It has been reported that men are experiencing chronic pain following surgery to repair hernias using a mesh implant.
A hernia occurs when an internal part of the body pushes through a weakness in the muscle or surrounding tissue wall. Usually, a hernia will develop between your chest and hips and in many cases it will cause no or very few symptoms, however there can sometimes be swelling or a lump in the abdomen or groin. The lump can often be pushed back in or disappears when lying down, whereas coughing or straining can make the lump appear.
It is common for hernias to be repaired using a surgical mesh; around one million meshes are used in repair surgery worldwide each year. Under local anaesthetic, a small incision is made above the hernia and the lump is returned to where it belongs. The repair is achieved by placing a piece of fine, sterile mesh over the opening in the tissue. This is held firmly in place and the outer incision is then closed.
Recently, a group of men in Northern Ireland have spoken out after suffering from consistent pain after having mesh inserted to repair their hernias. They are currently trying to prevent use of the mesh material until further information is obtained regarding its use.
In June of this year, a group of women started legal action after they had been left in extreme pain following the insertion of vaginal mesh implants. According to the BBC, it’s estimated that more than 20,000 women in Scotland have had these implants over the past 20 years, with some experiencing complications following surgery. In 2014, Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil requested a suspension of the use of mesh implants by the NHS in Scotland, pending safety investigations. Despite the Scottish Government’s request, 404 women have since received mesh and tape implants.
Hundreds of women are now seeking compensation, with claims already settled in England relating to the use of the mesh without full consent.
Peter Jones, formal general surgeon, stated earlier this year that severe pain is a common problem, with patients not being warned about complications following surgery. He is of the view that claims from men experiencing pain could also be brought forward.
If you are experiencing pain following the use of a mesh implant during surgery please get in touch with our specialist medical negligence team who will be happy to help you.
