“I just can’t do that anymore”: a qualitative exploration of symptoms and function in patients living with abdominal wall hernia (AWH)

AWH imposes a diffuse, dynamic and difficult burden on patients' bodies and lives, extending far beyond the anatomical boundaries typically measured in clinical practice. Participants described a constellation of physical symptoms, including pain, visceral discomfort, and movement restriction. Our findings highlight that functional limitation in AWH is a biopsychosocial phenomenon. These experiences resonate with pain-psychology frameworks and demonstrate the limitations of reductionist surgical assessments. Effective interventions must match the complexity of lived experience, combining surgical, psychological, and rehabilitative strategies.