Other/Mixed Umbilical hernia and kettlebell training

[Dimitri87]

Hi Guys, this is my first post on the strong first forum . I trained with a kettlebell for aroud 5 years now, but only known StrongFirst since last summer.
I've read the Simple & Sinister(Revised version) and Enter the Kettlebell books and am reading the Quick and Dead at this moment. For my training I was working my way through Simple & Sinister. I was completing the training at 24kg and planning on increasing the weight within a couple of weeks. After Simple is reached the Simple goal. After that I wasn't quite sure to start RoP of Q&D. I had some time to think this through before reaching Simple .
Sad thing is I hurt my back around 6 couple of weeks ago. The doctor said I was due to long days of sitting. For around 6 weeks I visited a physical therapist and only did some light mobility work. No training with kettlebells. Around the end of the 6th week, I noticed a pain in my belly button. Turns out I also have an umbilical hernia. Only it's not severe enough for surgery. So the advice the doctor has given me is, to be carefull with lifting heavy things. But on the other hand, I got the pain when I wasn't training with kettlebells, so that probably wasn't the cause (great chance I have it since birth but only now got a pain because of something). So I can try if the pain doesn't come back. And if it gets worse, I should call back and then we look if surgery is needed.
I was thinking starting back with S&S at 16kg, because it had already been 8 weeks since I last did a S&S training and I have to get back into it, also with my back. But maybe jump back up a bit faster if my body allows it.
Has any of you got any experience training with an umbilical hernia and are there some point I should be carefull with, or maybe exercises I should avoid?
Thanks for the reactions.

 

[Pete S]

I have an umbilical hernia as well. There were times when I had to push the guts back in a bit when they seemed to be coming out. The doctor also noted no need for surgery unless it got worse. However, the problem resolved dramatically when I lost weight around my gut. The hernia seems to have become smaller than before the weight loss. "Long days of sitting" can also affect your midsection. I do not change any exercises or methods because of it. Follow what the doctor tells you.

 

[Alexander Halford]

However, the problem resolved dramatically when I lost weight around my gut.

Second that. One of the best solutions - lose weight, strengthen abs.
I don’t think it's a problem to train regularly with umbilical hernia. I did a lot of heavy work with one before surgery, and after as well. If I'd follow what doctor told me, I'd never lift any heavy stuff. So I take doctors advices with a big grain of salt. I'm not telling to do as I do necessarily, but specialist in sports medicine will give you much more fair perspective than regular family doctor, which will always go on a safe side.
However, I also don't think that pain in the belly button is a not enough good reason for surgery. Next round of pain can be sharper, and you might end in emergency.

 

[Dimitri87]

Thank you for the replies.
The advice of the doktor didn't feel right. On the one hand 'it's not severe enough for surgery' on the other hand 'As long as you don't get surgery you can't lift heavy or train like you want to do'. So if I don't lift heavy, maybe it never gets worse, so they never plan surgery and I'll never lift kettlebells again which I like to do.
I plan on starting S&S again the coming week. I will start back at 16kg again and hope I will be able to build up again to 24k and beyond.

 

[frosty]

Howdy How did you get on with training? I'm in the exact same boat - it is so small and not painful but I'm worried that ill do a swing and it will explode!

 

[Kev]

Hi Guys, this is my first post on the strong first forum . I trained with a kettlebell for aroud 5 years now, but only known StrongFirst since last summer.
I've read the Simple & Sinister(Revised version) and Enter the Kettlebell books and am reading the Quick and Dead at this moment. For my training I was working my way through Simple & Sinister. I was completing the training at 24kg and planning on increasing the weight within a couple of weeks. After Simple is reached the Simple goal. After that I wasn't quite sure to start RoP of Q&D. I had some time to think this through before reaching Simple .
Sad thing is I hurt my back around 6 couple of weeks ago. The doctor said I was due to long days of sitting. For around 6 weeks I visited a physical therapist and only did some light mobility work. No training with kettlebells. Around the end of the 6th week, I noticed a pain in my belly button. Turns out I also have an umbilical hernia. Only it's not severe enough for surgery. So the advice the doctor has given me is, to be carefull with lifting heavy things. But on the other hand, I got the pain when I wasn't training with kettlebells, so that probably wasn't the cause (great chance I have it since birth but only now got a pain because of something). So I can try if the pain doesn't come back. And if it gets worse, I should call back and then we look if surgery is needed.
I was thinking starting back with S&S at 16kg, because it had already been 8 weeks since I last did a S&S training and I have to get back into it, also with my back. But maybe jump back up a bit faster if my body allows it.
Has any of you got any experience training with an umbilical hernia and are there some point I should be carefull with, or maybe exercises I should avoid?
Thanks for the reactions.

Had one for 3 years now. I am routinely swinging a 56kg kettlebell and I can complete simple at will. The only thing that messes with my hernia is a big sneeze after eating a few sandwiches and doing dbl rack squats. Been told surgery not necessary by 2 different consultants. I have got into callisthenics in a big way, can press dbl 32kgs, press a 40kg, hold front levers, do Lsits, handstand push-ups, chin-ups regular and using a wad of climbing implements for grip strength. I’m mentioning all this not to boast but really to highlight that yes, after discovering it and not going near barbell squats and deadlifts and being sad about it/depressed…… I’m now having more fun in my training and it hasn’t slowed me down at all frankly. I just have to listen to my body and I’m absolutely fine in my training. I aim to get it repaired eventually as I’m 42 now and would rather I got it fixed while I still recover well and I’m not going to get flabby. Keep at it man and don’t think you are out the fight. I also manage judo with this thing.

 

[Kev]

Howdy How did you get on with training? I'm in the exact same boat - it is so small and not painful but I'm worried that ill do a swing and it will explode!

I have one and I swing with gusto. Completed Dan John’s 10,000 swing challenge twice since discovering it using descending weight pyramid 40kg, 32kg, 25kg (don’t own 24kg) and 20kg. The only thing I can’t do are rack squats and that’s purely a case of it just doesn’t feel right. Probably if I drop a bit more flab this would be less of an issue. Vacuums have helped it too. I can even do toe to bars with it, L sits and planks and levers etc etc etc. You aren’t out the fight. Just listen to your body and work around it.

 

[Luis T. Gonzalez]

Personally, I have an umbilical hernia as well. It really only hurts me if someone pokes me straight in the belly button. I wouldn’t ignore your doctors recommendations. Maybe start lighter than you think you should and build from there. Its better to take a couple steps back by your own good judgement than to take fifty back because of bad judgement. As long as you train you will get stronger and fitter so take your time and get in more practice than workouts.

 

[Dimitri87]

Howdy How did you get on with training? I'm in the exact same boat - it is so small and not painful but I'm worried that ill do a swing and it will explode!

I changed back to regular S&S (so no Clean & Press and reverse Get-up) and I added in the Fighter Pull up Program. I made this change because I wanted to get better at pull ups and this was too much on my grip in one session with the Clean & Press added in.
I'm now working S&S with 1 set on 32 kg and 4 sets on 24kg. So far I've had zero issues with my Umbilical Hernia. No pain at all. In fact, it even got a bit smaller. Probably because I lost some fat.
Like other said: Listen to your body, but you're certainly not out of the game.

 

[ali]

Had one too. The advice was just to keep a watchful eye on it, if it got worse...popped out more often or in more dramatic change or any pain....to contact them whilst I waited surgery. Carried on training, at the time lighter kbz than now, bodyweight and running. Op was fine, couple weeks of no exertion and gradual return., no drama. No issues at all since other than a smiley face belly button.
Go with medical advice. And absolutely stop if it changes and absolutely seek attention if it does.

 

[Ozark]

In my opinion if you can see it and feel it it needs to be fixed. Your risk for strangulation of the bowel is high due to the abs involved with KB's. Just my 2 cents worth but a strangulated hernia is a medical emergency and no joke.

 

[Kev]

I changed back to regular S&S (so no Clean & Press and reverse Get-up) and I added in the Fighter Pull up Program. I made this change because I wanted to get better at pull ups and this was too much on my grip in one session with the Clean & Press added in.
I'm now working S&S with 1 set on 32 kg and 4 sets on 24kg. So far I've had zero issues with my Umbilical Hernia. No pain at all. In fact, it even got a bit smaller. Probably because I lost some fat.
Like other said: Listen to your body, but you're certainly not out of the game.

I just remembered. A lot of grip work kinda shifts the need to rely on internal pressure. I know this sounds crazy and know internal pressure etc is a key strongfirst principle but I definitely feel a lot of grip work does change the emphasis. That’s a Kevism and I don’t doubt there’s a million ways I could be wrong but it’s what I’ve experienced.

 

[DocMike]

I have had mine for 5years. I do both heavy KB work and am a competitive powerlifter. Also a doc. If it is not getting larger or causing pain and it goes away when lying flat on back or can be pushed back in you are fine. It will not explode but if it ever fails to reduce you go get seen immediately, like ER immediately