OCing after hernia surgery

.45ACPaddy · Apr 17, 2012

So I just had hernia surgery yesterday (Monday) afternoon. It was on my lower abdomen near the crease of my right leg and low abdomen. I'm gonna be stuck at home not doing much for the better part of a week. I've been told not to do anything strenuous for three weeks.

My everyday carry is a full size 1911 on my right hip with two spare mags in a Blackhawk dual mag pouch.

Has anyone else on here been through inguinal hernia surgery recovery? How did it affect OCing for you?

I'll be calling my doctor to get his medical opinion on it, and I also wanna hear other people's experiences as well.

Bookman · Apr 17, 2012

.45ACPaddy said:
So I just had hernia surgery yesterday (Monday) afternoon. It was on my lower abdomen near the crease of my right leg and low abdomen. I'm gonna be stuck at home not doing much for the better part of a week. I've been told not to do anything strenuous for three weeks.

My everyday carry is a full size 1911 on my right hip with two spare mags in a Blackhawk dual mag pouch.

Has anyone else on here been through inguinal hernia surgery recovery? How did it affect OCing for you?

I'll be calling my doctor to get his medical opinion on it, and I also wanna hear other people's experiences as well.

You might want to contact DEROS. He went through something very similar a couple of years ago. I THINK he had the hernia surgery. I KNOW that he had open heart surgery and couldn't carry for awhile.

.45ACPaddy · Apr 17, 2012

Thanks, Bookman, I'll send him a message or catch him on Facebook. I'd be quite interested in hearing about his experience.

fire suppressor · Apr 17, 2012

I have been a EMT for 8 years and just renewed my cert for another three. I am by no means a doctor or specialist on the topic I can only give you general over the counter advice. I am not very knowable on your type of operation but with any lower abdominal surgery you want to take it easy. Because they have to cut through and reattach strong abdominal muscles you would not want to lifting anything more than a few pounds the first few weeks and limiting the number if stairs you wall up as this works your abdominal muscles. Your guns weight may not be a issue but putting pressure on your surgical sight may cause a problem. Internally your body is going to swell the first week or two and will be sensitive to any outward force and pressure this could cause a your body to go into a protective mode and could cause more swelling and discomfort than needed. Not sure how they stitched you back up if it was min invasive or if your have a line of stitches but the constant rubbing from your gun could re open your operation site or possibility cause a infection.

Grapeshot · Apr 17, 2012

OC a 1911 + 2 mags

Have had two hernia repairs - one on each side and operations (2) to remove a bowel obstruction, opened from above the navel to the pubic bone, so have some specific reference on which to draw [pun intended]

Abdominal surgery is slow to heal and will limit your mobility rather dramatically - all functions depend on these muscles - range of motion will be severely disturbed.

How will all of this impact your ability to OC? Not at all really. The weight on your hip or under your arm (shoulder rig) just isn't a factor. Will admit that the handgun took a place along side me more often than not. Your willingness to leave the comfort(?) of the bed or recliner will be most intrusive to an active life style - coughing and/or sneezing will be equivalent to seppuku.

One doctor's response, "You're crazy." I didn't know that was in doubt

Another said, "Your body will tell you."

Just remember that pain is a temporary condition of life. Get well soon.

JoeSparky · Apr 17, 2012

If you decide to carry be very aware of your states restrictions on carry (if any) while under the influence of any narcotic pain control meds.

Herr Heckler Koch · Apr 17, 2012

Grapeshot said:
Just remember that pain is a temporary condition of life. Get well soon.

Remember that pain is a condition of temporary life. Be good or be good at it.

fire suppressor · Apr 17, 2012

Your body is smart listen to it, if your body is telling you something hurts you probably shouldn't be doing it. I am only a EMT I am trained only to stabilize and transport but if you ever have any questions you can always pm me and I will do my best to answer any questions

amlevin · Apr 17, 2012

Grapeshot said:
Another said, "Your body will tell you."

Pain is definitely the body's way of telling you you're doing something wrong. Listen to the message or be prepared for extended pain.

To the OP, just carry in a shoulder holster until you heal.

tombrewster421 · Apr 17, 2012

I had a surgery like yours and I was back working light duty in construction after three days. Just be really careful with lifting anything and don't try to move quickly. Take it slow. Just do the things you're sure you can handle. I doubt carrying a gun would be on the list of things you couldn't handle.

Get well soon.

hermannr · Apr 17, 2012

Mine was left side, but hips down, don't bother. What you do with your upper body will clue you in really fast.

My own particular advice is go real easy on the pain killers. If you are like me, and cannot take any opiates you learn really fast what not to do. A pistol on your hip you will not feel, pull it out to use it...that you will feel! It will hurt a lot more to put your pants on then to carry on your hip.

oneeyeross · Apr 18, 2012

When I had my right inguinal hernia repair (RIH repair) the doc said nothing more than 10 pounds. Your's probably gave you similar advice, don't pick up more than x number of pounds for x number of weeks/days.

Follow the advice of your surgeon. That's why he gets paid all that money.

As a general rule of thumb, with any surgery, if the patient can tolerate the activity WITHOUT discomfort, it is ok, but that is a general rule of thumb. Your doctor's advice is what you paid for, follow it.

Grapeshot · Apr 18, 2012

There is nothing, repeat nothing, that you can do upright without using abdominal muscles. The back muscles work in conjunction with the abdominal muscle to maintain balance and posture. Using your arms and/or legs will require flexing abdominal muscles to some varying degree.

Frequently, post operative patients look like humped over [strike]octogenarians[/strike] decagenarians as they slide their slippered feet across the room. Like a bad dinner, this too shall pass......that's going to be a wee bit uncomfortable.

sirpuma · Apr 19, 2012

Just take it super easy and slow for a while and heal up.

slapmonkay · Apr 19, 2012

Grapeshot said:
Like a bad dinner, this too shall pass......that's going to be a wee bit uncomfortable.

LMAO! :lol:

.45ACPaddy · Apr 20, 2012

Haven't really been out of the house much since Monday, so no chance to OC anyway, even if I really wanted to. They did prescribe me a pain killer, and I planned from the beginning not carrying while taking them. It'll be three weeks from the day of surgery before I can even return to normal duty at work, and when I return to work it will be light duty until then. It's definitely been an a hell of an experience so far, and things are improving with each day. I guess I'll wait the three weeks before starting to carry again, so in the meantime I should probably try to spend time with other people who carry

It might suck now, but this will be worth it after everything's healed up and I'm back to normal!

WOD · Apr 21, 2012

Glad to hear your condition is improving. I came back to this thread just to find out your progress. I read it when you posted, but I refrained from posting, since I didn't have any relevant experience with your type of injury. Stay safe!

Grapeshot · Apr 21, 2012

.45ACPaddy said:
Haven't really been out of the house much since Monday, so no chance to OC anyway, even if I really wanted to. They did prescribe me a pain killer, and I planned from the beginning not carrying while taking them. It'll be three weeks from the day of surgery before I can even return to normal duty at work, and when I return to work it will be light duty until then. It's definitely been an a hell of an experience so far, and things are improving with each day. I guess I'll wait the three weeks before starting to carry again, so in the meantime I should probably try to spend time with other people who carry

It might suck now, but this will be worth it after everything's healed up and I'm back to normal!

You are now a board certified member of the club having gone through the initiation.

BTW - the docs did put a zipper in just in case there's ever a future need didn't they? :lol:

Get well soon, meanwhile let your friends provide backup, that's what friends do.

1245A Defender · Apr 21, 2012

well,,,

Grapeshot said:
You are now a board certified member of the club having gone through the initiation.

BTW - the docs did put a zipper in just in case there's ever a future need didn't they? :lol:

Get well soon, meanwhile let your friends provide backup, that's what friends do.

Pat, a thought, easy on the pain meds.
its best to know if you are putting a strain on your self and stop, than to strain and not know it, thus hurting your recovery.

And speaking of zippers, I got a vasectomy in 1973, sometimes the twin zippers catch on my shorts, ouch!

.45ACPaddy · Apr 22, 2012

Even with the pain meds I can still tell if there's any sort of strain, it doesn't make me completely numb. They definitely help make things comfortable when I'm sitting or laying down doing nothing! About the only thing I've really done this week is walk around the house, which the doc said to do as much as I can. Other than that, no lifting.

I suppose to keep it OC related, my nightstand is carrying my 1911 for me, right out in plain view!

OCing after hernia surgery

Regular Member

Campaign Veteran

Regular Member

Regular Member

Legendary Warrior

Centurion

Herr Heckler Koch

Guest

Regular Member

Regular Member

Regular Member

Regular Member

Regular Member

Legendary Warrior

Regular Member

Campaign Veteran

Regular Member

Regular Member

Legendary Warrior

Regular Member

Regular Member