What is a Hernia?
A hernia is a weakened or torn area of the abdominal wall that allows your intestines or nearby fatty tissue to bulge through. This condition is often the result of wear-and-tear damage to the muscles or tissue in the abdominal wall due to overuse. You can also develop a hernia when your muscles weaken with age or due to lack of physical activity.
Hernias may be reducible or nonreducible. A reducible hernia is present if the visible bulge in your abdomen flattens when you push it down or when you lie flat on your back. You may have a nonreducible hernia if your intestines have become trapped in the abdominal wall, making it impossible to flatten the bulge.
What are Common Types of Hernias?
The surgeons at Naab Road Surgical Group can treat any type of hernia such as these:
- Hiatal Hernia: A hiatal hernia occurs when part of the stomach pushes up into your chest due to a weakness in the diaphragm muscle, which separates the abdomen and chest. In some cases, repairing a hiatal hernia can stop acid reflux symptoms.
- Umbilical Hernia: An umbilical hernia develops near the belly button when part of the intestines or areas of fatty tissue pushes through the abdominal wall.
- Femoral Hernia: A femoral hernia develops when a portion of your intestine or fatty tissue protrudes into your groin at the top of your inner thigh, a condition most common among older women.
- Inguinal Hernia: The inguinal canal is a pathway in men that leads to the testicles. Women also have an inguinal canal that contains ligaments that support the uterus. An inguinal hernia occurs when part of the intestine or fatty tissue protrudes into the groin near the top of your inner thigh. Inguinal hernias are the most common type of hernia and affect more men than women.
What are the Symptoms of a Hernia?
A hernia often produces a noticeable bulge under your skin. Other signs of a hernia include pain when you make sudden movements, such as during a sneeze or cough. You may also notice pain that occurs when you have a bowel movement. In some cases, your pain may also be accompanied by abdominal sensations like burning, tingling, and dull aches.
In many cases, your Naab Road Surgical Group provider can identify a hernia based on a physical exam.
How Does Surgery Treat a Hernia?
If you have a nonreducible hernia, you need prompt surgery to release your intestines from the abdominal wall. Immediate surgery prevents the loss of blood flow -- and ultimately tissue death -- in the trapped part of your intestines. Trapped intestines can also result in digestive dysfunction and blockages.
If you have a reducible hernia, surgery is still necessary to repair the abdominal wall and prevent a worsening of your condition.
The surgical team at Naab Road Surgical Group offers surgeries to repair all types of hernias. Depending on your overall health and the severity of your hernia, your provider may opt to perform either a minimally invasive laparoscopic hernia repair or a traditional open surgery.
Laparoscopic surgery requires only a few small incisions to access the damaged area of the abdominal wall. This ensures you recover faster and are at reduced risk for infection and other surgical complications. In some cases, open surgery is the only option for repairing a hernia because of your medical history or specific health needs.
The Naab Road Surgical Group surgeons repair the hernia using either staples or a synthetic mesh to close the opening in the abdominal wall.
Don’t suffer from hernia pain any longer. Schedule a hernia repair consultation online or by phone today.
