If this condition is left untreated longer than 6 hours, incarcerated hernia can cut off blood flow to part of the intestine, resulting in strangulated hernia.
If left untreated, however, a hernia can cause serious complications, such as a bowel obstruction (resulting in severe pain, nausea or constipation), or intestinal strangulation, if the trapped section of the intestines does not get enough blood.
Untreated hernias may not only keep increasing in size but may also become harder to manage, more uncomfortable, more painful, and in worst case scenarios, life-threatening.
Indeed, many hernias go unnoticed and undiagnosed for years, decades or even the remainder of the patient's life. Asymptomatic hernias, as they are known, do not warrant treatment, in most cases, because we simply do not know they exist, but also because the risk of strangulation is very low.
Ignoring a hernia or not seeking treatment can result in more serious complications including intestinal blockage, hernia incarceration, or hernia strangulation.
Seek immediate care if a hernia bulge turns red, purple or dark or if you notice any other signs or symptoms of a strangulated hernia. See your doctor if you have a painful or noticeable bulge in your groin on either side of your pubic bone.
Progression to symptoms in most inguinal hernia patients
More recent studies show that about 80% of patients with inguinal hernia develop enough symptoms over 10 years that they end up needing surgery.
Hernias occur when tissue or an organ pushes through a weak spot in an abdominal muscle and are usually repaired surgically. While the majority of hernia surgeries are successful, there is a chance that a hernia could return months or even years after hernia surgery.
A hernia usually does not go away without surgery. Non-surgical approaches such as wearing a corset, binder, or truss may exert gentle pressure on the hernia and keep it in place. These methods may ease the pain or discomfort and may be used if you are not fit for the surgery or awaiting surgery.
Most inguinal hernias can be pushed back into the belly with gentle massage and pressure. An inguinal hernia will not heal on its own. If you have symptoms, or the hernia is growing, you may need surgery. Some surgeons recommend repair of all groin hernias in women.
A hernia is a common but frequently misunderstood condition. You may have a hernia if you have swelling and a bulge that is able to be “pushed back” into your abdomen. If it continues to grow, you will need to have hernia surgery in order to repair it.
How long can you live with a hernia? The absolute answer is that it is “unpredictable.” Some can live with a hernia for their whole life while others will develop a hernia related emergency within months of the development of their hernia.
Take good care of yourself in the days/weeks leading up to your surgery. Eat well, stay hydrated, exercise at levels that do not cause excessive pain to the hernia and get plenty of sleep. Remember #1 — try to keep a positive outlook – over 1 million people go through hernia surgery each year in the US.
Share on Pinterest Alongside a bulge, symptoms of a strangulated hernia may include fever, fatigue, nausea, and excruciating pain. One common indication of a strangulated hernia is an easily visible bulge in the areas of the abdomen or pelvis.
Repairing a hernia is major surgery. And like so many other types of surgery, hernia repairs have gotten much better for patients over the years, says Leon Clarke, MD, a general surgeon at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital.
Exercise can be one of the effective ways of managing some chronic health conditions, including hernia. However, when done improperly or with certain exercises, it may also worsen a hernia and exacerbate its symptoms.
At some point the hernia will become larger and you will experience symptoms of pain, discomfort, a fullness in your groin or stomach, and it will eventually limit your activities. The larger a hernia becomes, the harder it is to repair. The only lasting treatment is surgical repair.
a bulge that can ache or burn in the area that hurts; if you push on the bulge while laying down, you can usually make it go away. bending over, coughing and lifting cause pain in the area. your abdomen can feel heavy and weak or you can even feel pressure. you might also experience nausea.
Another possible symptom of a hernia is pain around the bulge or pain in a localized area. The area may be sensitive to the touch, even if you don't have a noticeable hernia bulge. Pain can feel like a burning or aching sensation, which may get worse with strain.
A reducible hernia is a hernia with a bulge that flattens out when you lie down or push against it gently. This type of hernia is not an immediate danger to your health, although it may be painful and worsen over time if left untreated.
An inguinal hernia that can't be moved back into the abdomen is called an incarcerated hernia. This is a dangerous situation because the part of your intestine inside the hernia can become strangulated, which is a medical emergency. Symptoms of a strangulated inguinal hernia include: Severe pain and redness.