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. If you have an incision that disrupts the abdominal wall, the scar will never be as strong as the original tissue. Pregnancy is a risk factor that makes women more susceptible to developing another type of ventral hernia near the belly button, called an umbilical hernia.
The umbilicus is the thinnest part of the abdominal wall. People often believe that only men get them, and for anatomical reasons, they do have a higher risk. But women can certainly have inguinal hernias, too.
Many experts agree that women are likely underdiagnosed for this condition because they tend to have different symptoms than men. Women may not have a noticeable bulge.
If symptoms indicate a possible hernia but your doctor cannot confirm it by an exam, an MRI can provide definitive evidence. A: Treatment varies depending on the type of hernia, symptoms and the patient's sex. Inguinal hernias in women are more likely to become emergencies. The most common types include:. The most common symptom for an inguinal hernia is a bulge in the groin , which can appear without warning as a result of excess strain, such as:.
These bulges tend to become more visible in an upright position and may cause pain or discomfort in your groin when:. Femoral hernias, especially small- or medium-sized ones, might not present any symptoms. However, larger ones might cause pain or discomfort when standing up, lifting heavy objects, or if they appear in the upper thigh or hip.
For babies with umbilical hernias, the bulge may only appear when crying or coughing. These are usually painless for children, but adult umbilical hernias may cause some discomfort in the abdomen. However, larger ones could result in the opening in your diaphragm also becoming larger, which makes you more susceptible to other organs extending into the chest. This may feel like heartburn. Stomach acid retention may also result in stomach ulcers , which can bleed and lead to low blood counts.
Incisional hernias depend on the size of the incision. They often develop within three weeks to six months after a procedure but can occur at any time. A bulge or protrusion at the site of the incision is the most common symptom but if too much tissue or intestine gets stuck in the weak spot, it can create severe pain when the tissue loses blood supply.
This is a medical emergency and requires immediate care. An incarcerated hernia occurs if the hernia gets trapped in the abdominal wall, which can result in an obstructed bowel or strangulation.
When the hernia is strangulated, it means that blood flow to the intestine has been cut off. This is a life-threatening condition and requires immediate repair. Surgery is the most likely treatment for relieving large or painful hernias.
Your doctor may also recommend surgery as a preventive measure, to ensure there are no complications later on. First Name let us know your preferred name.
Last Name. Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Brooks DC, et al. Classification, clinical features and diagnosis of inguinal and femoral hernias in adults. Accessed Feb. Ramsook C. Overview of inguinal hernia in children. Inguinal hernia child.
Mayo Clinic; Inguinal hernia. Townsend CM Jr, et al. Elsevier; The same is true for exercises that are done improperly. They can work closely with you to let you know which exercises are best for you and how to perform them properly to prevent irritating your hernia. A doctor can assess your hernia and determine the best treatment option. Early medical care and lifestyle changes can minimize symptoms. However, surgery is the only way to effectively treat a hernia. There are different types of hernia repair surgeries, and a surgeon can advise on which one is right for your condition.
The outlook for people who undergo hernia repair surgery is generally very good. However, it can depend on the nature of the hernia, your symptoms, and your overall health.
In some cases, the hernia may recur after repair surgery. If the hernia causes an extra hole in your abdominal wall, they may repair your hernia by sewing the hole in the abdominal wall closed during surgery. This is commonly done by patching the hole with surgical mesh.
For example, this can occur in the space where the esophagus is meant to pass through the diaphragm. In these cases, surgery can be performed to tighten the opening. Hernias can be repaired with either open or laparoscopic surgery. During open surgery, the surgeon makes an incision close to the site of the hernia, and then pushes the bulging tissue back into the abdomen.
They then sew the area shut, sometimes reinforcing it with surgical mesh. Finally, they close the incision. Laparoscopic surgery uses a tiny camera and miniaturized surgical equipment to repair the hernia.
It only requires a few small incisions and is less damaging to the surrounding tissue. Not all hernias are suitable for laparoscopic surgery. If your hernia requires an open surgical repair, your surgeon will work with you to determine which technique is best for your condition. Find out more about inguinal hernia repair. After your surgery, you may experience pain around the surgical site. Your surgeon will prescribe medication to help ease this discomfort while you recover.
Contact them promptly if you notice any signs of infection such as fever, redness or drainage at the site, or pain that suddenly worsens. Following your hernia repair, you may be unable to move around normally for several weeks. Additionally, you should avoid lifting objects heavier than 10 pounds 4.
This is slightly more than the weight of a gallon of milk. Open surgery often requires a longer recovery process than laparoscopic surgery. Your surgeon will let you know when you can return to your normal routine. Between 10 and 25 percent of babies are born with an umbilical hernia. This type of hernia is also more common in babies who are born prematurely or with a low birth weight.
Umbilical hernias occur near the belly button. This causes a portion of the intestine to bulge out. Umbilical hernias in children are typically painless. However, when symptoms such as pain, vomiting, or swelling at the hernia site occur, you should seek emergency medical attention. Umbilical hernias typically go away when a child is 1 or 2 years old. Learn more about umbilical hernia repair.
They can evaluate it and determine if it poses any health risks.
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