Hernia Mesh Complications Can Also Cause Mental and Emotional Issues

Today, hernia mesh manufacturers such as Johnson & Johnson, Atrium, Covidien, and C.R. Bard, Inc., are the target of thousands of lawsuits because of medical complications that occurred after hernia mesh implant surgery. These infections can include extreme pain, infection, recurrence of hernia, organ perforation, nerve damage, and mesh shrinkage or migration—potentially plaguing patients for years if not a lifetime. The number of lawsuits alleging injury due to such issues continues to mount. As an example, more than 50 pending Bard hernia mesh lawsuits were recently centralized into the Southern District Court of Ohio, a transfer you can read about in more detail with this recent update.

A hernia occurs when an organ pushes through a weakened or hole-filled muscular wall and forms an often painful and uncomfortable bulge. Hernias can develop in multiple parts of the body including but not limited to the groin, and abdomen. While surgical mesh has been used in over 90 percent of hernia repairs since the start of the 21st century, their wide acceptance has not been without complications, failures and other detriments to patients’ quality of life.

Most notably, such issues can have a negative impact on patients’ psychosocial well-being—in other words, the challenges that come with post-operative medical complications may be a factor that leads to depression, anxiety, and other symptoms of mental distress in patients. Combined with physical complications, this decrease in mental well-being can not only add to one’s suffering but prolong recovery.

One Florida man has experienced this decrease in quality of life first hand. This April, David Israel, 69, filed a lawsuit against C.R. Bard, Inc., after he became unable to do many of the activities he loves due to the complications that arose after his hernia mesh repair surgery. While before the surgery he enjoyed cycling, exercising, fishing, and gardening during his free time, the lethargy and severe pain that resulted from the surgery prevents him from doing any of these activities today. His emotional and physical relationship with his wife suffered as well.

This problem is not exclusive to the United States, either. In Canada, 61-year-old Francine Wright spent many days bedridden in agonizing abdominal pain within months after her hernia mesh implantation—a troubling state which led Wright to consider committing suicide multiple times. Another woman, Debbie Van Dyk, has been dealing with pain from her hernia mesh repair for over 12 years. Because of this, Dyk has spiraled into a severe case of depression and suicidal thoughts, commenting that: “I have no life and I don’t want to be here anymore. I have tried to end my life a few times—quite a few times.”

There is no reason for so many patients to be struggling with long-term physical and emotional complications due to a minor surgery like hernia mesh repair. Our law firm of Childers, Schlueter, & Smith is well-versed in drug and medical device litigation and might be able to help you or a family member who is suffering due to complications caused by a hernia mesh. If you have questions, please give us a call at 1-800-641-0098. All initial inquiries are free of charge and without obligation.