A hernia is caused by the protrusion of part, or all of a particular organ through the organ membrane itself, or through part of the muscular tissue. For a simple comparison you can think of a hernia as a tire, the tire being the muscular tissue. The inner tube of the tire will be the organ. When there is a weak spot in the tire, such as a bulge it allows for the organ to pass through, creating failure in the tire (muscular tissue) this leads to the inner tube being allowed to pass through and causing the tire to malfunction.
Hernia symptom classifications related to their anatomical position
An inguinal hernia is perforation of the inguinal canal by the abdominal cavity contents. This is frequently repaired by surgical intervention and is very common.
A femoral hernia is due to a weak area that is naturally formed called the femoral canal which is located just under the inguinal ligament, allowing the abdominal contents to pass through.
Umbilical hernias are abdominal contents passing through a weak area in the site where the abdominal wall connects with the umbilical cord. More commonly seen in children this hernia often resolves on its own.
An incision hernia is caused due to a surgical wound that has not healed completely. When it’s in the linea alba due to a laperotomy incision it is called a ventral hernia. This hernia is difficult to treat due to the area having already tender, fragile tissue where the repair needs to be performed.
Diaphragmatic hernias are due to a weak diaphragm muscle allowing the intestine or stomach to protrude into the chest wall cavity.
A hiatal hernia caused by protrusion of the stomach through a weak point in the diaphragm, sometimes due to a tear, pushes it’s way up into the thorax.
A sports hernia affects many athletes, causing a medical condition in the groin. It causes pain in the groin with a dilated superficial ring in the inguinal canal. Those most often affected are soccer players but this injury can appear in the recreational sportsman and others also.
Hernia symptoms are a fact of life, and have been in exhistance as long as man. Due to it being a common problem for many years, there is a very high rate of success in repair of a hernia that not many out-patient surgeries can compare to.
Surgery for the groin hernia has undergone various development stages. Surgery for the hernia was developed in the fifteenth century, it has come under many changes, and these changes have resulted in a simple procedure that requires placement of a patch over the weakened area known as tensionless repair. Thus it allows for a nearly effortless surgery and speedy recovery.
Inguinal Hernias
The inguinal canal passage is located in the lower front part of the muscle in abdominal wall . This sometimes allows the protrusion of a part of the bowel to pass through and push into the groin through the inguinal canal. This type of hernia is sometimes already there at birth but can also be the result of constant force, injury, strain or pressure on the abdominal wall muscle. If present at birth (congenital) it is called an indirect hernia, if it is caused by some injury or strain after birth it is called a direct hernia.
Hernia pain has the ability to be a chronic aching pain or acute and sharp, it can be just an annoyance or become debilitating. They can cause mobility problems and therefore a reduction in physical activity. A hernia of this type never resolves on it’s own but there are ways to diffuse the pain.
Symptoms of an Inguinal Hernia
Taking swift action and knowing what the symptoms of an inguinal hernia are is important to avoid an emergency operation.
You should consult your physician, even if there is minimal discomfort or pain before you decide whether or not to go ahead with surgery for your inguinal hernia. At times it is possible to wait.
Types of Inguinal Hernias
Direct inguinal hernias- this is when the bowel passes through the inguinal ring after the embryonic closure fails in infant boys when the testicle has passed through.
Indirect Inguinal Hernia- Is the passing of the bowel through a weak spot in the abdominal wall fascia.
It is possible for an Inguinal hernia to become incarcerated or strangulated and this is a serious condition which usually requires emergency surgical intervention.
Repair of an Inguinal Hernia
The only cure and treatment for an inguinal Hernia is surgery. There is no other step to a cure that is non-invasive. This is the reason that inguinal hernia repair is at the top of the list of surgical interventions in America. There are other forms of Inguinal Hernia repair or temporary relief that will be discussed later.
Recovery of Inguinal Hernia Repair
After a lapriscopic Hernia surgery you will have some pain for the first few hours. The pain you feel will be due to the incision made by your surgeon to aid in the performance of the procedure. After an average of three up to five hours later, your surgeon wil sign your discharge papers and allow you to leave with a designated caretaker or family member.
Once you get home, you will no longer need someone to care for you. After two to three days, your schedule can return to normal and you can go back to work. If you enjoy a work out, you can once again participate in any sport or fitness routine. In just a few short months the surgical scar will barely be noticeable to you.
