June is designated as Hernia Awareness Month to increase awareness about this very common condition. A hernia may begin as a bulge in the groin that may or may not be painful. Let’s look at some of the signs and symptoms that you could have a hernia.
People with weak abdominal muscles who perform some kind of strenuous activity are at a high risk for developing a hernia. The condition is often seen in young men who participate in sports without proper core muscle conditioning or who perform heavy manual labor jobs.
The most common type of hernia is the inguinal hernia. It is seen more often in men than women. This is partly due to the inguinal canal being larger in men because the testicles and the scrotum descend from the abdomen through the inguinal canal.
Hernias can be reducible, which means you use your finger to push the bulge back into the abdominal cavity or lie down in bed and let gravity reduce the bulge. Some people may have hernias their entire life without experiencing any problems, but when the hernia becomes painful, that is a sign that hernia could be causing complications.
If the bulge is not reducible, then that could be a concern that the hernia could be strangulated or incarcerated, which is when the blood supply to the contents in the hernia is cut off. This could be a medical emergency and its best to get the hernia repaired before that happens.
If you have abdominal pain or bulge in the pelvic area, you should see your doctor who will perform a physical examination and may order an ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis.
The best treatment for a symptomatic hernia is surgery. Dr. Ahmad performs robotic hernia surgery, which is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure. The surgery is performed through 2-3 small puncture-hole incisions using specialized robotic arms controlled by the surgeon. You will usually be discharged on the same day as the surgery.
Patients generally can expect to recover quickly after robotic hernia surgery and return to work or routine activities within a week.
Dr. Arif Ahmad uses the industry leading da Vinci Robotic Surgery System which ensures minimal recovery time and additional benefits for Long Island surgical patients. Please call 631-689-0220 for more information.
