From the hundreds upon hundreds of posts I have gone thru and people I have spoken to dealing with the after effects of mesh surgery and what pain relief techniques are tried I have gathered nothing works. Or if it does, it does so for a short time and then the pain, discomfort and bloating return. Nothing has worked for me.
Removing the mesh is a good idea because it will stop it from eventually eroding somewhere unpleasant but more nerve damage can occur. In chatting with another who had mesh used for hernia repair I learned that the longer the mesh remains the more scar tissue builds causing more pain. It's a never ending viscious cycle.
There's a website, Truth in Medicine, that was created specifically for people that have been "meshed" up.
Wishing pain-free days for all
You may want to consider another medication which provides local anesthesia, a Lidocaine Transdermal Patch. This may help until the issue of surgery has been resolved. The patch is left in place for 12 hours only then removed for an additional 12 hrs. The process is repeated thereafter. Also, Lyrica may be another option.
Anyone who has had pain and or infections after having surgery involving mesh should go to Injury Board.com and read the articles(1, 2 &3) entitled "Suffering in Silence from a Medical Device" Be sure to read the comments section and add your own. Women and men all over the world are suffering the adverse effects of mesh. Add your voice. Please. Also, if you haven't already done so, go to the FDA website and add your injury to the MAUDE database. The more people that come forward, the sooner mesh will be removed from the operating room.
I know your pain. I and a had hernia repair last june 08. A week after surgery I started having nerve pain and was working but could not stand the pain so I called in sick and got fired. I have trying to deal with this with the pain managenment and have requested for a surgeon to go back in and untrap the nerve. I am depressed and still out of work seems like no end with the meds and what this to get resolved. Doctor says burning the nerve might get me off the med. Not sure about anything anymore. All we can do is hang in there but seems like death would be easier.
my name is tidge and have been living with chronic abdominal pain now for a little over 2 years now i too have had a hernia repair (umbilical) done now four years ago and just over two years ago started with pain that has increased with no identifiable cause ct scans and ultrasounds etc im left now with such a poor quality of life from pain, associated depression and sleeplessness im 37 and have a harder job coping and getting round than my pensioner mother who spends more time looking after my son than i do
i take gabapentin and have butrans patches 25mcg now just seem like a walking pharmacy with no end in sight
pain management helps me understand my pain but sure as hell aint helping with it
for the love of god what can i do to help myself cos i cant live like this
Has anyone had the mesh successfully removed? I am having terrible pain from the mesh and don't know if I could have it removed. The Doc just says go for the nerve injections ,. . . but I do not want to do that. He says it is scar tissue.
your story is all so familiar, i am going thru the same pain and am frustrated.after several specialists, ct scans and nerve blocks with no relief. Nobody seems to want to operate they want to burn the nerve endings.have you had any other procedures done and has it helped??
Thanks. Can they remove the damaged/hurt nerve? If I already have numbness can they just remove it so it doesn't cause pain? I have no idea about this kind of thing, but it seems to make logical sense...
your best route would be surgery to release the nerve..you're right though there is a risk it may not help or the nerve could be further damaged ..i work in surgery assisting,the procedure is fairly simple..it would be my choice and take the risk to be free of the pain
One other thing I forgot is what about alternative medicines? Could acupuncture help (a suggestion from a friend)?