Everything You Need to Know About Inguinal Hernias
Hernias – no matter where they are located, are usually somewhat painful. They are usually attributed to weakness in a muscle or in tissue. The resulting hernia occurs when an organ or tissue gets pushed through the weak spot. With an inguinal hernia, tissue, usually a part of the intestines, is pushed through a weak spot in one’s abdominal muscles.
While the pain of a hernia varies, inguinal hernias are usually very uncomfortable. Ironically, the inguinal hernia may be painful, but it is not considered a dangerous type of hernia. However, your physician is likely to recommend surgery to correct the inguinal hernia, particularly if it is becoming enlarged.
An inguinal hernia is considered a groin hernia, and one of the most common visible symptoms is a bulge on either side of the pubic bone. The bulge typically becomes more obvious when the patient stands at attention. The bulge will become even more conspicuous if the patient coughs or otherwise strains.
Other common symptoms of the inguinal hernia include a burning or aching sensation at the site of the bulge as well as a heavy sensation in the groin area. Pressure may increase when the individual bends or lifts something. If the protruding intestine happens to descend into the scrotum, the patient will experience pain in the testicles.
The bulge from the Inguinal Hernia is not always easy to detect and only an experienced surgeon like Dr. Garcia can make this diagnosis with his dynamic ultrasound scan, which allows him to detect this kind of hernia.This is the reason why he does ultrasound on all of his patients, to get a better understanding about what’s going on inside the body-this sets him apart from other surgeons!
Inguinal hernias may not typically be dangerous, but they can cause problems. This is especially true if you are unable to push the hernia (the intestine) back into place. In fact, if the hernia can’t be pushed in manually, the contents of the hernia could become trapped in the wall of the muscle on the stomach. Physicians refer to this happening as the hernia becoming incarcerated.When a hernia becomes incarcerated, the hernia may become life-threatening. This is particularly true if the hernia experiences a loss of blood flow. Healthcare providers call this strangulation of the hernia, and this will require attention from your physician.
Signs of a strangulated hernia are fairly obvious, with one of the most prominent signs is a change in color of the hernia. If the hernia cannot be pushed back in, and it has become a dark red or purple color, then the hernia may be showing signs of strangulation. It’s important to remember that a hernia may simply turn darker than surrounding skin.
Another sign of a strangulated hernia is a fever along with the protruding hernia. The patient may experience sudden pain at the site of the hernia, and nausea as well as vomiting may be common along with the pain. Finally, if the patient is unable to pass gas or is constipated, the hernia could be showing signs of strangulation. If the patient shows any combination of these symptoms, get to the physician as soon as possible.
Of course, you may still wish to see a board certified surgeon even if the hernia isn’t showing signs of strangulation. Certainly, it’s better to have a hernia repaired before it causes serious physical issues! If a patient is experiencing a painful bulge – or even just a noticeable bulge – in the groin area, it might be prudent to see a surgeon for an evaluation.Keep in mind that the bulge is more noticeable when one is standing. One can usually feel the bulge as well when upright.
Not all hernias need be treated with a surgical procedure. However, an inguinal hernia will need some type of treatment; they don’t typically resolve on their own. Sometimes doctors are able to perform a reduction, which is massaging the hernia back into place. The surgeon may also recommend wearing a belt or truss when performing strenuous activities.
In instances when surgery is necessary, the surgeon uses two methods to repair hernias:
The Open Repair Technique is currently employed by Dr. Garcia when the size of the hernia is extremely large and makes open surgery necessary. The surgeon also performs Robotic Inguinal Hernia Repair Robotic surgery, the most complete technique available, on select patients, and in doing so he repairs both direct and indirect hernia and bilateral hernias at the same time. Find out how the top General & Bariatric Surgeon of South Florida can assist you with your inguinal hernia by reaching out today.
