A hernia is a painful protrusion in your abdominal wall. A hernia occurs when an organ protrudes through a tear or weak point in your abdominal wall. If you think you have a hernia, then you need to examine some of the hernia symptoms.
Key Points
- A hernia can occur at any age, in either gender. Groin hernias are much more common in men than women.
- One of the most common symptoms of a hernia is a tender bulge or lump.
- If you experience vomiting, severe pain, or constipation, this could indicate a severe hernia. This is a medical emergency; go to the emergency room as soon as possible.
Hernia Causes and Symptoms
A hernia can occur in any person of any age, but there are people more susceptible to hernias. This includes those with a family history of hernias. If you have a chronic cough, chronic constipation, or an enlarged prostate, you are susceptible to a hernia. If you are doing anything that puts a strain on your abdomen area, you are susceptible to developing a hernia. If you do a large amount of bending, lifting or straining, you can develop or increase the size of an existing hernia.
One of the most common signs of a hernia is a tender bulge or lump in your groin or scrotum area. In children, the bulge or lump may not be tender and, in fact, it may be partially hidden. Another of the hernia symptoms is discomfort in your groin or pain in your groin that seems to be aggravated by bending, lifting or straining your body.
If you experience severe hernia symptoms, you need to visit the emergency room. Severe hernia symptoms include vomiting, constipation, and shooting pain. Keep in mind that constipation alone may not be indicative of a severe hernia, but it can worsen an existing hernia.
There is an assumption that only men can get groin hernias. This is not true. Hernias can appear in both men and women, including groin hernias. Groin hernias are, however, much less common in women.
If you think you have a hernia after looking at these hernia symptoms, then you should visit your physician as soon as possible to have an examination. The longer you wait, the more complications there are that can develop and treatment becomes more difficult.
What is My Prognosis With a Hernia?
Treatment generally involves surgery to repair the hernia. Surgery is generally minimal and is performed as an outpatient procedure. Patients can resume regular activity after two weeks. In some cases, open surgery may need to be performed. If this occurs, it is an inpatient procedure. Recovery will take four to six weeks.
It is important that you don't ignore your hernia symptoms. While nobody wants to have surgery, a hernia that is left untreated can become a medical emergency, as we discussed above. A severe hernia that goes without treatment can cause sepsis and severe inflammation in the intestine, both of which are life-threatening.
Hernias will never go away on their own. In some cases, your doctor may choose to not repair a small hernia. Instead, they will ask you to monitor it, and to call if symptoms get worse. You may be able to live with a hernia for months or years before it needs treatment. However, it is still important to talk to your doctor if you have one. Your doctor is the only individual qualified to tell you whether your hernia needs surgery or not. Don't try to make that decision yourself.
Do not take the content of this article as professional medical advice. It's important to exercise due diligence when obtaining relevant information in matters pertaining to your health. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any medical decisions.