A man from Northern Ireland says hernia mesh nerve pain has ruined his life.

Damian M., a floorer, says his job requires him to be in top shape because of the physical demands of the work. He told the Mirror he had a pelvic hernia that he ignored for quite some time, but the hernia became so bad that he could no longer ride a bicycle. Plus, the hernia was noticeable and appeared terrible.

Damian says he wasn’t in any pain, which was one of the reasons he was able to put off having surgery. He finally opted to have the hernia repaired by a surgeon who recommended surgery using hernia mesh over the area to help reinforce the repaired tissue.

Not long after having the operation, Damian began to hurt. The pain has become indescribable now, he says.

Hernia Mesh Nerve Pain Complications

Damian is one of the thousands of patients who have received hernia mesh implants that caused more problems than they solved.

He said his doctor has told him the mesh has hardened and his tissue has grown through and around the mesh. Damaged nerves are exposed, he says, causing him constant searing pain. Removing the mesh probably isn’t an option. One doctor told Damian it would be like trying to remove gum from hair without causing damage to the hair or to the gum.

Damian has turned to social media for support. He joins fellow sufferers who have fought constant hernia mesh nerve pain, repeat infections, auto-immune system issues, depression and other devastating effects after surgery involving hernia mesh.

Now 44, Damian had hoped to marry and have children, but now he feels he is in no position to be in a relationship. He cannot work a full day because of the pain, and he doesn’t sleep well because he struggles to find a position comfortable enough that allows him to fall asleep.

Hernia Mesh Sufferers

Damian is far from the only person to have suffered from major hernia mesh side effects. In November 2019, more than 600 people shared their stories of hernia mesh complications at a series of forums held by the Ministry of Health in New Zealand.

According to one victim who shared her story at the forum, her injury claim following her hernia mesh surgery was denied for two years. Alison L. claims that following her hernia mesh implantation, she began to experience side effects including nerve pain. Finally, after pleading with her surgeon to remove the mesh that was causing her pain, her doctor agreed to do the surgery. However, she claims that she still suffers from lasting nerve damage, chronic pain, and fatigue.

According to an investigation of hernia mesh recipients by the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire show reported in the BMJ, more than 170,000 patients of the 570,000 in England who received hernia mesh surgery over the past six years might be having complications. The program reported that pain and the inability to sleep has even left some patients feeling suicidal. England, however, does not have a policy to follow up with these patients.

Thousands of patients worldwide have filed hernia mesh lawsuits, alleging companies such as C.R. Bard, Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon and Atrium Medical Corporation knew their hernia mesh materials could cause potentially devastating complications, but touted the products as safe and effective hernia repair options. In the case of C.R. Bard, bellwether trials for Bard’s hernia mesh MDL began this year.

According to the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA), complications from hernia mesh can include:

• Pain
• Infection
• Perforation of surrounding tissue or organs
• Adhesions, which is scar tissue that sticks together
• Seroma, which is a collection of fluid that is not reabsorbed by the body
• Obstruction of the bowels
• Hernia mesh nerve damage
• Hernia recurrence

Symptoms of hernia mesh complications may include inflammation, swelling, or redness surrounding the surgical site, pain or tenderness, fever, flu-like symptoms including nausea and vomiting, abdominal stiffness, and difficulty urinating or passing gas or stool.

Victims who have experienced hernia mesh complications including mesh migration, breakage, or adhesion may require additional surgeries to correct these side effects. However, hernia mesh repair or removal surgeries may be difficult and dangerous. When pieces of mesh break and migrate, they may perforate organs or adhere to them, resulting in multiple small pieces of mesh that may be difficult to find and remove. Even when mesh removal surgeries are successful, patients may still continue to experience side effects from these products.

Although some hernia mesh products have been recalled, other types of hernia mesh that could cause complications remain on the market. If you are not sure of the manufacturer of your hernia mesh product, the surgeon or facility where your procedure was performed should have that information in your medical records.

If you suffered an injury after a procedure using hernia mesh, a specialized mesh lawyer may be able to help you recover your financial losses. Filling out the form on this page will connect you with a hernia mesh attorney who can evaluate your potential case.