A strangulated hernia is characterized by intense pain and sensitivity at the site of the hernia. Individuals suffering from this condition are also likely to experience difficulties having a bowel movement or may be completely unable to have one as long as the hernia is present. Other symptoms of this kind of hernia may include fever, nausea and vomiting.
When a person is stricken by a hernia, an internal organ has actually begun to protrude beyond the wall that normally separates it from other parts of the body. Often, such a protrusion occurs in the area of the groin as part of a person’s intestine attempts to push past the abdominal wall. The symptoms of a strangulated hernia, in particular, are caused by the hernia constricting the blood flow in the intestines and sometimes completely blocking the blood supply in this region. When this occurs, a patient will feel severe pain and the area of the hernia’s location will be very sensitive to the touch.
Also known as an irreducible hernia, another sign of this condition may be the onset of gangrene. This is due to a lack of blood supply in the area of the hernia, which results in tissue that begins to die if the condition is not promptly treated. Individuals with this specific type of hernia are also likely to possess a visible bulge in the groin area. Treating this type of hernia as quickly as possible is crucial, as irreversible tissue damage and infections associated with damaged tissue may also occur.
This kind of hernia most commonly occurs in men. While such is a rare occurrence in women, a femoral hernia, which is a hernia that occurs in the femoral canal, can turn into a strangulated hernia in a woman if not properly treated before progressing. One of the most common signs of this type of hernia is a bulge in the upper thigh area.
Often, a strangulated hernia will begin as an inguinal hernia. While engaging in heavy lifting, this type of hernia may be felt in the groin area, but is sometimes undetected, as it may exist while being completely painless. When a bulge is detected, an inguinal hernia may be pushed back into place. When such is possible, this type is considered to be a reducible hernia. When it cannot be pushed back into place, however, it is known as an irreducible hernia and painful symptoms are usually felt.
