It’s unmistakable when you hear – or rather, feel – that distinctive “pop!”
I wish I could say mine came when I was doing something sporty like playing football or weightlifting, but my hernia announced its surprise appearance when I was moving a dresser. In my case, it was harmless and healed by itself like a large number of hernias, but it’s not always the case.
Hernias happen when an organ or part of your intestine pushes through an opening in the wall of muscle that holds it in place. In about 70 percent of cases, this is the abdominal wall. Brought on by stress and a weakened spot in that wall of muscle, a tear will develop in the muscle, allowing part of the intestine to peek through.
Several factors can make you susceptible to hernias, including being overweight, smoking (which leads to chronic coughing and stress on your abdominal muscles), or chronic constipation (leading to straining when you’re using the bathroom). The size of the tear and the amount of escaping organ determine the severity of the hernia.
Once you’ve felt that pop, there are other signs you may have a hernia. They include:
- A bulge or large bump in your abdomen, more often on either side of your pelvic bone where your groin and thigh meet.
- Pain or discomfort, usually in your lower abdomen. Pain or a burning sensation may be worse if you’re bending, coughing or trying to lift something, which puts pressure on the abdominal wall.
- Gurgling noises. Again, felt or heard.
- Feelings normally associated with heartburn. Acid reflux, when stomach acid goes where it shouldn’t, is another sign that a hernia is redirecting traffic. That may also lead to trouble or discomfort when swallowing.
Once you think you might have a hernia, it’s wise to seek medical opinion. Based on the extent of your hernia, treatment may not be necessary. A simple physical exam is often sufficient to determine if you, indeed, have a hernia. Often, swelling is visible when you stand upright, and there’s always the “turn your head and cough” test we’re all likely well aware of. Embarrassing, sure, but it may lead to your doctor simply advising a change in diet or workout regimen.
If it’s a more serious problem, you’ll be glad you didn’t ignore it. A strangulated intestinal hernia – when part of the intestine poking through the abdominal wall is having its blood supply cut off – can also lead to infection, gangrene and even death.
Your doctor may need an ultrasound or x-rays to determine this problem, and surgery to either sew the tear shut primarily or place a surgical mesh patch over the breach. Either can be done laparoscopically with minimal invasion methods and you’ll be up and active again in no time.
