Tummy troubles-including difficulty digesting meals, heartburn, lingering digestive upset, nausea, and bowel issues such as constipation-may occur with hernias located in the groin or abdominal areas, such as an inguinal hernia, which bulges out of the groin near the lower abdomen and the thigh. Small hiatal hernias aren’t usually an issue however, larger hiatal hernias can result in pain when food and acid back up into the esophagus, as the esophagus passes through the hiatus on route to the stomach.Ī feeling characterized as a dragging sensation in your groin may be an inguinal hernia (which is a soft tissue hernia of the abdominal cavity or omentum, that presses through weakened abdominal muscles) or a femoral hernia (a sac in the groin and thigh made up of intestine forcing into the wall of the femoral canal). These hernias will hurt whenever you sit or bend over to pick up an object. Hiatal hernias, on the other hand, result from sacs in the stomach that force tissue up through your diaphragm opening (known as the hiatus). However, these hernias can appear in adulthood as well. Umbilical hernias are most typical in infants (roughly at age 1 to 3-years old) that are born with weak organ or abdominal tissues. Umbilical hernias are hernias that develop in the intestines and protrude via an opening in the layered abdominal muscles. You can’t ignore a strangulated hernia as the pain will be so excruciating that you will require immediate medical attention.Ī heavy, full, bloated, or uncomfortable feeling in the gut is common to those with umbilical or hiatal hernias in the abdominal area. However, if the pain is severe, the hernia may be strangulated (which means that the blood supply is cut off). There could be pain or aching that gradually worsens with exerting movements, such as lifting, bending over to retrieve objects, carrying heavy objects, or sitting for long periods of time (i.e., at a desk or in a vehicle) can become excruciating. This pressure can be exacerbated when the patient bends over to pick up an object or from sheer pressure due to bending at the waist.
It can be no pain at all, just a visual protrusion (or bulging sac) in the area of the groin or navel, or a pressure-filled or heavy sensation in the abdomen. According to patient reports, hernia pain has diverse ranges. Most times a new hernia will be painless. Hernia pain can range from slightly uncomfortable to severely painful-particularly the longer you leave it untreated. It’s very important that you go to your doctor as soon as you notice a lump as it may signify another health issue, such as type of abnormal growth or a cancerous tumor. You may notice the bulge before you feel pain, but in many cases, patients feel pain before the protrusion is noticeable to the naked eye. This notable protrusion, or bulging sac, is one of the primary characteristics of a hernia and typically develops due to weakened tissue that’s present at birth or organ/tissue that wears down later in life. Untreated hernias become severe and very painful as the muscle widens and splits, and as more and more of the intestines or abdominal tissue is forced through the opening, forming an even larger sac.
This protrusion forms as a sac in the organs (most commonly the intestines) but sometimes also in the wall of the abdomen, groin, or navel. The first sign of a hernia is often a noticeable swelling under the skin, which will likely turn into a visible lump or bulge. Here are 15 common signs and symptoms of a hernia… 1. If they don’t dissipate on their own, you may require surgery to prevent them from worsening. Ranging from mild to extremely painful when exposed, hernias usually go away when you press on them or lie down, but they can be aggravated by coughing or sneezing. They most typically form when an internal organ (usually the bowel or bladder) or part of the intestine pushes out through the surrounding muscle. Hernias are lumps caused when a weakening of the muscle walls occur and fatty tissue squeezes through the connective tissue.