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Medical Author:

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Hernia Symptoms and Signs

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

• Reducible hernia



• It may appear as a new lump in the groin or other abdominal area.



• It may ache but is not tender when touched.



• Sometimes pain precedes the discovery of the lump.



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



• It may be reduced (pushed back into the abdomen) unless very large.



• Irreducible hernia



• It may be an 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 chronic (occur over a long term) without pain.



• An irreducible hernia is also known as an incarcerated hernia.



• It can lead to strangulation (blood supply being cut off to tissue in the hernia).



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



• Strangulated hernia



• This is an irreducible hernia in which the entrapped intestine has its blood supply cut off.



• Pain is 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.



• This condition is a surgical emergency.