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1322711 tn?1278415855

painful lump

Hi,
I am a 38 year old woman who used to be extremely active and strong. I used to work for a veterinarian and lifted 80-90 pound dogs daily.
After 7 years at this job I was let go and shortly afterwards I was in a car accident. I have not been able to return to work and have lost a large amount of strength since the accident. I had to have 2 shoulder surgeries and numerous epidurals on my back along with physical therapy.
I just recently had a microdiscectomy done to my lumbar spine. Two weeks after I started physical therapy again. Within days after starting physical therapy   I noticed a pain in my lower left abdomen and a large lump forming.
I had gone to my doctor who sent me to ER thinking it was a hematoma from the surgery, tumor, or hernia. I had a CT scan done in ER and it showed up clean.
Next step was my OBGYN who did an ultrasound. That came back clean. I was then sent to a GI doctor who did a colonoscopy and that also came back clean.
I then went to a laparoscopy specialist who did not find anything either. I finally went to a general surgeon who also found nothing. He said it could be my muscle loosening due to in activity since the car accident and to do physical therapy to fix it. Physical therapy aggravates it more. Then he mentioned it may be a Sports Hernia. Do you have any suggestions? My back pain has returned so I know the back surgery failed and now I have a sausage like painful lump in my lower left abdomen that no doctor can say what it is. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I don't know where else to turn.

Sincerely
Tina Smith
8 Responses
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1322711 tn?1278415855
But if it is not a hernia then why the bulge, the pain, the fact that it disappears when I lay down, it hurts more when I do any type of pelvic exercise or even when I go to the bathroom. And you can feel something kinda bulge out more when I cough? If worse comes to worse and this doctor goes in with the scope and doesn't find a hernia than he will just stitch me back up and I deal with it. I just need to know what the heck it is and they only way I think that is possible is for someone to go in with a scope and see. I will let you all know what happens after the procedure.
Helpful - 0
1217648 tn?1266552143
Before surgery please reconfirm it with CT scan (CT scan will not miss a hernia), I think surgery should not be done coz some FELT A HERNIA (for a routine hernia I will not recommend CT but ur case is different). Pain can be of neurogenic origin too
Best wishes
Helpful - 0
1322711 tn?1278415855
I would like to think it is a phantom hernia but the pain has been getting increasingly worse and the last doctor I went to said he actually felt the hernia. If it is a phantom hernia then I am being cut open for nothing, which I am not fond about so I do hope there is actually something there that can be fixed.
Helpful - 0
1217648 tn?1266552143
Dear Smittys
I am sorry to know about your suffering but I am sure you will become alright soon. Surprisingly, Strongest and weakest thing in this world is Human's mental strength. So keep faith and and dont let ur mind become weak. I think you have a "phantom hernia", as your muscles are weak due to spine/ nerve injury they protude in toto without any defect (Hernia is a protusion thru a defect). There is no defect so it is not pickedup by CT scan. Just see the change in prominance/ protusion by making the muscle tight (bending/ coughing/ making the abdimonal muscle tight etc.) If it becomes more obvious then consult again for hernia
Best wishes
Dr R Tewari (India)  
Helpful - 0
1322711 tn?1278415855
Just wanted to let you know that I went to one more doctor because the lump is really starting to hurt. He is a general surgeon and he is based in Montclair NJ. He felt the lump, told me to cough and said "You have a hernia" Just like that.
He said he didn't even need to look at any of the images I brought (MRI,CT,Ultrasound which were all negative anyway)
The interesting thing is he said it is not your typical hernia. I have what they call a Spigelian hernia. I have my surgery scheduled for September 10th.
Just glad I FINALLY have an answer.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal

Hello!
I am Nicole :x
I've just visited this forum.
Happy to get acquainted with you. Thanks!

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Helpful - 0
1322711 tn?1278415855
I am planning on seeing a general surgeon in NYC to get another opinion.
Helpful - 0
1140722 tn?1266352679
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
WOULD REPEAT THE CT TO MAKE SURE U DO NOT HAVE A HERNIA
Helpful - 0

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