Abdominal Mesh Recipient has More Pain after Hernia Surgery

Brady, TX”If you ever get a hernia, don’t get the kind of abdominal mesh I have,” says Kade. “It’s hard to wrap my head around the fact that I went to the hospital to get something fixed and came out hurting more.”

Kade had abdominal mesh surgery to repair a double hernia and a torn groin muscle about two years ago and has been in severe pain ever since. His surgeon said there was a lot of mesh required but he would be able to swing the golf club again in about six weeks.

“It took me a year to get back to my doctor and ask him what is going on,” says Kade. “Why hasn’t it healed? He checked me out and everything seemed fine so I left his office perplexed. I got home and told my wife, who is a registered nurse, that something isn’t right and it just got worse.”

Kade saw his doctor again. This time he was told that there is a slight chance something could go wrong with an inguinal hernia, which occurs in the groin and is the most common hernia. The nerve could have been damaged so Kade was referred to a pain clinic where they singed the nerve. It helped temporarily but after three treatments he says it doesn’t help at all anymore.

“My doctor told me that this mesh would likely prevent me from having another hernia—I’m (or was) very active so this was good news,” Kade says. “Before having the surgery he went over some issues that could happen and I asked him if this was the same mesh as the transvaginal mesh and we had a good laugh over that. But it’s not funny now. I have learned a grave lesson—research these kinds of hernia mesh first. It wasn’t until after my surgery that I read about abdominal mesh lawsuits and that they could even surpass the transvaginal mesh complaints.”

Once Kade researched the abdominal mesh side effects online, he felt reassured knowing he isn’t the only “poor son of a gun” but sad knowing how many others are suffering.

“Talking to you right now I am in a lot of pain, I’m not comfy at all,” says Kade. “I never had sympathy for people who got depressed with chronic pain but now I understand. There are times when I think cannot do this anymore. I can handle a lot of pain but when it doesn’t go away it drives you insane.”

And Kade has suffered financially. He runs a Ford dealership and describes himself as “ultra-competitive” but he has lost that successful edge. His doctor suggested pain meds but Kade says that isn’t going to fix his problem.

“I’m 45 years old and don’t want to get addicted to pills, but I don’t know what else to do, where to turn. I get angry and don’t know what to demand, what I need. My doctor is a good guy but I have to see someone else. I don’t know if this is his mistake or that the mesh is defective. To be honest, I would sell my kidney to get even partial relief from this hernia mesh.

I didn’t realize how serious abdominal mesh complications can be but now I hear that some people have died from a torn bowel after hernia mesh surgery. I am not greedy or litigious but I have to look out for my family. I may not have a case but I have to pursue a claim to do my family justice.”

Many hernia mesh lawsuits have been filed against different mesh manufacturers. As Kade said, he isn’t alone. Plaintiffs say in their complaints that hernia mesh has "numerous defects that create a high risk of unreasonable and dangerous injuries and side effects with severe permanent adverse health consequences."