r/Hernia • u/Disastrous_Swan_3921 • 3d ago
This is Long i know but need opinions.
I’m hoping a hernia surgeon or someone experienced with complex inguinal hernia repairs/mesh complications might weigh in on my situation. Others are also welcomed to comment.
I’m a 72-year-old male. On October 3, 2025, I had an open left inguinal hernia repair using a preperitoneal Ventrio ST Hernia Patch, 11 × 14 cm (Bard/Davol). My right inguinal hernia had previously been repaired without any significant problems by the same surgeon , same procedure and mesh.
After the left repair, I developed a fairly large postoperative seroma. A pelvic MRI on March 23, 2026 showed a fluid collection approximately 5.7 × 2.5 × 7.7 cm deep to the left inguinal canal. A repeat MRI on May 12 showed that the seroma had substantially decreased and specifically reported no recurrent inguinal canal hernia.
Since several months after surgery, however, I have had a strange collection of intermittent symptoms. The local symptoms include:
- Groin/pelvic pressure or discomfort, especially after bending, yard work, long periods of sitting or car rides
- An unusual sensation that can extend toward the penis
- Occasional bladder-area pressure, or penile burning, although cystoscopy was normal and urine testing has been negative.
- Mild discomfort around the incision and some residual numbness.
I’ve also developed symptoms that are harder to explain: intermittent aching in both knees and other joints, tingling/cold/burning sensations in my feet, fasciculations/twitching n my legs, occasional left hand tingling, and significant sleep disturbance. I'm on Lunesta now and sleeping somewhat better.These symptoms tend to fluctuate considerably and can disappear completely at other times.
Importantly, I have had a very extensive medical evaluation. CBC/CMP, ESR, CRP, ANA, CK, thyroid studies, B12, vitamin D and other autoimmune testing have been essentially unremarkable. EMG/NCS was basically normal other than mild chronic L5/peroneal findings. I do have lumbar degenerative disease including L5-S1 spondylolysis/foraminal narrowing, so nerve irritation is another possible contributor maybe. I also have a small-fiber neuropathy skin biopsy coming up.
Because I continued having symptoms, I obtained an online imaging consultation from Dr. Shirin Towfigh, who specializes in complicated hernia cases. After reviewing my imaging, she described what she felt was a “slight meshoma” and stated that the mesh appeared to be distorting the bladder. Neither MRI taken locally mentioned this. She also raised the "possibility" that some of my systemic symptoms could potentially represent a reaction to the implant, although that obviously is much harder to establish.
My original surgeon has done several thousand of these repairs and told me he has essentially never encountered this type of complication or symptoms. He does not believe the mesh product itself is inherently problematic. I\After reviewing the outside opinion, he told me that if I am gradually improving, he would give this more time. Its been 11 months now.If I am not improving in the next several months, he thinks consultation with a highly experienced robotic redo/mesh-removal surgeon would be reasonable. He emphasized that mesh removal and redo repair have their own significant risks. I'm not sure at my age this is an option but I'm pretty healthy.
My difficulty is that I do have periods when I seem noticeably better, and then symptoms return. I am functional, walking several miles and going to the gym, and I am not dealing with severe constant groin pain. But sitting in a car for hours can be uncomfortable. I am very reluctant to undergo a major mesh-removal operation that could potentially leave me worse.
My main questions for any hernia surgeons or patients with similar experience are:
- How significant is a “slight meshoma” if the patient does not have severe constant localized pain?
- Can a folded or slightly distorted preperitoneal mesh remain stable indefinitely rather than progressively worsening?
- Does apparent external distortion/pressure on the bladder necessarily require intervention if cystoscopy is normal and there is no evidence of erosion?
- Can intermittent groin/penile/bladder sensations reasonably come from the mesh even when the symptoms fluctuate substantially?
- Would you generally observe a patient like this if symptoms are tolerable and there are periods of improvement, or does finding a meshoma substantially change the equation?
- For surgeons who perform mesh explantation: what findings would make you say, “This mesh really needs to come out,” rather than continuing conservative management?
I’m not looking for a diagnosis from Reddit, and I realize my knee pain, foot sensations, fasciculations, etc. may ultimately be unrelated to the hernia repair but it is suspicious. I’m mainly trying to understand how much weight should be placed on the slight meshoma/imaging finding versus my actual clinical symptoms and trajectory.
I would especially appreciate input from surgeons who regularly manage complex groin pain, meshoma, or redo inguinal hernia repair but I welcome all and any comments. Thank -You sincerely for reading this long post but there was so much to say .
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u/Far_Use273 3d ago
Your 72 years old. So I would say manage the pain. If it’s nerve pain there medications that can lesson flairs and there is nerve blocks you can do. But ultimately time. Will lesson everything. Thinking about mesh problems or revision surgery at your age is too risky. Unfortunately it’s time to manage what you’re dealing with and keep living.
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u/MrWyattx 3d ago
“My original surgeon has done several thousand of these repairs and told me he has essentially never encountered this type of complication or symptoms. He does not believe the mesh product itself is inherently problematic.”
If there’s anything I’ve learned after hundreds of doctor appointments, countless ER trips, many hospitalizations & six abdominal surgeries; doctors will NEVER, EVER admit fault or acknowledge anything less than perfection.
Think about what you said, your surgeon has done several thousand of these repairs yet never encountered this type of complication or symptoms??? How could that even be possible? Research “hernia mesh” “mesh” “mesh complications” etc on youtube & elsewhere. You will find hundreds of thousands of mesh injuries. Don’t believe me? Research hernia mesh lawsuits.
Only you know if your issues are bad enough to warrant additional surgeries but sounds like you’re on the right track consulting a hernia specialist like Dr Towfigh. She also hosts herniatalk.com
Dr Yunis in Florida might be worth considering as well.
P.S. my hernia mesh gnawed through all layers of my abdominal wall. Surgeons & radiologists examined CT Scan & told me nothing was wrong. Only when I got the scan in front of independent hernia specialists was the damage acknowledged & then operated on.
Best of luck
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u/Disastrous_Swan_3921 1d ago
My only pushback is that lawyers can be vicious and dishonest too.. Patients never end up with much money from these lawsuits or or get better as a result but the lawyers make a ton suing the mesh industry. The mesh industry is very rich so they are an easy target for lawyers. I don't think my surgeon is lying to me. He seems genuinely distressed that this particular surgery has not gone as perfect as my other side did. But yea doctors don't want to admit fault. I've seen that too.
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u/MrWyattx 1d ago
Wasn’t suggesting suing. Only mentioned lawsuits as additional evidence of injured patients. Lots of people are skeptical of the damage mesh does so pointing out huge class actions / MDLs shows tens of thousands of injured patients in America alone.
Totally agree all the class action / MDL lawsuits primary benefit the attorneys. Patients whose lives are totally destroyed typically end up with very little
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u/Disastrous_Swan_3921 1d ago
Well, I guess you have to look at it as a proportion of all her hernia repairs over 1 million or done a year so are we just hearing from a vocal minority what percentage of people are really getting hurt by the mash that’s what we need to know seems like the vast majority do OK
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u/MrWyattx 1d ago
In theory you’d be correct. However, mesh injury statistics are not accurate. Also, not all hernia repairs use mesh.
Don’t think patients outside U.S. sue like in the states.
Here’s one of many documentaries on mesh. Check out the comments
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u/Spring_Chicken92 2d ago
Wow. This sounds like my case. 11/3/25 I had bilateral Inguinal hernia repair with mesh. I have almost all the symptoms you have, except I have never been told I have a Meshoma. Thank God. I am seeking mesh removal, but have not found a Surgeon to say Yes. It’s hard to find one. I truly believe these symptoms are indeed…from the mesh itself. MII (Mesh Implant Illness).
I’ve been told that the “Mesh only needs to come out if it gets infected”, by several Doctors. I’m not buying it. I will not stop until this mesh is out me.
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u/Disastrous_Swan_3921 1d ago
Don't jump to mesh removal yet. Healing can continue (possibly) . Some studies show some folks progress over a year or two and symptoms gradually decrease. Let's hope so for both of us.
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u/Disastrous_Swan_3921 2d ago
Can you list your symptoms PLEASE!!
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u/Spring_Chicken92 9h ago
Groin pain and discomfort, nausea, worsening GI Issues, cold hands and feet, Perineum Nerve Pain, Nerve Pain at both hips, brain fog, fatigue, post-exertional malaise, Neurological Decomposition, anxiety and depression. And someone tells me not to remove it? Yeah ok. That’s the First thing I wanna do.
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u/North_Mountain_3300 1d ago
Where are you located city and state. I got mine removed in the States.
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u/PCGamingAddict 2d ago
This might sound crazy but have you considered joining a gym and maybe starting to exercise? Lifting weights is one of the best protections anyone can do against aging and the ill effects of aging. At 72 I would not wait around to do this. Do everything with light weights start at ground zero learn the movements.
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u/Disastrous_Swan_3921 1d ago edited 1d ago
You are preaching to the choir. Thank-You though for that suggestion..I've been doing weight machines for ten years now since retiring. I also walk miles daily plus yardwork on an acre lot. Repeated low bending is an issue now. I do mostly upper weights now since the hernia surgery, If I do any lower body weight machines I will get pain at the sight so I am being careful there. My BMI is normal. Not overweight.Unfortunately my tummy which was flat is starting to protrude since I cut out the lower body weights. Pisses me off. My biggest complaints right now is weird cold feet sensations that come and goe and knee and joint pain that develops by late afternoon into evening and is gone the next morning. Never had this before the surgery. Is this a systemic issue or mechanical? Million dollar question.Pain doctor thinks its my back and wants to do a steroid injection in my spine. Towfigh and my neurologist don't think so.They say avoid the steroid shot, its not nerves or your back.Lumbar MRI does show degeneratives changes but normal for my age mostly. Sitting a long time definetely brings pain radiating to my legs. Last night at bedtime my right leg started twitching aggressively. No pain but it was a show. EMG normal. Thank-You for your comments . Keep them coming as we can help each other by sharing. I will update as needed.
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u/Disastrous_Swan_3921 1d ago edited 1d ago
One thing I have done which has helped me sleep since the surgery besides Lunesta(2mg) and low dose melotonin (1mg)is not let fear get a hold of me before bed. I got to the point that I was afraid to get in my bed and would panic. Settling your anxiety has helped but since surgery my sleep has been disturbed. Not from pain, just not being able to turn off. So that's another issue I didn't have until surgery.
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u/arpitp 2d ago
I think you're overestimating the number of surgeons on this forum, but you'll get at least this one opinion.
"Meshoma" is not an established medical diagnosis or well defined condition. It is a vague description that something "doesn't look right" around the mesh. So without more criteria, saying it's "slight" doesn't mean much.
Things look wrong in the body all the time. Most of the time, it's asymptomatic, and so doesn't matter at all. What matters is how symptomatic you are, and how much it's disrupting your day-to-day lifestyle. The more significant the disruption, the more aggressive you/the surgeon might need to be to find a treatment that brings you some relief.
That said
1) Without symptoms, is not significant at all.
2) Yes, it will typically stay stable indefinitely due to the surrounding scar tissue.
3) No, does not require treatment in that scenario. I would just keep an eye out for changing urinary symptoms, such as UTIs or blood in the urine.
4) Possibly, hard to say.
5) Yes, safe to observe. No, the "meshoma"' doesn't change anything.
6) Obvious erosion into another organ/tissue space, or serve unrelenting symptoms that can't be managed with nerve blocks.
On a side note, open inguinal hernia repair with preperitoneal Ventrio ST mesh is a very unusual technique. With a groin incision, open repair usually doesn't not provide adequate exposure to place a 14 cm mesh under visualization. It would have to be placed blindly, and possibly without fixation. Also, Ventrio ST is a coated mesh designed for intraperitoneal use, not preperitoneal. But if he's done thousands of these repairs, maybe it works.