After undergoing hernia surgery, patients can expect to be given pain medications and fluids; feel tired after doing activities; and have to move gently and slowly while performing basic tasks such as walking and eating, according to MedlinePlus. Some patients can go home the day of the surgery.
Getting enough rest the first two or three days after surgery is important for patients once they go home, notes MedlinePlus. A narcotic prescription medicine or an over-the-counter drug, such as ibuprofen, can be given to manage the patient's pain. The patient can also expect to take care of the incision by keeping on the bandage or applying an antibiotic ointment to the wound. Patients should limit lifting and swimming and not perform strenuous exercise. They should clean the area around the incision with a damp cloth once the stitches are gone, but they are not allowed to take a bath for at least one week after the surgery.
Patients should drink plenty of fluids and eat a diet rich in fiber and vegetables because pain medications can cause constipation, according to Your Hernia from Covidien. Although some people can go back to work within a week after they undergo hernia surgery, the anesthesia used during the surgery and the prescribed pain medications can impact their driving and work performance.
