How do hernias happen

This mostly occurs people who are older, overweight or inactive following abdominal surgery. Femoral hernia: When part of the intestine causes a bulge in the upper part of the thigh, close to the groin. This is most common in women, particularly those who are pregnant or overweight. Umbilical hernia: When part of the intestine extends into the umbilical opening in the abdominal area. Infants are susceptible to this. These hernias are usually harmless in children. Minimally invasive robotic surgery similar to laparoscopy, but surgeons use a controller to move instruments is also an option.

With minimally invasive surgery, patients are back to their regular activity within two weeks. Open surgery is the other treatment option — recovery takes four to six weeks. For both men and women, repair is recommended for most abdominal hernias. The exception is if you have risk factors for complications or hernia recurrence, such as obesity or poorly controlled diabetes. Some patients do not have symptoms and may decide to delay repair after discussion of the risks and benefits with their surgeon.

Surgical options and recovery time for ventral hernias vary widely because these hernias come in all shapes and sizes.

A small umbilical or incisional hernia can often be treated on an outpatient basis. However, repairing more complicated hernias may require a hospital stay of one to five days.

A: When most hernias start, the internal tissue that pushes through the muscle gap is usually fat. The risk of this is very low, but when it happens, it needs emergency repair. Seek immediate medical attention if you have:. For more information about hernias and their treatment, visit the Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Hernia Center. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. Q: What is a hernia?

Q: Who is at higher risk for a ventral hernia? Q: How can you tell if you have an inguinal groin hernia? However, it can depend on the nature of the hernia, your symptoms, and your overall health. In some cases, the hernia may recur after repair surgery. If the hernia causes an extra hole in your abdominal wall, they may repair your hernia by sewing the hole in the abdominal wall closed during surgery. This is commonly done by patching the hole with surgical mesh.

For example, this can occur in the space where the esophagus is meant to pass through the diaphragm. In these cases, surgery can be performed to tighten the opening. Hernias can be repaired with either open or laparoscopic surgery. During open surgery, the surgeon makes an incision close to the site of the hernia, and then pushes the bulging tissue back into the abdomen. They then sew the area shut, sometimes reinforcing it with surgical mesh. Finally, they close the incision. Laparoscopic surgery uses a tiny camera and miniaturized surgical equipment to repair the hernia.

It only requires a few small incisions and is less damaging to the surrounding tissue. Not all hernias are suitable for laparoscopic surgery. If your hernia requires an open surgical repair, your surgeon will work with you to determine which technique is best for your condition.

Find out more about inguinal hernia repair. After your surgery, you may experience pain around the surgical site. Your surgeon will prescribe medication to help ease this discomfort while you recover. Contact them promptly if you notice any signs of infection such as fever, redness or drainage at the site, or pain that suddenly worsens.

Following your hernia repair, you may be unable to move around normally for several weeks. Additionally, you should avoid lifting objects heavier than 10 pounds 4. This is slightly more than the weight of a gallon of milk. Open surgery often requires a longer recovery process than laparoscopic surgery. Your surgeon will let you know when you can return to your normal routine. Between 10 and 25 percent of babies are born with an umbilical hernia.

This type of hernia is also more common in babies who are born prematurely or with a low birth weight. Umbilical hernias occur near the belly button. This causes a portion of the intestine to bulge out. Umbilical hernias in children are typically painless. However, when symptoms such as pain, vomiting, or swelling at the hernia site occur, you should seek emergency medical attention.

Umbilical hernias typically go away when a child is 1 or 2 years old. Learn more about umbilical hernia repair. They can evaluate it and determine if it poses any health risks.

Often, hernia repair can wait until after delivery. The recommended time to have this performed is during the second trimester. Hernias that have been repaired in the past may return with later pregnancies. This is because pregnancy places a strain on abdominal muscle tissue that may have been weakened by surgery. Hernias can also occur following a cesarean delivery. During a cesarean delivery, a doctor makes an incision into the abdomen and uterus.

The baby is then delivered through these incisions. An incisional hernia can sometimes occur at the site of a cesarean delivery. Get more details about hernias that occur after a cesarean delivery. Your hernia may grow and cause more symptoms. It may also put too much pressure on nearby tissues, which can cause swelling and pain in the surrounding area.

A portion of your intestine could also become trapped in the abdominal wall. This is called incarceration. Incarceration can obstruct your bowel and cause severe pain , nausea , or constipation. This can cause the intestinal tissue to become infected or die. A strangulated hernia is life threatening and requires immediate medical care. Some symptoms that can signal that you need to seek out emergency medical attention for your hernia include:.

Sometimes a hernia occurs because of an existing inherited condition or a previous surgery. However, you can make some simple lifestyle adjustments to help lower your risk of a hernia. These steps aim to reduce the amount of strain you place on your body.