David Monk is passionate about sports—from being a triathlete to competing in skiing and even auto racing. But three years ago, the Voorhees resident was sidelined by sharp pains in his upper left thigh.

He scaled back on exercise, hoping he had a muscle strain that would heal over time. After several months, though, he saw no improvement. The intense discomfort kept him from his favorite activities.

“Every time I engaged my core, I had pain,” recalled David, a tech entrepreneur. “The biggest thing that affected me was not being able to play with my son Aston, who was 3 at the time. I couldn’t pick him up. I couldn’t run around or wrestle with him. After a while, he stopped asking because I’d always say no.”

So, David turned to Virtua, where tests revealed an inguinal hernia. That’s when tissue inside the abdomen bulges through a weak part of the abdominal wall, on either side of the groin.

“A hernia won’t get better on its own, and will often worsen,” said Virtua surgeon Craig Zaretsky, MD. “Left untreated, it can develop complications that require emergency surgery.”

Bouncing Back

The good news is, robotic-assisted hernia repair can quicky fix the problem, with minimal pain and downtime. It’s used for hernias in other areas, too, including the upper abdomen (hiatal) and belly button (umbilical). The procedure gives people their life back, said Dr. Zaretsky.

“It enables greater precision than other types of surgery,” he explained. “It uses small incisions, so recovery is faster and there’s less chance of infection. The rate of recurrence is also lower than with traditional surgery.”

After Dr. Zaretsky repaired David’s hernia robotically in October 2021, the dedicated athlete soon returned to his favorite sports, including running, swimming, and biking, as well as his after-school rituals of dancing and roughhousing with Aston.

The entire family, including wife Allegra Cohen-David, a mindset coach, and his two college-age children, likes being active together.

“We go ice skating and play soccer and tennis,” said David. “On weekends, we use our home gym together.”

A Smooth Journey

Virtua has extensive experience in robotic-assisted procedures, with 90% of hernia-repair patients going home the same day.

“I walked out of the hospital with no problem, and I felt fine within two or three days,” David recalled. “After a month, I could do anything.”

David credits the Virtua team for putting him and his family at ease.

“Virtua’s prep and follow-up were amazing. They called me before and afterward. They communicated with my wife while I was in the hospital, so she was less anxious,” he added.

David urges other hernia patients not to delay treatment.

“Quality of life is important, so don’t put it off,” he advised. “Freedom of movement is wonderful. It’s the biggest gift I got back from surgery.”

Is Hernia Pain Holding You Back?

If you know or suspect you have a hernia, the right care can get you back in action. Find a Virtua surgeon specializing in hernia repair near you.