A hernia is a medical condition in which a portion of an organ, usually the intestine, protrudes through a hole or a weak spot into another area of the body, generally through the abdominal wall. Some common symptoms of a hernia include pain, swelling, or the development of a noticeable lump in the area of the affected organ. These symptoms are usually noticed in the abdominal or groin area of the body. In mild cases, the patient may not experience any negative symptoms at all.
In most cases, a hernia will cause some degree of pain or discomfort. A lump may be able to be felt through the skin. The patient may be able to press on the lump and push the affected organ back into its normal position. It is not uncommon for the pain from a hernia to come and go, sometimes in an unpredictable fashion. Sometimes, the patient will only feel pain or discomfort if the area surrounding the hernia is touched or pressed.
Patients who are able to feel the lump caused by the hernia may notice that the lump seems to change sizes at times. This lump may get bigger when the patient rises from a seated position. It may also seem larger when there is increased abdominal pressure, such as when the patient coughs or sneezes. In some cases, a small lump may be able to be pushed back into its normal position, but this is not always the case.
Sometimes, a hernia may become large enough to start causing severe medical complications. A doctor should be consulted right away if there is severe pain or pain that does not go away. Nausea and vomiting may indicate that a bowel obstruction has occurred. This can be a potentially dangerous situation, and a doctor will need to evaluate the patient for potentially life-threatening complications.
In addition to the possible development of a bowel obstruction, the blood supply to the affected organ may become compromised in some situations. This is particularly true in the case of an intestinal hernia. In severe cases, a portion of the colon will need to be removed in order to save the life of the patient. In rare cases, when there has been extensive damage done to the intestine, the entire intestine may need to be removed. While most hernias do not lead to life-threatening complications, regular monitoring by a doctor is highly recommended.
