Healing Time After Elderly Hernia Surgery

Seniors are more likely to develop hernias due to the effects of aging on their abdominal musculature. While it’s standard practice to ‘watch’ and manage any symptoms with medications and lifestyle and diet adjustments, surgery remains the most effective and convenient way to fix hernias for patients of all ages.

Also, everyone heals differently and at their own pace, and with aging gracefully comes healing impairments. Modern-day hernia surgery is a relatively safe and well-tolerated medical procedure for patients. Still, it’s a surgical procedure with unique risks for the elderly. Here is some information for Orange County General Robotic Surgery elderly hernia surgery patients to keep in mind about healing time and recovery.

Dr. Abitn Khosravi, MD, director and founder of Orange County Robotic General Surgery, gives patients customized instructions to help them prepare for their procedure and the recovery phase afterward. He recognizes that patients have better experiences and outcomes when they prepare and plan their downtime accordingly.

• Recovery Advice Following Elderly Hernia Surgery
• Recovery Period after elderly Hernia Surgery
• What Self-Care Tactics to Use at Home for Hernia Repair Recovery?
• Frequently Asked Questions About Healing Time After Elderly Hernia Surgery

Recovery Advice Following Elderly Hernia Surgery

After elderly hernia surgery, pain and feelings of malaise are normal. You may even feel some pulling, soreness, and discomfort at the hernia repair site that worsens with movement. Many patients also have less energy or experience more fatigue than normal for several days.

Lower personal expectations for activities and social activities for at least one week after hernia surgery to allow sufficient time to rest and heal during the initial stages of the elderly hernia surgery recovery period. It’s common for the discomfort and soreness to persist for several more weeks after the fatigue subsides.

Recovery Period After Elderly Hernia Surgery

After elderly hernia surgery, the goal is gradually working back up to your normal routine. The best way to do that is to pace yourself throughout your hernia repair recovery to avoid complications like injuring or damaging the repair site, prolonged or increased swelling, pain, and discomfort, the need for additional hernia surgeries for recurrent hernias, and less than optimal outcomes. Hernia surgery patients over 59 are more likely to experience a slower rate of physical functional recovery after surgery.

Here are some considerations to keep in mind about elderly hernia surgery.

What Self-Care Tactics to Use at Home for Hernia Repair Recovery?

Most elderly hernia surgeries are performed laparoscopically. Yet, in severe cases, conventional treatment or surgical measures may be deemed more appropriate. Both healing and recovery are different for everyone.

Laparoscopic patients heal faster and have faster recoveries than conventional hernia surgery patients.

• Driving can be a stressful activity. It’s important to minimize stress before undergoing any surgical procedure. Ask someone trusted to drive you to and from your operation. It takes some time for normal cognitive and motor function to return, many patients are a bit unsteady after surgery.

• Have someone drive you home and stay with you during the first several days to help you care for yourself and get around as you heal and recover during the first few weeks or until you receive medical clearance.

• Stock up in advance, so you have what you want to eat and drink on hand when you go home from surgery. Try to pick up your prescriptions before surgery, so you don’t accidentally allow your surgical meds to wear off without something to counter the pain and discomfort.

• Get plenty of sleep to speed up natural healing after elderly hernia surgery. Rest when feeling tired or worn out. It’s important not to stress the body unnecessarily, and proper rest is vital for a faster and optimal recovery.

• Some patients are given an abdominal binder to help support their injured abdominal muscles as they heal. It’s important to wear this item as directed to minimize discomfort and additional trauma to the hernia repair site.

• Stay active. Sometimes the hardest thing to do after hernia surgery is to move around. Still, it’s highly beneficial to the recovery process and can help speed up healing time after elderly hernia surgery. Walk around as much as possible without overexerting yourself. Avoid lifting heavy items, and ask for assistance with household chores and activities that require you to rely heavily on your abdominal muscles, such as vacuuming, sweeping, etc.

It’s important for you to gradually build up to your former stamina by the end of recovery. Walking helps strengthen and repair the abdominal muscles, improves blood circulation, and lowers the risk of surgical complications like pneumonia and constipation. Listen to your body and rest or take a slower pace when necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions About Healing Time After Elderly Hernia Surgery

Plenty of rest is required to speed up natural healing after elderly hernia surgery. How well you care for yourself and follow your hernia surgeon’s instructions are among the most important factors concerning healing time after elderly hernia surgery. Below are a few frequently asked questions Dr. Khosravi, MD, receives from Orange County Robotic General Surgery elderly hernia surgery patients.

1. How can I prepare for elderly hernia surgery?

Orange County hernia repair patients should follow all pre-operative instructions and discuss any concerns with their surgeon before their procedure.

2. What happens if I put off or avoid hernia surgery?

With hernias comes the risk of strangulation, a life-threatening condition in which a portion of the herniated tissues or bowels become encapsulated in the opening in the abdominal tissue. Once this occurs, blood flow to trapped tissues becomes restricted. Strangulated hernias can be fatal without surgery to repair them.

To learn more about elderly hernia surgery or if you’re experiencing severe hernia symptoms, contact Orange County Robotic General Surgery today.

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