A hernia is an internal injury that happens when abdominal tissues or organs push through your abdominal wall. It’s extremely common: An estimated 27% of men and 3% of women develop inguinal hernias during their lifetimes.
Hernias don’t always cause pain, but that doesn’t mean they can be ignored. In fact, a hernia will never resolve on its own. Hernia surgery is the only way to heal a hernia, because it puts organs and tissues back in their proper place and closes the hole in your abdominal wall.
As a leading general surgeon in Fort Worth, Texas, Balaguru Sambandam, MD, FACS, provides comprehensive care and hernia repair surgery at North Tarrant Health Providers. If you think you might have a hernia, here’s what you need to know about getting a diagnosis and treatment plan that’s right for you.
Your abdominal wall is a thick band of muscle and connective tissue that keeps your organs and other internal tissues in place. But sometimes, weak spots develop in the muscle or connective tissue, and underlying tissues or organs push through the weak area to create a hernia.
Most hernias occur in the groin and abdomen. The most obvious — and sometimes only — sign of a hernia is a visible bulge beneath your skin. The bulge is usually soft, and you might be able to easily push it back into your body.
Anyone can get a hernia, but they’re more common in some people than others. Your risk of developing hernia may go up if you:
While a visible hernia bulge is often the only symptom, some people experience hernia pain, too. The pain may feel like a deep ache or heavy sensation. Hernia-related pain is most common with large hernias, hernias that are progressing, and following strenuous activity.
Whether or not your hernia is painful, it requires professional care. Hernias don’t heal on their own, and ignoring it may increase your risk of serious complications.
If you think you have a hernia, schedule a doctor’s appointment. Dr. Sambandam can diagnose your condition and recommend a course of treatment. In general, you have two options:
Hernias don’t resolve on their own, but they don’t always require immediate surgery, either. Dr. Sambandam may recommend watchful waiting if he diagnoses you with a small hernia and you don’t have pain.
With watchful waiting, Dr. Sambandam monitors your condition to make sure the hernia doesn’t get worse. He may recommend lifestyle changes, like losing extra weight, to help lower your risk of complications. If your situation changes, he adjusts your treatment plan accordingly.
For hernias that are large or painful, surgery is often the best treatment option. Dr. Sambandam specializes in minimally invasive hernia repair, using laparoscopic techniques to reduce trauma during surgery.
He makes a few small incisions to access your hernia and inserts a tiny camera to view the surgery site. During surgery, he repositions the protruding tissues and organs, then closes and reinforces the weakened muscle area. Full recovery from surgery takes about six weeks.
Minimally invasive hernia repair is a safe, reliable way to resolve your hernia and avoid complications. To learn more about your treatment options, make an appointment with Dr. Sambandam and our team. Call us at 817-904-4165 or use the online booking tool today.
