Is an abdominal hernia serious?

ANSWER: Abdominal hernias are common and not necessarily dangerous. But, a hernia doesn't usually get better on its own. In rare circumstances, it can lead to life-threatening complications. Consequently, surgery is usually recommended for a hernia that's painful or becoming larger.

When should I be worried about an abdominal hernia?

You should visit a doctor if you notice any unexplained bulges or experience more severe symptoms like hernia pain. They may be able to detect the hernia by performing a physical exam.

Can you live with an abdominal hernia?

Absolutely Yes! If your hernia is not causing pain or discomfort – it is possible to live with your hernia. One must remember that there is a risk of an emergency (incarceration or strangulation) from any hernia. A painless hernia typically (but not always) will start causing discomfort prior to an emergency.

How long can an abdominal 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.

What are the signs of a serious hernia?

What Is a Hernia and How Is One Repaired?

How do you know when a hernia needs surgery?

When does a hernia become an emergency?

Is my hernia a medical emergency? Hernias become a medical emergency if the intestine—or esophagus, in the case of hiatal hernias—becomes trapped or incarcerated, cutting off its own blood supply.

How do you treat an abdominal hernia?

The only way to effectively treat a hernia is through surgical repair. Whether or not you need surgery depends on the size of your hernia and the severity of your symptoms. Your doctor may want to simply monitor your hernia for possible complications. This approach is called watchful waiting.

What does abdominal hernia feel like?

Typically, patients with ventral hernias describe mild pain, aching or a pressure sensation at the site of the hernia. The discomfort worsens with any activity that puts a strain on the abdomen, such as heavy lifting, running or bearing down during bowel movements. Some patients have a bulge but do not have discomfort.

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.

What type of hernia is most severe?

Strangulated hernias are life threatening and require emergency medical care.

Is hernia surgery a major surgery?

Comparing surgical repair options

Open hernia repair is a major surgery that's performed with the aid of general anesthesia or local anesthesia and sedation. It's done through one or two standard-sized incisions (three to six inches in length) that allow the surgeon to fully visualize and access the problematic area.

How long is recovery from hernia surgery?

Open hernia surgery, in which a surgeon utilizes a long incision to push the bulging organ back into place, generally requires a minimum of three weeks to recover. If a laparoscopic hernia repair is performed, recovery is closer to one to two weeks.

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.

What happens if hernia bursts?

Spontaneous rupture of an abdominal hernia is very rare and usually occurs in incisional or recurrent groin hernia. The rupture of abdominal hernia demands emergency surgery, to prevent further obstruction, strangulation of bowel and to cover its contents.

How do I know if my hernia is strangulated?

How is an abdominal hernia diagnosed?

In most cases, your doctor will be able to determine whether you are in fact suffering from a hernia simply by looking and by gently palpating the affected area. If for some reason a diagnosis isn't immediately apparent, your doctor may decide to order an imaging test, such as an abdominal ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI.

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.

What is considered a large hernia?

Large hernia defects are defined in the literature as up to 10 cm in size, but Dr. Ross and his colleagues hypothesized that massive hernia needed a more accurate cutoff size.

Can an abdominal hernia cause bowel problems?

If the contents of the hernia become trapped in the weak point in the abdominal wall, the contents can obstruct the bowel, leading to severe pain, nausea, vomiting, and the inability to have a bowel movement or pass gas.

What should you not do with a hernia?

How do you treat an abdominal hernia without surgery?

A hernia usually does not go away without surgery. Non-surgical approaches such as wearing a corset, binder, or truss may exert gentle pressure on the hernia and keep it in place. These methods may ease the pain or discomfort and may be used if you are not fit for the surgery or awaiting surgery.

What type of hernia requires emergency surgery?

Strangulated hernias, where the tissue stuck in the hernia defect starts to lose blood flow, is an emergency of the highest order. Whether it is intestinal or fat tissue, the contents of the hernia can begin to die within hours of being strangulated.

Should I go to the hospital if I have a hernia?

If the hernia becomes very painful, that can mean the intestine is trapped inside the hernia, cutting off blood flow to the intestine. This is uncommon, but it can be life-threatening and should be repaired immediately. If you develop significant pain, go to the Emergency Department.

How painful is hernia surgery?

Pain: In most cases, the area will be sore as you heal. But some people develop chronic, long-lasting pain after surgery for a groin hernia, for example. Experts think the procedure may damage certain nerves. Laparoscopic surgery may cause less pain than an open procedure.