Hernia Can Lead To Serious Medical Issues

Have you ever laughed so hard you thought you’d give yourself a hernia? Or lifted something heavy and wondered if you pulled something “down there”? 

While hernias are the object of many jokes and comedian stand-up routines, they are no laughing matter to individuals who suffer from them.

What Is A Hernia?

If you have a hernia, a piece of intestine, fat, or other tissue is bulging through a torn or weakened abdominal muscle.

A hernia occurs when muscle or tissue, usually in the abdomen or groin, weakens, becomes thin or even tears. This can allow other body tissue or an organ, sometimes the colon, to protrude through the weakened or torn tissue. This pressure and displacement can be painful.

“When a hernia is present, this means that things are out of place,” said Igor Wanko Mboumi, MD, a minimally invasive, bariatric and robotic surgeon with Franciscan Physician Network Indy Southside Surgical Indianapolis.  “A hernia won’t go away on its own and can even lead to much more serious, even life-threatening situations, including damage to abdominal tissue and organs.”

What Causes Hernias?

Hernias can develop painlessly over time, or occur suddenly -- all it takes is increased pressure in the abdominal cavity. They commonly result from age-related wear and tear, heavy lifting, a congenital defect, sustained coughing, or obesity, but many hernias have no apparent cause.

People of any age may be at risk for developing a hernia. Sometimes the weakened tissue that allows hernias to form is present at birth, but other risk factors for hernias include chronic constipation, being overweight, a chronic cough or sneezing, smoking and heavy lifting.

Even regular exertion, such as weekend yard work, may cause a hernia.

“A common cause of a hernia is a prior surgery,” said Dr. Wanko Mboumi. “After surgery, the tissue layer is affected and heals to about 80 percent of its original strength, and this can increase your risk of developing a hernia.”

What Puts You At Risk Of Hernias?

Risk factors of hernias include:

• Chronic coughing
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Pregnancy

What Are The Different Types Of Hernias?

Different kinds of hernias show up in various areas of the body. There are several types of hernias, but the most common ones are the inguinal and femoral, both located in the groin area.

An inguinal hernia, a protrusion of tissue in the groin region, is usually the one people mean when they refer to a hernia.

Other types of hernias include:

• Femoral hernia, which occurs at the spot where the abdomen meets the top of the thigh
• Incisional hernia, which results when muscles are weakened by surgery
• Hiatal hernia, which occurs internally when part of the stomach pushes through the diaphragm into the chest cavity.
• Umbilical hernia, which occurs in the navel area
• Ventral hernia, which occurs in the abdominal area

What Are Symptoms Of A Hernia?

If you have a hernia, you'll probably notice a soft bump under the skin near your groin or abdomen. This bump might feel tender and squishy to the touch, and it may (or may not) disappear when you lie down. Hernias can be either relatively painless or almost excruciating. They're frequently the cause of a dull, aching sensation that gets worse when you cough, strain your bowels, or lift something heavy. This discomfort may increase over time as more tissue pushes through the tear. Hernias that worsen quickly can cause sharp, intense pain.

Small hernias can be free of symptoms or can cause pain or discomfort. Sometimes a hernia will have no symptoms, even when a small bulge is visible.

How Are Hernias Treated?

A common myth is that limiting activities and getting plenty of rest can cure a hernia. While this will certainly alleviate symptoms, surgery is the only way to repair a hernia.

Since neglecting a hernia can have serious consequences, consult with your doctor about the best course of treatment. Surgery is the most effective treatment for a hernia, Dr. Wanko Mboumi added.

“Even if the hernia is not bothering you or getting bigger, you run the risk of it growing, causing blockage of intestines, and being harder to repair in the future,” he said.

Hernia repair can be done through open surgery or minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgeries. Open surgery involves creating an incision to repair the hernia using sutures or in combination with mesh.

Robotic surgery has made surgery a much more viable treatment option for many patients, especially patients who, based on age or overall health, would have been once considered not good surgery candidates. 

“While traditional hernia surgery meant a large incision in the abdomen and a long recovery time for patients, we now have the option of robotic and laparoscopic surgery that allows patients to recover much more quickly,” said Dr. Wanko Mboumi. “Patients usually leave the hospital within a day or two as opposed to five or six days with an open repair for a large hernia.”

The surgery usually involves suturing the weakened tissue area or incorporating a mesh to strengthen the affected area. The robotic and laparoscopic procedure uses advanced technology, including a camera embedded in a scope, and requires only a few small incisions in the abdomen. Patients stay in the hospital overnight or go home the same day. After a couple weeks of “taking it easy,” patients usually are back to their normal routines.

“The surgeons in our practice have more than 100 years of experience in repairing hernias combined,” said Dr. Wanko Mboumi. “Each patient’s condition is individually evaluated to see which repair surgery, open, laparoscopic, or robotic would be best. If you’ve been told by another doctor that your hernia can’t be repaired, we may have a surgical option for you.”

Can You Prevent Hernias?

To help prevent hernias, there are a few precautions you can take:

• Be careful when lifting heavy objects. Lift with your knees rather than your back, and don't attempt to move anything too heavy for one person to manage.
• Quit smoking. Smokers often have a violent and persistent cough, which can increase the risk of hernia.
• Exercise. Getting regular exercise is an important safeguard, since strong muscles are less likely to rupture.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight strains your body and can also dangerously stretch the peritoneum, or abdominal lining.
• Get plenty of fiber. Regular bowel movements will prevent undue straining.
• Don't strain your muscles. Weight lifters, football players, and golfers frequently strain or tear the muscles prone to hernia. Be sure to warm up enough before such activities, and watch out for that telltale bulge.