If you see a bulge under the skin anywhere on your abdomen or belly button or feel a pop in your groin area after lifting something heavy, don’t be surprised if the doctor tells you that you have a hernia. Hernias occur when internal organs, fat, or tissue penetrate weak points in the muscles and require surgery to remove it.
Hernias are more common in certain body parts, e.g.in the abdominal wall (ventral hernia), in the abdominal region (umbilical hernia), in the groin (inguinal hernia), and the diaphragm (hiatal hernia).
Surgery is the only best way to repair a hernia. Hernia restoration returns the organ or structure to its proper place, and repairs weakened areas of muscle or tissue. Surgery is a big decision. Delaying, it can be tempting, and in some cases, it can be fine. Before you decide, make sure you understand the risks and benefits of your solution.
If you have symptoms, especially pain, your doctor will likely recommend surgery. But what if you don’t have or have minimal symptoms? In this case, your doctor may recommend waiting carefully. Make sure your doctor knows the whole story before agreeing to a vigilant wait. Be honest about all the restrictions that hernias impose on your time and activities.
Let us read this article to know how hernia affects you without surgery and discuss it with your doctor to help you make a decision. If you need to make an appointment with a surgeon, Meet Dr Venu Gopal Pareek Best hernia surgeon in Hyderabad.
When Do all hernias need surgery?
Your doctor will likely recommend surgery if the following things occur:
- Tissue (such as the intestine) trapped in the abdominal wall leading to a condition called incarceration. If left untreated, strangulation can occur. Then the blood supply to the tissue is disrupted.
- Hernias strangulated can cause permanent damage and is a surgical emergency. Strangulated organs, usually your intestines, die. If not removed quickly, you can get seriously ill. Contact the best hernia surgeons near you, if you have a fever or nausea, sudden pain that worsens, or a hernia that turns red, purple, or dark.
- Hernias cause pain or discomfort or get bigger.
You might be able to wait for surgery if:
- Your hernia disappears when you lie down, or you can push it back into your abdomen
- It’s small and causes few or no symptoms (they don’t need surgery).
Talk to your doctor. They will monitor your hernia during your yearly medical checkup. Nearly all children and adults can undergo hernia surgery.
Alternate for surgery?
Sometimes the doctor can push or “reduce” small hernias back to the abdomen with a gentle massage. Sometimes hernias can be controlled for a while by wearing a device such as a belt that performs external compression that pushes the tissue back to the stomach and holds it there. This device is called a truss. The truss should be used with care every day and only in certain situations after a careful evaluation by a doctor. If this does not help, surgery may be needed.
What is the risk of waiting instead of undergoing surgery?
- Incarcerated Hernias: A potentially serious risk for not repairing a hernia is that it gets trapped outside the abdominal wall – or incarcerated. This can disrupt the blood supply to the hernia and clog the intestine, causing the hernia to strangulate. This requires urgent surgical repair. Not all hernias develop to this point, but they are still risky. Avoiding emergencies that you cannot control is one reason you don’t pay attention to delaying surgery.
- Hernias grow: A more likely scenario is that your hernia will continue to grow and weaken over time. This will likely worsen your symptoms, including pain, and cause more lifestyle changes. Surgeons know that smaller hernias are more comfortable to repair than larger hernias. If you have the operation instead of slowing it down, you can prevent the symptoms from worsening. It can also help you avoid losing work or lack of activity.
- Hernias may need surgery eventually: Even if you don’t have any symptoms, you might want to think of surgery sooner rather than later. Hernia surgery is inevitable in most cases. Studies show that most people with hernias have surgery within ten years. Remember that delaying surgery while your hernia is bigger and your muscles are weak can make surgery and recovery difficult.
- Your overall health can change: Your age can determine whether waiting is risky for you. Delaying surgery for years can mean you are not in good health or physical condition. This also affects your operation and recovery. Surgery at a younger age can be beneficial. However, if you are older (over 75 years), not very active, and your hernia is not causing problems, it might be better not to fix it. The risks of surgery can exceed the benefits of the repair.
Conclusion:
One can plan the operation as desired. And if you are a candidate for laparoscopic hernia surgery, you will come back to life and work earlier than open surgery. Surgery is easier, and recovery will likely be smoother at a younger age and with minor hernias. Ultimately, your doctor can help you decide whether waiting or surgery is the best choice for you.
After all, in many cases, it may not be worth waiting for a hernia operation unless there are strong medical reasons to the contrary. By examining and repairing hernias early and later, additional problems can be avoided in both the short and long term. You can contact Dr Venu Gopal Pareek at 091777 77715 to arrange a consultation to learn more about the surgical options that best suit your hernia problem.
