What is hernia? It’s one of the most common questions that we come across every day. In most cases, not everyone has a detailed knowledge of this particular disease and how they develop. And unless you don’t know the whereabouts of this particular disease, it’s also impossible for you to get rid of this specific medical condition.

Hernia: Everything you need to know

A hernia happens when a part of any specific internal tissue or organ bulges through a weakened area of muscle. Generally, a hernia is found in the abdomen. There are several types of hernias. Out of them, the most common ones are groin (inguinal) and umbilical hernias.

• Inguinal hernias: Inguinal hernias are commonly found among men and they often begin developing shortly after birth.
• Umbilical hernias: Umbilical hernias directly forms underneath the navel. These hernias mainly occur at the location of previous surgery.

Hernias are generally straightforward to diagnose. This mainly is possible because the patient often feels a bulge in the affected area. The bulge is often accompanied by discomfort or pain. And they may even feel that something is pushing through the hernia. In less common scenarios, one may only feel a general pain or discomfort in the affected area without being able to figure out its origin.

Treatment options

If you are looking for temporary relief from the hernia-related pain, there are many treatment options. However, if you are aiming for a permanent cure, surgery is the only remedy. Now, once your doctor figures out what exact type of hernia you have developed, he would recommend you to undergo either open or laparoscopic surgery.

Here is a brief explanation of the different types of surgeries available for treating hernia.

• Open surgery– In this form of surgery, your surgeon will make an incision directly over the hernia. Generally, the mesh is used to close the hole that was previously formed by the hernia. This is often carried out on an outpatient basis through local anesthesia procedure with sedation.

• Laparoscopic surgery– When it comes to laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon inserts multiple small tubes, known as ‘ports’ through your abdominal wall. Then, the surgical mesh is placed through the ports. This particular approach is often used for both the large and small abdominal wall hernias.

It’s very common for some hernia patients to put off treatment as they most likely want to avoid surgery. However, this is nothing but the delaying of the inevitable. Hernias will never get smaller and more importantly, they never get removed on their own. Eventually, the discomfort and pain associated with hernia become too much for a person to bear. As a result, sooner or later, you must undergo surgery to lead a healthy life without the threat of hernia.

As soon as you come across any hernia symptoms like a bulge or/and pain and discomfort around the affected area, make sure that you consult with your doctor right away. You can’t afford to waste even the slightest of time, as hernias tend to grow larger. Remember that hernias generally don’t produce any troublesome symptoms, however, abdominal complaints might signal a more serious problem. The faster you’re able to detect the symptoms and consult your physician, the better are your chances of recovery.