In my practice as a hernia specialist, patients frequently approach me with their concerns regarding hernias. I have placed these questions in the beginning of the book. Many patients ask the same questions. I answer these questions over and over again. They are concerned regarding their own health, or the health of a loved one. And many times there is only one question that they feel they needed answering before they decide to have hernia surgery. As an example, when patients are diagnosed with a hernia they all want to know: Is surgery absolutely necessary?
Over the past several months while I was preparing this book I wrote down the most commonly asked questions. Not all patients need to find out everything there is to know about hernias. They only want their particular questions answered. Once they have the answer they feel they can proceed with certainty. I've also placed these questions and their answers on my Internet site: www.herniaonline.com . It is lengthy but quite comprehensive.
My hope is that in this chapter I will answer your question and thus help you to make an informed decision. However, the following chapters will go into greater detail for those who wish to have a more in-depth explanation. [NOTE : Some questions slightly overlap. Thus, certain information will be repeated in order for me to adequately answer each one .]
What is the difference between a hernia specialist and a general surgeon?
Hernia surgeons are super specialists, and in most cases are board certified general surgeons. They are considered hernia specialists because they limit the majority of their practice to patients who have hernias. Although most general surgeons have the ability to perform hernia surgery within the scope of their practice, they often don't have the same experience associated with hernia surgeons who limit their practice to hernias.
The average general surgeon may perform 25 to 50 hernia surgeries per year, as compared to a hernia surgeon who performs several hundred hernia surgeries annually. Hernia surgeons are skilled, experienced, and have perfected their technique of hernia surgery and the after care of their patients. Although there are general surgeons who can perform excellent hernia surgery, finding them may be difficult.
It is unfortunate that in my hernia practice I see patients who have had surgery preformed by less skilled general surgeons and have developed problems after surgery that I then have to fix. Most general surgeons wisely refer their most difficult hernias to the hernia specialists.
I perform up to 25 hernia operations each week. My patients experience less postoperative pain and are able to return to work sooner than the norm . They are also able to work out and resume recreational activities sooner than the norm .
What is a hernia?
A hernia is a small sac that protrudes through the muscles of the abdominal wall and contains some of the contents of the abdominal cavity , mainly the intestines or fatty tissue. The hernia sac itself is made of the covering layer of the abdominal cavity or the peritoneum (a thin membrane covering the intestinal cavity).
