| Before we talk about treatment, let's start with a discussion about the human body and about your medical condition. Your doctor has told you that you have a hernia. But what does that actually mean? |
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In general terms, we can say that a hernia occurs when the layers that make up the abdominal wall weaken. In other words, the fabric of muscle and other tissues which protect the gut, develops a defect, or weakness. Through that defect the peritoneum (PER-IT-TA-NEE-UM) - and perhaps other organs - push their way outward, forming a lump which can be felt - and sometimes seen - protruding from the abdomen. |
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During normal childhood development, boy's testes slowly descend from the interior of the abdomen, down into the scrotum. They pass through the abdominal wall by way of a natural passageway called the inguinal canal. |
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n men, the inguinal canal contains blood vessels that supply the testes, as well as the vessel that carries sperm to the penis. Hernias that occur due to a weakness in the abdominal wall at the inguinal canal, are called inguinal hernias. And not surprisingly, men are 25 times more likely than women to experience a hernia in this area. |
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Some inguinal hernias press directly through the floor of the inguinal canal. |
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Others follow the route taken by the blood vessels that supply the testes. This kind of hernia - called an indirect hernia - can even push all the way into scrotum. |
| Perhaps you're wondering: what causes a hernia to develop? There's no single cause. Most people understand that hernias can sometimes occur following sudden, forceful lifting. But most often, hernias develop gradually ... |
| ... and finally make their appearance when the abdominal wall is under somewhat less dramatic pressure. Pregnancy, constipation, straining during urination - even repeated coughing - any of these actions can, in fact, put enough pressure on an abdominal weak spot to cause a hernia. |
| Symptoms of hernias can vary. If you have a mild hernia, you may not even be aware of it. But in most cases, a hernia causes a noticeable lump or swelling. There may be some pain or discomfort - often increasing when standing, and subsiding when lying down. |
| Hernias become more serious problems if abdominal contents - such as part of the small intestine or another organ - slide into the hernia sack and become trapped there. |
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If those organs cannot slide easily back into the abdomen,the hernia is said to be irreducible. Irreducible hernias are often painful and can lead to complications. |
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For example, if the intestine becomes trapped in the hernia sack it is said to be incarcerated. |
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If the neck of the hernia sack actually pinches off the supply of blood to those organs which have become trapped inside, the hernia is said to be strangulated. |
| These are both considered to be medical emergencies and if left untreated, an incarcerated or especially a strangulated hernia can lead to very severe illness and even death. |
| Luckily, the vast majority of hernias are not considered to be emergencies. However, if you should ever feel a sudden onset of severe pain in your hernia, you should definitely seek immediate medical attention. |
