On rare occasions when the diagnosis is difficult to make then a CT Scan can be helpful. How much pain should I expect after a hernia repair: Pain after a hernia operation is a common occurrence. When a inguinal hernia is repaired a patient should expect to have two to three days of discomfort and pain.Obviously it is a subjective issue and every patient will experience a different level of pain.n rare occasions when the diagnosis is difficult to make then a CT Scan can be helpful. How much pain should I expect after a hernia repair: Pain after a hernia operation is a common occurrence. When a inguinal hernia is repaired a patient should expect to have two to three days of discomfort and pain.