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

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D.C. Chen and B.P. Jacob
dysfunction, and gastritis from the Advil, which Dr. A told me I could
take and did not warn me that high doses could corrupt my stomach.
Though I consulted by e-mail and phone with a number of offices all
over the country, I had already learned of two surgeons who specialized
in revisional surgery after hernia repair. I very much liked Dr. C. Dr. C
said after viewing new imaging that my mesh was indeed corrupted, that
it had formed a ball—that I had a meshoma —and that in order to excise
it, the procedure would likely include cutting my three important sensory
nerves, called a triple neurectomy . Dr. D made the same diagnosis
but said that the nerves might not need to be cut. Though I preferred Dr.
C due to this doctor’s patience and accessibility, I waited the requisite
six months they had both urged as the “wait-and-see” period for the pain
to go away:
Frightened and depressed…
During that time I also consulted pain doctors. Dr. E, a pain doctor,
decided to do an exploratory block and scheduled me in the OR, as I was
in such discomfort. I was crying all the time, miserable, frightened, and
depressed. I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. The
block did not do much, and so I went ahead and scheduled with Dr. D,
as I was hoping to save my nerves, particularly the genital nerve.
In the meantime, my insurer broke off relations with the Dr. C’s hospital.
Dr. C was most accessible and did not push me in one direction or
another, but gave me information as I requested it. Again at the last
minute, I became afraid and canceled the surgery with Dr. D and
rescheduled with Dr. C. I had to do it within a month, as my insurer
would only cover up to three months.
I had numerous bad side effects from the pain medication. Percocet
was the only thing that helped, but its side effects of constipation eventually
took me back to the doctor, to Dr. F, a gastroenterologist who recommended
a diagnostic colonoscopy and some antidepressants. I have
always been afraid of antidepressants, and though I filled the prescription,
I could not get myself to take them. I did not proceed with the
colonoscopy. I felt sure that if I could get off the pain meds, I would
return to normal.
Revisional Surgery
I had to move mountains to get the surgery approved with my insurer;
it made everything even more painful and complicated. Finally in late
March, seven months after the original surgery, Dr. C eventually did the