How is abdominal hernia diagnosed?

Your doctor will check for a bulge in the groin area. Because standing and coughing can make a hernia more prominent, you'll likely be asked to stand and cough or strain. If the diagnosis isn't readily apparent, your doctor might order an imaging test, such as an abdominal ultrasound, CT scan or MRI.

What are the symptoms of a abdominal hernia?

What is the best test for abdominal hernia?

How serious is an abdominal hernia?

Ventral hernias do not go away or get better on their own and require surgery to repair. In fact, without treatment, ventral hernias can get larger and worsen with time. Untreated hernias can become difficult to repair and can lead to serious complications, such as strangulation of a portion of the intestine.

What can be mistaken for a hernia?

What else can be mistaken for a hernia? While a hernia is the cause for most people who experience lumps in their abdomen, there are several other possibilities such as a hematoma, lipoma, a gynecological issue in women, or an undescended testicle in newborn boys. In rare cases, a lump may indicate a tumor.

How to Know If You Have a Hernia

Do hernias show on CT scans?

Cross-sectional CT scans can show hernias and the contents of the peritoneal sac. More important, CT findings can be used to diagnose unsuspected hernias and to distinguish hernias from masses of the abdominal wall, such as tumors, hematomas, abscesses, undescended testes, and aneurysms.

Can an ultrasound diagnose a hernia?

Sometimes a hernia cannot be diagnosed through a physical exam alone, and other diagnostic tests are needed. Some examples of these include: Ultrasound.

How long can you have a hernia without knowing?

The first sign of a hernia is the hernia itself — that is, the bulge created by the tissue or organ. You might not even notice it, until you do something that increases the pressure within your abdomen, such as coughing, jumping, standing up or straining.

Do abdominal hernias go away?

Hernias don't go away on their own. Only surgery can repair a hernia. Many people are able to delay surgery for months or even years. And some people may never need surgery for a small hernia.

How long can a hernia go untreated?

If this condition is left untreated longer than 6 hours, incarcerated hernia can cut off blood flow to part of the intestine, resulting in strangulated hernia.

Is ultrasound or CT better for hernia?

Each imaging modality has its own privilege. The main advantage of ultrasound is the dynamic ability for assessment, while the main advantage of computed tomography is the multiplanar reformatting, allowing identification and accurate diagnosis of the hernia type, its content, and also the associated complications.

Do hernias show up on xrays?

The abdominal X-ray should not be relied on to detect hernias. If obstruction is suspected the hernial orifices must be examined clinically.

Can a hernia cause gas and bloating?

An inguinal hernia can cause someone to feel like they had an enormous meal when in fact they did not. This very common type of hernia can also make you feel bloated accompanied with pain in the groin and lower abdomen. Some of these easy to miss signs of a hernia can be potentially dangerous if not treated.

When should I be worried about abdominal hernia pain?

Seek immediate care if a hernia bulge turns red, purple or dark or if you notice any other signs or symptoms of a strangulated hernia. See your doctor if you have a painful or noticeable bulge in your groin on either side of your pubic bone.

Where is hernia pain located?

The symptoms that lead most people to the doctor, and eventually a hernia diagnosis, typically include pain in the abdomen, particularly in the groin area. The pain tends to get worse if you sneeze, cough, lift something heavy or strain.

Can CT scan miss hernia?

Ultrasonography and CT do not reliably detect hidden hernias. Patients with clinical suspicion of an inguinal hernia should undergo imaging, with MRI as the most sensitive radiologic examination.

What causes an abdominal hernia?

Inguinal and femoral hernias are due to weakened muscles that may have been present since birth, or are associated with aging and repeated strains on the abdominal and groin areas. Such strain may come from physical exertion, obesity, pregnancy, frequent coughing, or straining on the toilet due to constipation.

How do you tell the difference between a pulled muscle and a hernia?

Physical Lumps and Bumps

When someone experiences a pulled abdominal muscle, there can be inflammation and some swelling, but generally no physically-identifiable marker. A hernia usually causes a noticeable bulge on the surface of the abdomen. This bulge can be painless but change in size with exertion.

How urgent is hernia surgery?

Patients without severe pain can have urgent surgery within a few weeks. Patients with severe pain often need emergency surgery and are best evaluated in an emergency room.

How do doctors evaluate a hernia?

Your doctor will check for a bulge in the groin area. Because standing and coughing can make a hernia more prominent, you'll likely be asked to stand and cough or strain. If the diagnosis isn't readily apparent, your doctor might order an imaging test, such as an abdominal ultrasound, CT scan or MRI.

Does hernia pain come and go?

Hernia symptoms often vary from patient to patient. The most common complaints are pain/discomfort and a bulge or swelling at the site of the hernia. The bulge may be persistent or may go away. It may get bigger over time.

What kind of doctor can diagnose a hernia?

What type of doctor treats hernias? Your primary care provider can diagnose a hernia. In most cases, your doctor will refer you to a general surgeon for a surgery evaluation.

Will a hernia show up on a colonoscopy?

Some clinicians have suggested the presence of a large inguinal hernia is a relative contra-indication to colonoscopy[1]. We suggest that in the event a colonoscopy is clinically necessary prior to repair of moderate to large inguinal hernia, the option of computerized tomography colonoscopy be explored.

Do hernias make you tired?

You may also feel tired and have less energy than normal. This is common. You should feel better after a few days and will probably feel much better in 7 days. For several weeks you may feel discomfort or pulling in the hernia repair when you move.

Can a hernia cause acid reflux?

The hernia itself can play a role in the development of both acid reflux and a chronic form of acid reflux called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Hiatal hernias can require a variety of treatments, ranging from watchful waiting in mild cases to surgery in severe cases.