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Hernia Overview
Any person who has recently been diagnosed with a hernia will naturally have questions about what this means and the types of treatment that they might undergo in addressing hernia.
According to MedlinePlus, a hernia happens when an internal organ or some other part of the body pushes through the tissue or the muscle that typically contains it. The most common forms of hernia include inguinal hernia, femoral hernia, umbilical hernia, and hiatus hernia.
Inguinal Hernia
For men, the inguinal canal is the passageway between the blood vessels going to the testicles and the spermatic cord. For women, this inguinal canal gives support for the womb. This is the most common type of hernia but it impacts more men than it does women.
Femoral Hernia
This condition is much less common than inguinal hernias and predominately affects older women. It occurs when part of the intestine or fatty tissue protrudes into the groin at the top of the patient’s inner thigh.
Umbilical Hernia
An umbilical hernia could occur and require immediate medical attention if part of the intestine or fatty tissue pushes through the abdomen near the belly button.
Hiatal Hernia
This can occur when part of the stomach pushes up into the patient’s chest cavity through an opening in the diaphragm.
Less Common Hernias
Some of the less common hernias that can affect patients include diaphragmatic hernias, Spigelian hernias, epigastric hernias, and incisional hernias.
Hernia Causes
Femoral and inguinal hernias are due to weakened muscles that may have been present for the patient since birth. Adults can also contract an umbilical hernia by being overweight, going through challenges after giving birth, having a long-lasting heavy cough or suffering from a weakening of the diaphragm.
Hernia Symptoms
There are many different types of hernia symptoms that a patient might experience before getting medical attention. These include a dull aching sensation, pain while lifting, increased pain at the side, a bulge or swelling in the scrotum or groin, and a sense of feeling full. In some cases, there may be no bulges on the outside of the body but symptoms could also include indigestion, difficulties swallowing and heartburn.
Hernia Treatment
According to Medical News Today, the typical course of action for most hernias without any symptoms is to watch and wait. Femoral hernias, however, can lead to strangulation of the bowels. Elective surgery might not always be necessary for a patient who develops a hernia.
When a hernia is deemed a serious enough risk, a doctor will often recommend surgery. Many surgeries today to address hernia problems make use of hernia mesh. However, plenty of patients have reported problems with the surgical mesh used to treat their hernia after it was implanted.
Hernia Mesh Complications
How a patient recovers from surgery will vary from one person to another, but plenty of patients with hernia mesh implanted at hospitals all over the country have returned to their doctors with complaints of issues. Serious mesh complications include chronic pain and bowel perforations. If you or someone you know has had complications with your hernia mesh after it was implanted, speaking to a doctor could be the next step.
