Hernia recovery time 

In hospital

You will need to rest for the first few days after surgery for hernia treatment. How long you stay in hospital depends on your general health, the kind of anaesthetic used and how well the operation went.

If your surgery went well, you may be able to go home the same day or the following day. If your surgery was more complex (your hernia was strangulated and the bowel was damaged), you may need to stay longer in hospital for observation.

Discharge from hospital

Before being discharged from hospital, a nurse or doctor will explain to you what to expect over the coming days and how to clean and care for your surgical wound.

The stitches used to close the surgical wound are generally absorbable, but if they are not you will be told when you should have them removed. This normally happens around a week or so after surgery and can be done at your GP.

If you have been given a general anaesthetic and may be in some discomfort, you will either need someone to help you get home or make transport arrangements with the hospital beforehand.

You will probably be given a prescription for pain medication after your hernia treatment. You may find that an over-the-counter pain reliever is enough to control the pain, but you should discuss what pain medications are suitable with your consultant or nurse before you leave. Some pain medicines can increase the risk of bleeding.

At home

To minimise your hernia recovery time, you must take things easy for the first couple of days. Only resume normal activities when you feel able.

You should have a pillow or other soft item ready to hold over your abdomen should you sneeze, cough or laugh. These actions will place pressure on the wound and can be very painful. You should not smoke, as this will also cause you to cough. This method will also help with pain when moving from a sitting to a standing position.

Do not put any unnecessary strain on the abdomen. Heavy lifting should be avoided and then gradually built up over the next month or two.

Wear loose and comfortable clothing as this will not press on the wound.

You should try to increase the amount of dietary fibre and fluid in your diet, as this will help avoid constipation and straining when going to the toilet. If you have trouble in passing stools without straining, you can buy mild laxatives over-the-counter.

Returning to work

For most hernia treatment operations, you will need around two weeks off work. If you do a heavy manual job, the amount of time off work needed will be longer.

Driving

You should be able to drive after about two weeks and/ or once you can do an emergency stop comfortably. You should always check your motor insurance before you resume driving after any operation.

Sport

Do not return to sporting activities without consulting your doctor first.