When you have a Femoral Hernia, there is a space (called the femoral canal) next to the main blood vessels in the groin through which the abdominal contents, usually fatty tissue or sometimes even bowel or your bladder, can protrude. This is wider in women and so femoral hernias are more common in women.
Surgery
The aim of the femoral hernia operation is to close the hole / space to prevent the hernia.
During the operation, the surgeon uses a small mesh plug (this looks like a tiny, rolled up umbrella when it comes out of the box) which is placed into the femoral canal and the opening of the canal is closed with a few permanent, strong stitches.
Post-surgery experience
- You will have a bruise. The scar is always numb, and this numbness sometimes goes down the inside of the thigh as well.
- A nerve that runs over the muscles usually is moved during the operation. This will often cause the nerve to “shut down” for a while afterwards. This nerve sends a branch to the inside of the thigh and to the top of the scrotum (in men), so these areas sometimes feel numb, or occasionally over sensitive.
- After the nerve recovers, you will get some odd tingling or shooting pains. These are normal and nothing to worry about.
- The wound may also get swollen, and as the scar tissue forms it can become quite hard and nodular. This always settles down, but it can take a few months.
- The scar itself will fade and go pale over period of several months.