Exercising with a hernia in the groin?

I went to my doctor today, and he suspects I have a hernia in the right side of my groin. He says that it's a very small one and it's no big deal, as there is not even a bulge, but he told me not to lift any weights or it will get worse. As I am a gym-enthusiast, I would rather not take his advice and continue to live my pro-exercise lifestyle.

Does anyone here live with a minor hernia? Has anyone received surgery on one, and continued to work out after it has healed? I have a feeling that I am going to eventually make my hernia worse, where I will need to get the surgery. I am just hoping that once the surgery is done on it, I will be able to continue my exercise lifestyle as I did before.

Just say I do get the surgery. I heard that the surgery will only heal the aches and pains. It won't actually prevent me from aggrevating the hernia. Is this true?

Once you have surgery, you'll have to take it easy for a couple of months and then you'll be able to workout again. I had one and got surgery, now I am just fine.

Unfortunately, as it stands you are going to have to take it easy or you will require surgery. It will get worse.

it may just take one surgery my friend had one and he got surgery so and he only did it once but that's just my advice

personally, i workout the other parts of my body trying not to effect the damaged parts, giving them a few weeks rest and a chance to heal,keeping the rest of your body in tone until you can do the whole thing, give it a two or three week rest,to see if its actually a hernia, of maybe a strain

go ahead and have the surgery. it will only get worse with time, and cramp your active lifestyle. they will put a mesh over the hernia, and sew it into place. just remember that if you ever have another hernia in the same spot, they wont be able to fix it again. they told me that there would not be enough tissue to repair it again. good luck.