A hernia occurs when an organ pushes through an opening in the muscle or tissue that holds it in place. For example, the intestines may break through a weakened area in the abdominal wall.<\/p>\n
Many hernias occur in the\u00a0abdomen<\/a>\u00a0between your chest and hips, but they can also appear in the upper thigh and groin areas.<\/p>\n Most hernias aren\u2019t immediately life-threatening, but they don\u2019t go away on their own. Sometimes they can require surgery to prevent dangerous complications.<\/p>\n Symptoms of a hernia<\/strong><\/p>\n The most common symptom of a hernia is a bulge or\u00a0lump<\/a>\u00a0in the affected area. For example, in the case of an\u00a0inguinal hernia<\/a>, you may notice a lump on either side of your pubic bone where your groin and thigh meet.<\/p>\n You may find that the lump disappears when you\u2019re lying down. You\u2019re more likely to feel your hernia through touch when you\u2019re standing up, bending down, or coughing.\u00a0Discomfort or pain<\/a>\u00a0in the area around the lump may also be present.<\/p>\n Some types of hernia, such as\u00a0hiatal hernias<\/a>, can have more specific symptoms. These can include things like\u00a0heartburn<\/a>,\u00a0trouble swallowing<\/a>, and\u00a0chest pain<\/a>.<\/p>\n In many cases, hernias have no symptoms. You may not know you have a hernia unless it shows up during a\u00a0routine physical<\/a>\u00a0or a medical exam for an unrelated problem.<\/p>\n Hernia recovery<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s important to recognize the signs of a hernia and to see your doctor if you suspect that you have one. An untreated hernia won\u2019t go away by itself. Your doctor can assess your hernia and determine how it can best be treated.<\/p>\n Hernias can cause complications that are life-threatening. It\u2019s important that you seek emergency care if you experience symptoms such as\u00a0nausea<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0vomiting<\/a>,\u00a0fever<\/a>, or sudden pain.<\/p>\n Early medical care and lifestyle changes can minimize symptoms. However, surgery is the only way to effectively treat a hernia. There are\u00a0different<\/a>\u00a0types<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0surgeries<\/a>\u00a0available to repair hernias, and your surgeon can advise on which one is right for your condition.<\/p>\n The prognosis for hernia repair surgery is generally very good but can depend on the nature of the hernia, your symptoms, and your overall health. In some cases, the hernia may recur following repair.<\/p>\n Hernia surgery<\/strong><\/p>\n If your hernia is growing larger or causing pain, your surgeon may decide it\u2019s best to operate. They may repair your hernia by sewing the hole in the abdominal wall closed during surgery. This is commonly done by patching the hole with\u00a0surgical mesh<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hernias can be repaired with either open or\u00a0laparoscopic<\/a>\u00a0surgery. Laparoscopic surgery uses a tiny camera and miniaturized surgical equipment to repair the hernia using only a few small incisions. It\u2019s also less damaging to the surrounding tissue.<\/p>\n During open surgery, the surgeon makes an incision close to the site of the hernia and then pushes the bulging tissue back into the abdomen. They then sew the area shut, sometimes reinforcing it with surgical mesh. Finally, they close the incision.<\/p>\n Not all hernias are suitable for laparoscopic surgery. If your hernia requires an open surgical repair, your surgeon will work with you to determine which type of surgery is best for your condition. Call us\u00a0(832)915-8140 or contact us<\/a> for a Hernia surgery consultation.<\/p>\n For general information about Hernias such as\u00a0Symptoms, Recovery, Causes, Diagnosis, and more, visit\u00a0https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/hernia<\/a>. The information within this page has been medically reviewed by Andrew Gonzalez, MD, JD, MPH on November 7, 2019.<\/em><\/p>\n