Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum Hernia Surgery...how long can I expect to be off work?

I've got to go under the knife on Tuesday of this week, and will have to take some of my so-called "vacation" time for recovery. I was wondering if anyone here has had this fairly common operation and how long they were off work. I'm already preparing my tool kit "lite." I'm figuring at least 10 days, maybe longer. Thanks in advance for any info on this.

Dave,

Nothing about recovery prediction, but something that was helpful with a friend who had heart surgery and then simply needed to avoid muscle strain:
He used an impact tuning hammer for uprights and that helped a lot. Of course, "traditional" tuning procedure puts more stress directly on the chest area, but your whole body really gets involved. The only part of your body that actively participates with an impact lever is the wrist.
Dunno . . . maybe it would be worth hurdling the very low learning curve for an impact lever if it would reduce strain for you.

Anyway, here's hoping for a quick recovery.

It took me 4 weeks.. no climbing stairs,or driving...this is for an inguinal hernia..
talk to your Dr.

Same with me. And keep and ice pack handy at all times. It will become your new best friend. It will help keep a lot of swelling down. Also, a pillow so you can hold the area when you cough. You'll be surprised how much you will cough.

I couldn't do much for 4 weeks, but my boss had a chair and desk set up so I could take calls and print tickets. So I was back at work in 7 days. Just couldn't do any heavy stuff.

I cheated a bit too, after a couple of weeks I did some light duty stuff.

But this is one area you want to make sure you heal right.

I don't care to have that done again.

Thanks for the input, gentlemen. I'll be talking extensively to the doc tomorrow. 4 weeks would not be ideal...

I don't know anything about hernias, but I wish you the best.

It depends what sort of hernia it is, the extent of the repair, and your level of health and recuperative power, but you should brace yourself for up to 1 month off. It isn't about what's ideal, it's about making sure you heal properly and don't need another operation in the same place in the future. You will have to be patient. Good luck.

http://www.herniasurgeries.com/upclose.htm

Dave check this out. "The Shouldice Method." Sparky from PW put me onto this and I had this done in Ohio. I was back to work in a few days. I was walking a LONG ways the say same. He had me walking 2 hours a day, beginning the same day after my surgery.

The doctor pictured was my doctor. I HIGHLY recommend doing this repair. It is TENS TIMES BETTER than slicing you all up the old fashioned way. Trust me. I've had both ways done. The way you're looking at hurts like an SOB and you'll be laid up for at least a month. This other way beats the old fashioned way, hands down!!!!! You won't be laid up for more than a few days to a week at best. I believe, (this was 3 years ago now) I was back to work within 3 or 4 days if I remember right. And, normal working days at that.

This method was pioneered in Canada.

http://www.herniasurgeries.com/ Here's his main web page.

Here is the Canadian website for it. http://www.shouldice.com/the_shouldice_repair.htm

Please, before you undergo the "traditional method, look into this method. I was totally amazed at the difference!!!! These web sites will answer most of your questions if you take some time to read them.

Having had the traditional, I second Jerry's option. Less cutting is better - and don't put it off till something pops though the muscle wall. It was 8 days before I made it around the block with the dog, and maybe two weeks before I tuned my first piano. I think the sooner you get moving after surgery, the faster the recovery.

Again, DON'T put it off. Business should be slower now with the X mas rush waning.

It will be 4 months before you are 100% and feel you can run or bike (you bike don't you?)

Oh, last piece of advice -- Don't lift any more pianos.

You definitely want the laproscopic method, rather than incision. As Jerry says, quick recovery in a week.

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/laparoscopic-inguinal-hernia-repair

Thanks, Jerry. This looks like the way to go, by what I'm reading. I wish I lived closer to Canada....but I'm thinking it might make economic and medical sense to go do this if the alternative is missing a month of work.

It is the way to go. I've had both ways done. If you like a lot of pain, do it the other way. If you don't, then find a good doctor that does it the Shouldice method way. But, while they may "claim to do it" they may not actually do it so, you'll have to do your own homework on it. Again, I can say thanks again to Sparky Biff for giving me that information to begin with.

And, walk walk walk which you already do a lot of anyway Dave. You will be back to work in no time flat. in fact, that doctor told me that I could (believe it or not) go back to work at my normal level pretty much right away. I didn't quite feel up to doing that and so I didn't but, like I said, within a few days, I was working at my normal pace again and without much pain too. I tell you what? It beats being laid up and miserable for 2 weeks any day!

Walking helps tremendously. You will be truely amazed at how much LESS pain you have doing the Shouldice method and then following their directions which was walking 2 hours every day. I walked 15 minutes at a time until I got my 2 hours in the first couple of days.

I traveled to Ohio to have it done. The next day, I drove home with the wife. 8 hour drive from there to here.

Thanks, Jerry. Not sure if Kaiser--my HMO--uses this method. And it looks expensive if you're not insured for it. But I'll be doing my homework, that's for sure!

My doctor worked with me on it. Said if I paid up front, the costs were WAY WAY less so, I did. Wrote a check on the spot in full. I have a $10,000 deductible anyway. He gave me a great deal. Call them.

That's because the Shouldice method uses existing native tissue to repair the hernia, but sometimes when you get in there you find out that the tissues aren't suitable for Shouldice repair because they are either too attenuated or weak or whatever. In these cases I put in a prosthetic mesh if the patient can afford it or do another method such as Bassini.

Patients are usually back to work in ten days post op.

Thanks all for the advice. It certainly isn't a simple problem or solution. Shouldice seems like the way to go, if all the situation is right. I'll be talking to my surgeon tomorrow and find out what method he uses.

Ask him about the Lichtenstein repair as well. It's what I do and patients tell me they have less pain.

Thanks, Electone. I'll ask Dr. Ilano. If I lived in the Phillipines, I'd give you lifetime piano service on your Hailun in exchange for piano tuner hernia repair....

The Shouldice clinic is awesome and recovery time is greatly reduced with their method. I had 4 doctors tell me 20 years ago to get a double inguinal hernia operated on. Went to the Shouldice and three of their top doctors looked at me and hummed and hawed about whether I should get surgery. They explained the pro's and cons of getting it done and not having it done. When they mentioned erectile disfunction and "sterility" as one of the many possible complications from surgery, I told them to stop and thanked them for their honest opinion. I asked the doctors "if it was you, would you get it done?" and they all said "no".

I have been fine to this day, am careful about stretching in the morning and how I lift heavy things. I am so happy they wer'nt a "run for profit" hospital, as I am sure they would have agreed with the other doctors and slotted me in.

The advice and help I get from you guys are so much appreciated. I'm just trying to give back some.

Wishing you a quick recovery! :-)