Most often, a lump in the abdomen is caused by a hernia. An abdominal hernia occurs when there is a weak spot in the abdominal wall. This allows the internal organs to bulge through the muscles of the abdomen. A hernia may appear after you strain, or lift something heavy, or after a long period of coughing.
What causes an abdominal lump? Possible causes of an abdominal lump include hernias, lipomas, hematomas, undescended testicles, and tumors. These can appear as an area of swelling or a bulge that protrudes from the abdominal area. Abdominal lumps can be hard or soft and may feel sore.
An inguinal hernia is a soft lump in the groin or near the navel. It may be more visible when you cough. Hernias that disappear when you press on them may not need any treatment. Hernias that don't disappear when you press on them may be more serious and need medical treatment.
Q: What Does a Belly or Abdominal (Ventral) Hernia Feel Like? A: If you have a ventral hernia in the belly area, you may see or feel a bulge along the outer surface of the abdomen. Typically, patients with ventral hernias describe mild pain, aching or a pressure sensation at the site of the hernia.
A Lump in or Near Your Belly Button
Some people have an “outie.” That's a normal bulge that you've had since just after you were born. But, if you feel a new lump or bulge in your belly button, you might need a doctor's care.
One common sign of a hernia is the visible bulge in the affected area. Other reported symptoms include pressure, a cough, heartburn, and difficulty swallowing. Severe hernia symptoms are shooting pain, vomiting, and constipation. If your hernia becomes soft or you can't push it in, go to the emergency room.
Sign #1: There's a bulge in your abdomen or groin.
The first sign of a hernia is the hernia itself — that is, the bulge created by the tissue or organ. You might not even notice it, until you do something that increases the pressure within your abdomen, such as coughing, jumping, standing up or straining.
This is known as an incarcerated hernia. If your hernia is trapped outside of the abdominal wall, you won't be able to push it back into your abdomen, and it may feel hard and be very painful. Contact your doctor right away if you have this situation. If left untreated, an incarcerated hernia may become strangulated.
They're not common, but they can be dangerous -- you may not notice any symptoms unless a muscle squeezes the hole shut while the intestine is poking through (called strangulation). In that case, the lump will be hard and tender and you might have severe belly pain, nausea, or vomiting.
Hernia symptoms often vary from patient to patient. The most common complaints are pain/discomfort and a bulge or swelling at the site of the hernia. The bulge may be persistent or may go away. It may get bigger over time.
A hard stomach can happen for various reasons, including constipation, gastric cancer, and some chronic digestive conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
The sebaceous glands release oil in the skin. If one of these glands in or near the belly button gets backed up or clogged with dirt and oil, a cyst may form under the skin. If the cyst is infected and leaking, a thick off-white to yellow discharge will often come from it.
Feeling full: Many stomach cancer patients experience a sense of "fullness" in the upper abdomen after eating small meals. Heartburn: Indigestion, heartburn or symptoms similar to an ulcer may be signs of a stomach tumor. Nausea and vomiting: Some stomach cancer patients have symptoms that include nausea and vomiting.
The easiest way to assess for a hiatal hernia is to place your fingers on the upper belly just below the sternum. Take a deep inhalation and feel if your abs expand.
What else can be mistaken for a hernia? While a hernia is the cause for most people who experience lumps in their abdomen, there are several other possibilities such as a hematoma, lipoma, a gynecological issue in women, or an undescended testicle in newborn boys. In rare cases, a lump may indicate a tumor.
If it is left untreated, a strangulated hernia can lead to life-threatening conditions such as necrotizing enterocolitis (severe inflammation of intestine) and sepsis. Since hernias can happen to anyone at any age, knowing warning signs of hernias and being aware of them are essential.
If you've noticed a slight lump or bulge under your skin in your groin or abdomen area that is accompanied by pain or discomfort, you might have a hernia. Hernias most often occur when the stomach or other organs in the abdomen poke through a tear or weak spot in your muscle.
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. Activities like bending down, lifting heavy objects, coughing, or straining during a bowel movement can trigger sharp pain from a hernia.
See a GP if you think you have a hernia. They may refer you to hospital for surgical treatment, if necessary. You should go to your nearest A&E straight away if you have a hernia and you develop any of the following symptoms: sudden, severe pain.
There are several possible causes for your lower abdominal bulge. These could include: fat distribution, a hernia, weakening of the tissue between your rectus abdominus muscles (rectus diastasis) or an intra-abdominal mass.
Bumps that are cancerous are typically large, hard, painless to the touch and appear spontaneously. The mass will grow in size steadily over the weeks and months. Cancerous lumps that can be felt from the outside of your body can appear in the breast, testicle, or neck, but also in the arms and legs.
A tumor may feel more like a rock than a grape. A cancerous lump is usually hard, not soft or squishy. And it often has angular, irregular, asymmetrical edges, as opposed to being smooth, Dr. Comander says.