The estimates of the incidence of hernia mesh vary widely from 5% to 30%. We have concluded that the actual incidence of hernia mesh pain is overall 20% and the incidence of mesh pain severe enough to inhibit activity is 5%.
The primary cause of hernia mesh pain is the reaction of our innate immune system to a foreign body, the foreign body reaction which is chronic inflammation. There are other ways mesh causes pain such as migration, contraction into a meshoma and invasion of nearby viscera and nerves. This premise explain why mesh explant is the only truly effective treatment for hernia mesh pain.