If you noticed a lump in your abdominal wall which comes out on standing and goes in by lying down it is most probably a hernia. Commonest area to get hernia in men is in the groin region i.e either side just above the start of your legs in females it is around the umbilicus or belly button. If you notice a similar occurrence close to a previous operation site or scar we call it an ‘incisional hernia’.
Cause for hernias are varying. Increased abdominal pressure, with inherent weakness of tissues or acquired tissue weakness are the main reasons to get hernias. If you are constipated and has to strain on your bowels, or need to strain to pass urine these will repeatedly increase pressure inside the abdomen and the abdominal organs will get pushed out through the weakest area in the abdominal wall to give rise to a hernia. Smoking weakens the tissues in the abdominal wall and some people are born with weak tissues and make one vulnerable for hernias.
Most instances hernia will not cause any problem to the bearer but some can get complicated by not going back to abdomen in lying down – irreducible, may cause blockage of bowel function – obstructed hernia, can lead to reduction of blood supply to tissues within the hernia – strangulated hernia and can lead to death of that part of bowel which can be life threatening. If you get pain in your hernia it is urgent to go to a surgeon and get yourself seen.
There can be large hernias in the front of the abdomen which are called ventral hernia – mostly due to previous operations. These hernias need special methods in treating them with surgery and need to be carried out by especially trained surgeons in this.
Timely attention to all causes of hernia can prevent hernias and early treatment by trained surgeons will prevent complications. If your surgeon is well trained in laparoscopy or keyhole surgery almost all of these surgeries can be carried out by laparoscopically before they become complicated. Some of the complicated hernias also can be dealt with by laparoscopy. However all these need operation to correct them.
If you develop pain in your hernia, vomiting, inability to pass stools, abdominal bloating then keep an ice bag on top of the hernia and raise the leg end of the bed and lie down until you are been taken to a surgeon.