What does a hernia lump look like?

The hernia will look like a bulge or bump in the scrotum or groin region. Standing or bearing down with force will often make the bulge more noticeable. The bulge typically takes time to appear, but it can form suddenly after coughing, lifting heavy weights, straining, bending, or laughing.

What does a hernia lump feel like?

A person with an inguinal hernia may notice: pain when coughing, bending over, or lifting something. a burning or aching sensation where the lump has developed. a feeling of heaviness or weakness in the abdomen.

How do I know if I have a hernia lump?

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.

Is a hernia hard or soft to the touch?

If you have a hernia, you'll probably notice a soft bump under the skin near your groin or abdomen. This bump might feel tender and squishy to the touch, and it may (or may not) disappear when you lie down. Hernias can be either relatively painless or almost excruciating.

How big is the lump for a hernia?

These hernias are often so small that they may go unnoticed. Umbilical hernia — Intestine or fat bulges through the abdominal wall under the navel. The area of weakness in the abdominal wall can be very small (less than half an inch) or it can be as large as 2 to 3 inches.

What Is a Hernia and How Is One Repaired?

What can be mistaken for a hernia?

(SLS). Hernias can go misdiagnosed in women, and can instead be thought to be ovarian cysts, fibroids, endometriosis, or other abdominal issues, according to the SLS. Women's hernias can be small and internal. They might not be a bulge that can be felt in an exam or be visible outside the body, according to the SLS.

Where would a hernia lump be?

A hernia in the abdomen or groin can produce a noticeable lump or bulge that can be pushed back in, or that can disappear when lying down. Laughing, crying, coughing, straining during a bowel movement, or physical activity may make the lump reappear after it has been pushed in.

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.

What happens if a hernia is left untreated?

“Hernias cannot heal on their own — if left untreated, they usually get bigger and more painful, and can cause serious health risks in some cases.” If the wall through which the intestine is protruding closes shut, it can cause a strangulated hernia, which cuts off blood flow to the bowel.

What does a hernia look like on a woman?

Hernias often look like a bulge or swelling under the skin. There are many different types of hernia. Most of the time, they are not serious, but some hernias require surgery. A hernia occurs when part of an internal organ pushes through the muscle or tissue of its normal location.

Does a hernia hurt if you push on it?

Symptoms of inguinal hernia include: a bulge that can ache or burn in the area that hurts; if you push on the bulge while laying down, you can usually make it go away. bending over, coughing and lifting cause pain in the area. your abdomen can feel heavy and weak or you can even feel pressure.

Can a hernia go away on its own?

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.

What is the main cause of hernia?

Ultimately, all hernias are caused by a combination of pressure and an opening or weakness of muscle or fascia; the pressure pushes an organ or tissue through the opening or weak spot. Sometimes the muscle weakness is present at birth; more often, it occurs later in life.

Can a hernia lump be hard?

If your hernia bulges becomes hard and irreducible, see a doctor immediately. A hard, irreducible hernia bulge signals that the hernia has become trapped outside the abdominal wall. A trapped, or incarcerated, hernia can be life-threatening if left untreated.

Can you feel hernia under skin?

A hernia occurs when part of a tissue or internal organ, such as the intestine, pushes through a weak spot, or hole, in the muscle and tissue that surround it. Basically, what's supposed to be inside your body is now poking toward the outside, and you can feel and see a bulge beneath the skin.

Are hernias lumpy?

A hernia causes the majority of lumps in the abdomen. Hernias often appear after you have strained your abdominal muscles by lifting something heavy, coughing for a long period, or being constipated. There are several types of hernias. Three kinds of hernias can produce a noticeable lump.

Can a hernia make your stomach big?

While a hernia may start out as a harmless bulge, it can get bigger and start to hurt. In some cases, it can even be life-threatening. So even if it doesn't seem like a big deal, it's best to see your doctor if you have symptoms of a hernia, like a lump or bulge you can't explain.

When is a hernia an emergency?

Symptoms of a hernia in need of emergency treatment include: Severe pain, swelling or redness at the hernia site. Hernia bulge growing quickly. Nausea and/or vomiting.

Should you push a hernia back in?

You cannot push the hernia back into place with gentle pressure when you are lying down. The area over the hernia turns red or becomes tender.

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 do I know if my hernia is getting worse?

1. Sudden or worsening pain. Some hernias cause pain or sensations like aching, heaviness, or weakness. If you notice sudden pain or pain that's gotten significantly worse, it could be a sign of a severe hernia complication called strangulation.

Can a hernia turn into a tumor?

An inguinal hernia is a common disease; however, a malignant tumor within the inguinal hernia sac is rare. An inguinal hernia associated with perforated sigmoid colon cancer is extremely rare, and the treatment of this condition is challenging.

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.

How can you tell a hernia from a pulled muscle?

Feelings of dull aching and pain in the groin area are common for both a muscle strain and a hernia. A key indicator that you may have a hernia, however, is if you have a small bulge or lump on one side of the groin. This is the result of an area of tissue or organ pushing through the groin or abdominal muscle.

How long can you wait to have hernia surgery?

Many people are able to delay surgery for months or even years. And some people may never need surgery for a small hernia. If the hernia is small and you don't have any symptoms, or if the symptoms don't bother you much, you and your doctor may simply continue to watch for symptoms to occur.