December 1, 2008

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Hernia (cont.)

Hernia Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of a hernia can range from noticing a painless lump to the painful, tender, swollen protrusion of tissue that you are unable to push back into the abdomen-an incarcerated strangulated hernia.

  • Reducible hernia


    • New lump in the groin or other abdominal wall area


    • May ache but is not tender when touched


    • Sometimes pain precedes the discovery of the lump


    • Lump increases in size when standing or when abdominal pressure is increased (such as coughing)


    • May be reduced (pushed back into the abdomen) unless very large


  • Irreducible hernia


    • Occasionally painful enlargement of a previously reducible hernia that cannot be returned into the abdominal cavity on its own or when you push it


    • Some may be long term without pain


    • Also known as incarcerated hernia


    • Can lead to strangulation


    • Signs and symptoms of bowel obstruction may occur, such as nausea and vomiting


  • Strangulated hernia


    • Irreducible hernia in which the entrapped intestine has its blood supply cut off


    • Pain always present followed quickly by tenderness and sometimes symptoms of bowel obstruction (nausea and vomiting)


    • The affected person may appear ill with or without fever


    • Surgical emergency


    • Not all strangulated hernias are irreducible (but all irreducible hernias are not strangulated)



Next: When to Seek Medical Care »

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