required, which is a very complex and fiddly procedure that carries various other risks.

Recovering from Hernia Mesh Removal Surgery

Recovering from hernia mesh removal surgery requires a great deal of patience and rest. As it’s such a tricky procedure, it can often lead to a long amount of time spent on the operating table which, ultimately, can drain your body and lead to exhaustion.

Besides this, even the most simple of tasks may become tricky for you to carry out. You have to be careful not to overdo it and risk worsening your issue. If possible, we recommend somebody accompany you for a few days as it’s crucial you rest and avoid doing much activity.

After hernia mesh removal surgery, you’re advised not to shower for at least a day to avoid infecting the fresh surgical wound. This can be pretty frustrating as even a day without a shower can leave you feeling grubby and not great about yourself. It’s also common to be left feeling confused and tired for two to three days after, which is why plenty of sleep and rest is prescribed.

You should not drive, drink alcohol or make any major decisions during the week after your operation. These guidelines are for your own safety.

Unfortunately, hernias have been known to resurface after hernia mesh surgery. So, it’s important that you limit yourself to exercise that doesn’t require too much strain or physical exertion to reduce the risk of recurrence. Your doctor will advise you when you’re good to get back to full throttle, but until then you should take it easy.

You’ll start to begin to “feel normal” again about four to six weeks after surgery. You must think that this huge inconvenience must be worthy of compensation, right? Well, you’d be right. Hernia mesh lawsuits are common and are currently being settled.

How Long Do Hernia Mesh Lawsuits Take to Settle?

Hernia mesh lawsuits are incredibly complex cases. And because of this, lawsuits can even take years to settle, or it could be years before the manufacturer is even willing to discuss your case with you and your attorney. These lawsuits require such a level of investigation, it’s easy to see why they take so long to actually get to court and then settle.

Mesh lawsuit can be categorized as either a Class Action or Multidistrict Litigation (MDL).

Class Actions lawsuits are tried in groups where everybody included in the group gains the same settlement amount of compensation. These cases can take between one and three years to resolve, case dependent of course. You may end up with a settlement figure that doesn’t reflect your situation too in these cases so be careful. Your attorney will be able to advise accordingly on the type of lawsuit to try for.

If your case is placed under an MDL, it may be resolved quicker.

How Much Compensation Can I Expect?

Compensation varies from case to case. Hernia mesh surgery-related complications are traumatic enough, without getting the compensation you deserve. Your attorney will be able to estimate how much compensation you’re entitled to by looking at the following factors:
How much has your surgery cost? This includes the original hernia mesh surgery and any further procedures i.e removal surgery.
Any further medical attention required, like doctor’s appointments and rehabilitation.
How much income you may have lost out on due to your side. And how much income you’ll lose in the future.
Punitive damages.

Are You Showing the Symptoms?

If you or a loved one have been showing the symptoms of hernia mesh issues, then make sure you seek medical attention to check that everything is okay. Once you’ve got the results back from your checks, you could be eligible for compensation that you well and truly deserve.

At Coxwell & Associates, we are personal injury specialists and have been helping Mississippians win their cases for over 35 years. We’re here to help and we’re determined to get you the right result by working together.

Disclaimer: This blog is intended as general information purposes only, and is not a substitute for legal advice. Anyone with a legal problem should consult a lawyer immediately.