When is hernia repair necessary

Your doctor may suggest surgery if:. A hernia can become very dangerous if your intestines become twisted or trapped. If this happens, you may have:. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. This is a life-threatening condition requiring emergency surgery.

When you meet with your doctor before the surgery, bring a list of all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you take. Make sure you ask for instructions about which medications you need to stop taking before surgery. Ask your doctor for specific instructions regarding the procedure and your medical condition. They might decide to use local anesthesia if the hernia is small.

Your surgeon will make an incision, locate the hernia, and separate it from surrounding tissues. Stitches will close up the tear or strengthen weak abdominal muscles.

More than likely, your surgeon will attach mesh to strengthen the abdominal tissues and reduce the risk of another hernia. Not using mesh will significantly increase the likelihood of getting a hernia in the future. In fact, despite recent negative press regarding use of abdominal mesh, use of mesh in an inguinal hernia repair remains the standard of care. Laparoscopy is useful when the hernia is small and easy to access. This method leaves smaller scars than regular surgery, and recovery time is faster.

Your surgeon will use a laparoscope — a thin, lighted tube with a camera on the end — and miniaturized instruments to do what would otherwise be done in open surgery. Your doctor will probably encourage you to get up about an hour after surgery.

Men sometimes have difficulty urinating in the hours following surgery, but a catheter can help. A catheter is a tube that drains urine from the bladder. Inguinal hernia repair is often an outpatient procedure. This means you can go home the same day as the surgery.

However, if there are complications, you may have to remain in the hospital until they resolve. If you have open surgery, it may take up to six weeks for a full recovery. Patch use is becoming widespread in repairing hernias in adults. A patch may strengthen your abdominal wall, reduce your discomfort after surgery, and reduce the chance that your hernia repair will have to be done again.

Talk with your doctor before wearing a corset or truss for a hernia. These devices are not recommended for treating hernias and sometimes can do more harm than good. There may be certain cases when your doctor thinks a truss would work, but these are rare. These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers.

They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. I work on a loading dock and often have to lift heavy boxes for my job. One day I noticed a tender bulge in my groin that became more and more painful on the job.

My doctor said I had an inguinal hernia. I decided to have surgery to repair it, because I just couldn't work anymore with the hernia. My inguinal hernia does not bother me much. So I could live with it. But it makes a big bulge, and I don't like the way it looks. So I decided to have surgery to have it repaired and make the bulge go away. Over the last few years I had gotten overweight. So I went on a crash diet to lose the extra weight fast.

Afterward I got a cold and coughed a lot. Later I noticed a small bulge in my groin area that hadn't been there before. My doctor said it was an inguinal hernia and showed me how to push it back into my belly. Although I could have surgery to repair it, I decided to wait to see if it gets worse. I have a hernia and I am pregnant.

It bothers me some, but I have decided to wait until after my baby is born to have the hernia repaired. I just think there is too great a chance of harm to my baby from the anesthesia and surgery to have the hernia repaired before delivery. Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. My hernia is keeping me from doing daily activities or from returning to work.

I will be travelling to an area where health care may not be available, so I want to take care of this now. I have no plans to travel to places where health care may not be available. Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.

How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps. Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. One reason for me to have surgery for my inguinal hernia is to prevent a rare but serious problem called strangulation. I need surgery even though my hernia is small and doesn't bother me. Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you?

Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: E. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.

Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers. Get the facts. Your options Have surgery now to repair the inguinal hernia, even if you do not have symptoms.

Take a "wait and see" approach to surgery because the hernia does not bother you much. Key points to remember Hernias don't go away on their own. Only surgery can repair a hernia. Many people are able to delay surgery for months or even years. And some people may never need surgery for a small hernia. While it may not be causing trouble now, it is very likely that it could lead to more serious complications later if it is not repaired.

One of those complications is strangulation. This occurs when the bulging tissue is squeezed by the muscle wall. As a result, the blood supply is cut off and the tissue begins to die. Because of the potentially serious complications, we generally recommend that those with a hernia undergo a simple procedure to ensure that it does not increase in size or grow worse.

Some of these include:. An inguinal hernia In men, this is located in the groin area. In women, this is in the area affecting the ligament that supports the uterus. Men are more likely to have an inguinal hernia than women. A femoral hernia Located in your inner thigh, this hernia is made of fatty tissue or part of the intestine.

Umbilical hernia In this case, the hernia protrudes from the belly button. Hiatal hernia In a hiatal hernia, the stomach pushes through the chest cavity. This means there is a hole or opening in the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a muscle that separates the abdomen from your chest.

Then, the muscle is stitched back together. If the muscle is weak, a mesh may also be added for support. As a result, he or she has an unobstructed view of the surgical area. All surgery is done through a sophisticated computer interface. The result? The latest advancements in minimally invasive surgery.

The daVinci Robot is perfect for hernia repair. Our medical team is dedicated to your health. We are pleased to be able to offer elective surgeries, and we want you to know that we are taking every precaution to ensure your safety and well-being. We understand that, in light of the COVID pandemic , there may be some concern over scheduling elective surgery. We want you to know that we have always placed your safety as the center of all that we do, and we would not offer these surgeries unless we felt we could offer them safely.

We welcome any questions and are happy to address any concerns you may have. If you think you may have a hernia or do you need more information, contact us today so we can guide you. Ortho , Orthopedic Surgeon , Surgical Procedures. The Conway Medical Center Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life of all individuals in the Conway Medical Center service area.

Through CMC Care you can access your medical records for both your hospital and physician office encounters and set primary care appointments at your convenience on any computer, tablet or mobile device. Exact matches only. Search in title. Search in content. Search in excerpt. A Healthier Choice.