You helped a friend move this past weekend, and now your groin is hurting. Did you just overdo it and strain a muscle, or is it something else? Maybe a hernia? Let’s review warning signs of a hernia, including what to watch for and when to seek help.
How Does a Hernia Develop?
A hernia occurs when an organ pushes through a weak area in the abdominal wall. Fascia, the tissue that connects muscles to each other and to bone, can tear,, leaving a hole in the abdominal wall. That hole, called a hernia, allows bowel or other abdominal organs to bugle through. The bulging (herniated) bowel can be pinched, causing pain or bowel symptoms. More commonly, the hernia bulge can put pressure on muscle, nerves, or other sensitive structures of the abdominal wall.
With rare exceptions, a hernia does not go away on its own, and will usually get bigger and more bothersome over time. Some people require emergency surgery to rescue a threatened bowel that has become strangulated within a hernia.
How to Detect a Hernia
A hernia specialist can diagnose and characterize a hernia by seeing or feeling the bulge during an exam. In some situations, a CT scan, ultrasound or other imaging might be necessary.
Signs You May Have a Hernia
There are warning signs you should watch for.
A hernia in your abdomen or groin might have these symptoms:
- A new bulge that is visible and you can feel
- The bulge usually fluctuates in size and is more noticeable towards the end of a busy day in which you have spent a long time on your feet
- A dull pain or sensation of pressure near the bulge
- Pulling sensation in the groin
- Sharp pain from a hernia pushing on a nerve can radiate to the thigh or groin.
- Pain which worsens when lifting, pushing, coughing, running, or straining during a bowel movement
A hernia in your diaphragm or hiatal area will have these common symptoms:
- Heartburn or acid reflux
- Feeling uncomfortable after consuming a large meal and becoming full sooner than usual.
- Pain in the chest
- Chest pain during eating with difficulty swallowing or vomiting
Typical Causes of a Hernia and Risk Factors
Some groin hernias are present at birth. This happens more often in baby boys and is associated with the path of testicle movement into the baby’s scrotum. Another hernia of baby boys and girls is an umbilical hernia, where the path of the umbilical cord fails to close naturally.
Most hernias, however, develop in adults after long term repetitive stress like heavy lifting, chronic coughing or chronic constipation with straining. It can also develop from a past surgical site.
While having close blood relatives with hernias is a significant risk factor, there are other risk factors that can be controlled. Obesity, smoking, and diabetes are all risk factors.
Making some positive lifestyle changes and keeping your blood sugar in control can help you lessen your risk of developing a hernia.
When Hernias Become Serious
You should be watchful of your hernia symptoms and see a specialist when you first notice them. It is important to get an early diagnosis. “Watchful waiting” is sometimes appropriate, but a hernia specialist should help you decide if that is safe, or the best option in your situation.
Don’t wait for an emergency. Hernias may eventually trap (“incarcerate”) and squeeze (“strangule”) the trapped bowel. Strangulated bowel is cut off from its blood supply, causing severe pain and bowel blockage.
Contact your physician immediately with these serious symptoms:
- Painful hernia bulge that cannot be reduced (pushed back in), often with
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Gas and bloating
- Worsening red or purple discoloration of the skin over the strangulated hernia
Expert Hernia Surgery at SEM Surgical
If you’ve noticed any of the warning signs of a hernia or have been recently diagnosed, it’s important not to wait. Early treatment can help prevent complications and improve your overall quality of life. At SEM Surgical, we specialize in advanced hernia repair techniques tailored to each patient’s needs. Our skilled team is here to guide you through a safe and effective surgical solution.
Don’t ignore the discomfort—take the first step toward lasting relief. Contact SEM Surgical today at (248) 985-8060 to schedule your consultation at our general surgery office in Royal Oak, MI. We’re here to help you return to a healthier, hernia-free future.
Sources:
Hernia: Symptoms and Treatment
Warning Signs Your Hernia Needs Medical Attention: Michael H Tarlowe MD: Proctologists
