Unfortunately, lingering pain or burning sensationsin surgical scars are not very uncommon following hernia operations. Although I cannot offer specific diagnoses to patients over the Internet, the symptoms that you describe suggest the possibility that you may have some abnormal sensory nerve healing within the incision. Such nerves can be traumatized during the actual operation, or they may become entrapped in dense scar tissue (or sutures) as the incision heals. When this happens, the nerve(s) may undergo changes, including neuroma formation, that can cause prolonged burning or aching pain. (Another possibility that must be excluded is recurrence of the original hernia.)

You should see your surgeon again for an evaluation, He/she may recommend an injection of steroid and anesthetic medication into the scar, for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Rarely, the surgical scar may sometimes have to be excised and reclosed in order to remove the offending nerve (assuming, of course, that there has not been a recurrence of your hernia, which would necessitate another hernia repair operation).

Sincerely/ Robert A. Wascher, MD, FACS