Symptoms and Treatment of a Hernia

A hernia is part of the intestines or another organ poking through a tear or weak area of the muscular wall, which holds abdominal organs in place. Hernias are sometimes caused by heavy lifting but in most causes the cause of hernia is unknown. Hernias can affect people of any age.

Types

• Types of hernia include inguinal, which affects the groin or scrotum; femoral which affects the upper thigh; umbilical, which pushes through around the belly button; and incisional, which comes through an abdominal surgery scar.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of hernia in children include a lump or bulgethat is not tender. For adults, hernia symptoms include a tender groin or scrotum lump, and groin pain and discomfort that gets worse when you bend or lift something.

Treatment

• Some hernias are treated by a doctor pushing them back into the abdomen. When this does not work, the only treatment option is surgery.

Tissue Repair

• One surgical option for hernia treatment is tissue repair in which the hernia is removed and the gap in the muscle wall is closed.

Mesh Repair

• Mesh repair is another surgical treatment option in which mesh is inserted to provide a barrier to the patient's intestines and abdominal fat. This keeps the hernia from pushing through.