You may have heard of hernias many times, but even today, not everyone is fully aware of them. In simple terms, a hernia occurs when an organ or part of an organ protrudes through a weak point in the body.
Weakened abdominal muscles can allow the intestines to move into this weak point, forming a swollen area inside the abdomen. Normally, a hernia appears as a swelling that may be small or large.
Why Does Hernia Occur?
Common causes of hernia include a combination of muscle weakness and strain. A hernia can develop quickly or over a long time depending upon its cause. Read the types below and see which one matches what you’re experiencing. Below are different types of hernia.
Types of Hernia
Based on the location and severity of the condition, a hernia can be classified into different types.
Inguinal Hernia
An inguinal hernia is found as a protrusion in the inner groin area. This type of hernia is more common in men because they have weaker muscles around the groin. An inguinal hernia disappears when a person sleeps and moves in and out of the abdominal wall.
| Type of Inguinal Hernia | Description |
| Direct inguinal hernia | Protrudes directly through the posterior wall of the inguinal canal. |
| Indirect inguinal hernia | Occurs when the abdominal contents pass through the deep inguinal ring alongside the spermatic cord. |
Ventral Hernia
A ventral hernia is a protrusion of tissue in the weak abdominal wall. Pain, swelling, and a feeling of fullness are some symptoms of ventral hernias. The symptoms may fade away with a change in position.
Ventral hernias can be acquired or congenital. Most of the ventral hernias are called incisional hernias, as they form at the healed site of past surgical incisions. The more complex form of ventral hernia is seen in people who are obese and have comorbidities, and they require extensive treatment.
Umbilical Hernia
An umbilical hernia occurs near the belly button. It results when a part of fatty tissue or small bowel pushes through the abdominal wall near the navel or the belly button.
Some factors involved in umbilical hernia include high intra-abdominal pressure due to factors like obesity, pregnancy, abdominal tumors, and others. Umbilical hernia mostly affects babies and women who give birth to several babies.
Epigastric Hernia
Epigastric hernias have been there since birth and do not cause pain until later stages. But in the end, it becomes a reason for pain and injury to the tissues because of herniation. This type of hernia results from fat and tissue being trapped inside the opening of the hernia.
It is located between the navel and the sternum. Epigastric hernias are congenital and have no symptoms at all during their early stages. However, over time, the bulge increases and causes pain and injury to tissues.
Spigelian Hernia
It is a type of ventral hernia characterized by a protrusion in the abdominal wall due to the accumulation of preperitoneal fat, omentum, bowel, or an organ. Spigelian hernia is found in the weak space between the stomach muscles near the semilunar line of the transversus abdominis muscle.
These are rare and complex hernias, which makes them difficult to diagnose, and only localized pain in the area can help with diagnosis.
Flank/ Back Hernia
Flank hernias, also known as lumbar hernias, are located in the side or back of the abdominal wall. They develop following an injury in the flank area or due to defects in the posterolateral abdominal wall.
The defect may cause the tissues inside the abdomen to protrude out, resulting in pain. Flank/back hernia may also occur as a result of kidney surgery or due to traumatic injury to the back or the side of the abdominal wall.
Femoral Hernia
Femoral hernia is an unusual form of hernia constituting only 3% of all forms of hernia. A femoral hernia develops in the area right beneath the inguinal canal. Things like heavy lifting, an ongoing cough, and obesity can all put pressure on the groin and lead to a femoral hernia. When one becomes incarcerated in the femoral canal, it’s a situation that calls for immediate care.
Hiatal Hernia
Hiatal hernia refers to the projection of the diaphragm muscle wall. This condition develops because the upper part of the stomach enters through the large muscle that divides the stomach and the body into the chest cavity.
There are various symptoms of hiatal hernia, such as acid reflux, heartburn, and insomnia.
Parastomal Hernia
Parastomal Hernia occurs due to protrusion of abdominal organs through the stoma. A stoma is an opening in the abdomen that enables excreting waste by-passing the natural excretion process. A small pouch covers it and is usually painless. A stoma may weaken the abdominal wall, increasing the risk of a parastomal hernia.
Obturator Hernia
It is a rare type of hernia, where the contents of the abdomen protrude through the obturator foramen of the pelvic floor. They are predominantly found in women due to some anatomical differences. Obturator hernias are generally caused by issues such as poor nutrition, old age, and comorbidities.
What are The Various Symptoms of Hernia?
Some of the common symptoms that are experienced include:
- Pain while coughing, sneezing, or lifting
- A burning sensation in the lump.
- A lump in the groin or abdominal area
- Swallowing difficulty
- Vomiting and nausea
Some of the symptoms that are severe and require urgent medical attention are:
- Constipation
- Obstructed bowel movement
- Acid reflux combined with chest pain
- Strangulation happens when a section of the stomach slips into the chest and becomes trapped, choking off its blood supply and causing the tissue to die. Look out for nausea, vomiting, fever, and a hernia that darkens in color.
- When acid reflux irritates the throat, it can trigger a constant cough, a hoarse voice, or, in some cases, pneumonia.
What Are the Causes of Hernia
The type and location of the hernia can indicate why it occurred. Abdominal surgery and older age increase the risk of hernia, especially in men rather than in women. Some major activities can lead to the causes of hernia, such as:
- Poor Diet: Eating a proper meal is instrumental in preventing hernia formation. Poor-quality food and too much spicy food can lead to a hernia.
- Heavy Exercise: Strenuous exercises like heavy lifting or others that can cause strain on muscles can lead to a hernia.
- Coughing: Persistent coughing, as from smoking or as a result of acid reflux, can lead to a hernia.
- Chronic Constipation or Diarrhea: Both are major factors in hernia development.
- Damage from injuries or previous surgeries.
Some risk factors increase the chances of developing a hernia, such as:
- Family history
- Age
- Pregnancy
- Obesity
- Cystic fibrosis
- Smoking
- Premature birth or low body weight
How is Hernia Diagnosed?
- Inguinal or Incisional Hernia: A protrusion where the hernia exists is the indication of the disease. Physical examination using the coughing method helps in identifying whether the hernia exists or not.
- Hiatal Hernia: An X-ray of the digestive system shows the hernia. An endoscopy can also be suggested, where a tiny camera is sent down the throat to the stomach to determine the exact location of the hernia.
The doctors may also suggest CT scans and MRIs. Abdominal pain is often also caused as a result of inflammation of the appendix, due to which it is important to know the exact cause of the pain. The pain can worsen with physical exercise, which an MRI can identify, even when there is no visible bulge at first.
How Does a Laparoscopic Surgeon Help Manage a Hernia?
A hernia problem can be treated with surgery. This surgery can be performed traditionally and is also done with the most advanced laparoscopic method.
At Wockhardt Hospitals, a team of well-experienced doctors works together to repair a hernia with the most advanced laparoscopic technique.
In the surgical process, the surgeon makes small cuts at the site of the hernia, then introduces a laparoscope through cuts on the abdomen. Through the laparoscope, the surgeon can see the internal structures of the abdomen and know where to go.
After correcting the hernia sac, surgeons place a 3D mesh near the weak muscles to strengthen them. In the final step, the skin incisions are closed with dissolvable glue.
Advantages of Undergoing a Laparoscopic Surgery For Hernia
Laparoscopic surgery is one of the latest treatment options available for a hernia. It can cost more than traditional open surgery, though many patients find the faster recovery worth the difference.
The advantages of undergoing laparoscopic surgery for a hernia include:
- Minimally invasive technique
- Lower Postoperative pain.
- Faster recovery, where a patient can resume their routine in just 1 to 2 weeks
- Lower recurrence rate.
- Daycare procedure, and a patient can also leave the hospital the same day.
You can trust Wockhardt Hospital to treat your hernia problems. This is because it offers reliable surgical procedures, including laser-assisted and laparoscopic treatments. The laser techniques offered are USFDA-approved.
What Next After Treatment?
- Maintain a proper diet, stop smoking, and work out to strengthen your muscles.
- Avoid hot food; it may help alleviate hernia symptoms.
- However, along with all of this, you will have to take some medicines and surgery as well for the treatment of your hernia.
- Lifestyle changes can help alleviate the pain and discomfort caused by a hernia.
A hernia doesn’t wait around. Skip treatment, and that lump won’t hold steady; it grows, and the pain grows with it. Lifestyle tweaks, better lifting habits, less strain, and losing some weight can take the edge off in the meantime. None of it makes the hernia disappear.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are all hernias considered an emergency?
Most aren’t. Plenty sit there quietly, causing zero pain and doing no real damage, and surgery isn’t urgent for those. Watch for a shift, though. Skin discoloring over the lump, or the area turning hard and tender, changes things fast. That’s a same-day visit, not a wait-and-see one.
2. Can a hernia heal on its own?
It can’t, plain and simple. Tissue that’s pushed through the abdominal wall stays pushed through. Diet, exercise, better posture- they don’t pull it back in. Those habits might dial down the ache for a while, sure, but the hernia itself doesn’t budge until a surgeon actually deals with it.
3. What do people feel when having a hernia?
Aches or a pulling sensation when one stands up for a very long time or even when lifting anything or straining. Some individuals will also experience the sensation of protrusion caused by the hernia. Others will also experience tingling and burning sensations.
4. When do I have to consult a doctor if I have a hernia?
Once there is constant pain accompanied by swelling in the areas of the abdomen and groin. In addition, if there is vomiting and nausea along with the pain, you need to consult a doctor at once.
