What causes a hernia?
You develop a hernia when an internal organ or tissue protrudes through a tear or weakness in a muscle. The muscle can weaken due to age-related changes and lack of tone. Other common hernia causes include heavy lifting, frequent coughing, and straining during bowel movements.
What are the symptoms of a hernia?
You can identify a hernia by a noticeable lump where the tissues push through abdominal muscles. Over time, pain may develop that worsens when your activities place pressure on the hernia site.
In severe cases, the hernia can become strangulated between the muscles. This condition becomes an emergency when the blood supply is cut off from the swelling of the hernia.
Hiatal hernias affect your stomach, causing symptoms such as heartburn, indigestion, and pain in your upper chest.
What are the different types of hernias?
The most common types of hernias are:
- Inguinal hernia: Occurs in your inner groin
- Femoral hernia: Appears in the upper thigh or outer groin area
- Incisional or ventral hernia: Develops in the abdominal wall along a previous incision site
- Umbilical hernia: Protrusion through the abdomen near your navel
- Hiatal hernia: Occurs inside the abdomen when your stomach pushes through the diaphragm muscle
What is the treatment for a hernia?
Hernias never heal on their own, and when they require treatment your only option is surgery. During surgical hernia repair, the protruding organ or tissue is put back into place. Your surgeon at Rockwall Surgical Specialists may implant a hernia mesh over the area to add extra support, then the muscle is stitched back together.
If you have a large hernia and the muscles are severely weakened or damaged, your surgeon may reconstruct your abdominal muscles to close the hernia site and strengthen your abdominal wall.
What are the benefits of laparoscopic surgery?
The surgeons at Rockwall Surgical Specialists have extensive experience performing hernia surgery using minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques. Laparoscopic surgery uses several very small incisions and specialized surgical tools contained in long, narrow tubes that fit through the incisions.
The key piece of equipment, the laparoscope, contains a high-definition camera that provides a magnified view of the surgical site. Minimally invasive surgery provides several health benefits, including:
- Less postoperative pain
- Quicker recovery and return to normal activities
- Faster return to a regular diet
- Reduced risk of infection
- Minimal scarring
If you have a hernia or symptoms of one and would like to schedule a consultation, use online booking or call Rockwall Surgical Specialists today.
