Brian P. Jacob, David C. Chen, Bruce Ramshaw, Shirin Towfigh (eds.) - The SAGES Manual of Groin Pain-Springer International Publishing (2016)

35. Chronic Post-inguinal
Herniorrhaphy Pain: A Patient’s
Perspective
David C. Chen and Brian P. Jacob
Introduction
Patient ZP is an acclaimed writer and columnist. We have asked her
to share her story to illustrate the experience, frustrations, hopes, and
fears from a patient’s perspective. Her story also demonstrates the
importance of referral patterns and how physicians themselves should
pay more attention to the skill set of their trusted referrals. These
patients navigate a sea of doctors, studies, interventions, and surgeries
often without enough guidance or expertise. Their difficulties finding
adequate care turn lives upside down, and while we can usually ultimately
make patients better, the road is long, and some lives never return
to normal. It is a reminder for all of us to try always to do better.
Background
I am a writer by vocation but a dancer by avocation. As someone
whose body is very important to her—not for vanity but for health reasons
and a daily sense of well-being—any interruption in that routine has repercussions
beyond the norm. Every day I do something—running, walking,
hiking, Pilates, core conditioning, or dancing—to keep my body and my
brain in shape. Once upon a time I was a Balanchine baby, but most
recently, in the last six years, have been studying flamenco.
About seven years ago, I noticed a tiny bump on my lower right
abdomen, barely visible, close to my pelvic region. I was not in any pain
© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016
B.P. Jacob et al. (eds.), The SAGES Manual of Groin Pain,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-21587-7_35
447