A hernia develops when an organ protrudes or bulges through a weak spot or opening in a muscle or tissue containing the organ. While most hernias don’t cause pain, pain can result from bending, lifting heavy objects, coughing, and laughing. In most cases, hernias present no symptoms, but if they do, the symptoms vary depending on the type of hernia. For example, patients with an inguinal hernia may have a bulge on the side of the pubic bone, which is easily noticeable when you are in an upright position. Other hernias, such as hiatal, may result in more specific chest pain and heartburn symptoms. Below are the different types of hernia in Dallas and all you need to know about them.
Inguinal hernia
This type of hernia can affect both children and adults and happens due to the protrusion of the intestines through weak spots in the abdominal muscles. Sometimes weakness in the abdominal muscles presents itself at birth and is common in preterm babies. The muscle weakness responsible for an inguinal hernia can develop as you age during pregnancy or result from strenuous physical activities. Factors such as old age, pregnancy, chronic coughing, chronic constipation, and previous hernia repair put you at risk for this problem.
Treatment depends on the extremity of your problem. If the hernia is small, your doctor may ask you to wear a supportive truss to manage your symptoms. But robotic hernia surgeon may be an option if our hernia is large and causes pain and discomfort.
Umbilical hernia
Umbilical hernias are common and occur when part of the intestines pushes through an opening in the muscles near your navel. These hernias mostly affect children and usually close without requiring any medical intervention. The bulge is more noticeable when an infant cries, and sometimes other symptoms such as tenderness, pain, and discoloration at the hernia site can be present. Although they are common in infants, umbilical hernias can develop in adults, too, and in such cases, surgical repair may be needed. In children, umbilical hernia develops when the opening in the baby’s abdominal muscles doesn’t close after birth. Increased pressure in the abdomen due to obesity, previous abdominal surgery, and multiple pregnancies may cause a hernia in adults.
Hiatal hernia
A large muscle called the diaphragm that separates the chest cavity and the abdominal area, usually has a small opening known as the hiatus. Sometimes the stomach can push into the chest through the hiatus. It is possible to have a hiatal hernia with no symptoms, especially if the bulge is slight. However, large hernias are associated with shortness of breath, chest pain, acid reflux, and difficulty swallowing.
Ventral hernia
A ventral hernia refers to any protruding along the vertical center of the abdominal wall. The types of ventral hernias are categorized based on their location. For example, an epigastric hernia occurs anywhere between the breastbone and navel area. An umbilical hernia occurs right at the navel, while an incisional hernia can develop at a previous surgery site any time after abdominal surgery.
Most herniated organs can be fixed back into the abdominal cavity. Book a session with your doctor at Michael Sutker, MD, for treatment to get rid of the discomfort.
