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)