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Tag: Dr. Ken Cutshall

Is Hernia Surgery Necessary?

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Having a hernia can have a dramatic effect on your lifestyle. Some can be without any symptoms and others can be extremely painful, and there is no way to predict how one will affect you. The surgeons of Premier Surgical Lawson Group in Johnson City, TN, offer some tips for when to have hernia surgery as well as considering whether if hernia surgery is necessary.

Is It OK to Put Off Hernia Treatment?

We all have those things we think we can put on the back burner for a while. As long as there are no serious consequences, we figure it’s OK. Putting off a hernia surgery MAY be OK for a while, but that decision must be made in consultation with an experienced hernia surgeon like the ones with sur

Here are the facts:

  • Hernias do not repair themselves.
  • Hernias will not just go away on their own.
  • Waiting too long can sometimes cause a medical emergency.
  • It is better to take control and choose the time for surgical repair that fits into your schedule, and find an excellent surgeon.

What About The “Wait And See” Approach?

Your Premier Surgical Lawson Group physician may suggest this if your hernia is small, and you are not experiencing any symptoms. If it is not affecting your life activities, and you are able to push it back in place with no problems, this “watchful waiting” approach may be recommended. It is important that you stay in touch with your doctor on a regular basis. Any changes or increased symptoms should be reported immediately.

Larger hernias may not need to be repaired immediately.

There are certain situations where your doctor may advise not to perform surgery or to put it off. It may be because the patient’s age and health conditions make it too risky to do surgery.

How Do I Know If Hernia Surgery Is Necessary?woman with hernia pain.

It is necessary and time to have hernia surgery under the following conditions:

  • When you have consistent pain
  • When the hernia is growing larger
  • When you are having trouble with everyday activities
  • Waiting too long can cause two serious situations: incarceration and strangulation.

Incarceration happens when the tissue gets trapped and you can’t push it back into your abdomen. This can lead to bowel obstruction and surgery must be performed as soon as possible.

Strangulation is a medical emergency. The blood supply is cut off to part of the intestine. Symptoms of this complication include: fever, intense pain, nausea, the bulge turns purple or red, and you cannot move your bowels.

The Bottom Line

You may not need to have surgery immediately, but eventually you will. Don’t procrastinate so long that surgery becomes an emergency.

Contact Premier Surgical Lawson Group in Tri Cities at (423) 975-5650 for an evaluation and whether you need to have hernia surgery sooner rather than later—and why.

Sources:

Does A Hernia Always Need to Be Repaired? (minimallyinvasivesurgeryfl.com)

Hernia Surgery: Types, What To Expect, Recovery & Complications (clevelandclinic.org)

Do You Need Hernia Surgery? Look For These Symptoms. (conwaymedicalcenter.com)

General Surgery: A Cutshall Family Affair

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During his five years of training of as a General Surgery Resident, Dr. Michael Cutshall encountered many difficult and nerve-wracking surgical cases, but none of those situations made him as nervous as performing a simple hernia repair with longtime General Surgeon Dr. Ken Cutshall.

“The first time I ever scrubbed in with him was the most nervous I’ve ever been while operating. My hands were shaking,” Michael remembers. ”I wanted Dad to be proud.”

Father and son enjoy teaming up on surgery cases.

Father That simple hernia repair marked the first time Michael and his father Kenneth shared an operating room together. It was the culmination of the young Dr. Cutshall’s dream.

“When I decided to become a general surgeon, my dream was to move back home and work with my father.”

Dr. Michael Cutshall recently returned to his hometown of Johnson City, TN, to join Premier Surgical Lawson Group, his father, Dr. Ken Cutshall’s medical practice.

While the senior Cutshall is delighted to have Michael follow in his footsteps, he didn’t want him to feel obligated to become a surgeon.

“When he said he was going into surgery, I said ‘Are you sure?”, explains Ken. “I told him, make sure you pick something that makes it fun going to work every day. Don’t pick a career for any other reason than you enjoy doing it.”

Michael says seeing his father’s love of medicine influenced his own decision to go into medicine.  “It was definitely a driving factor. I would visit my dad’s office as a kid and remember him genuinely enjoying his work.”

The father and son’s personal and professional lives share several parallels.

“We’ve had a similar path,” says Michael. “I went to the same medical school as my father, my wife is a nurse and worked at the same children’s hospital that my mother did while I was in medical school, and our two sons were born while I was in residency like my brother and I were when Dad was a resident.”

General Surgeons Drs. Ken and Michael Cutshall

The pair has enjoyed teaming up on cases and sharing surgical techniques. Michael says he’s also learned some important life skills from his dad.  “He raised me to treat everyone with respect, and now I’m seeing firsthand how he works with the OR team and how much they enjoy working with him.”

The senior Dr. Cutshall says he’s also learning new surgery methods from Michael. The  first time operating with his son was an exciting milestone. “It was awesome! It was the first time I’ve ever had anyone in the OR say, ‘Hey, Dad!’ That was pretty cool.”

Drs. Ken and Michael Cutshall are general surgeons with Premier Surgical Lawson Group in Johnson City, TN. To schedule an appointment with Drs. Cutshall or one of their partners, please call (423) 975-5650.