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© 2021 by PRISTYN CARE Pristyn Care® is a trademark of GHV Advanced Care Private Limited
© 2021 by PRISTYN CARE Pristyn Care® is a trademark of GHV Advanced Care Private Limited
Everything You Need To Know About Hernia
Hernia is one of the most common medical conditions and about 10 to 12 percent of the adult population in India suffers from the condition at some point. Congenital weakness of muscles and age-related deficiencies are the main contributors to hernia in India. By going through the contents on this page, you will be able to have a clear understanding of everything about hernia.
Table Of Index
What is Hernia?
How does it form?
Types of disease
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Severity
Risks & Complications
When to consult a doctor ?
Our Hernia Specialists
Questions to ask your doctor
Treatment Options & Cost
Insurance coverage
Recovery rate
Long term outlook of the treatment
What is Hernia?
A hernia is a medical condition that occurs due to the weakening of muscle tissues in an organ near the abdomen causing the intestine or tissues to protrude through the weak spots nearby. Mostly, a hernia can occur in the abdomen between the chest and hips but can also appear in the upper thigh and groin areas. There are several reasons concerning the occurrence of a hernia. Some of them revolve around smoking, poor nutrition, chronic constipation, consuming tobacco etc. Although most hernias aren’t immediately severe, sometimes certain cases might require surgery to prevent life-threatening complications as they don’t go away on their own. A hernia can appear among people of any age group.
How does it form?
A hernia forms when muscle tissues become weak or ruptured, causing internal organs like the intestines to protrude. Hernias can be classified into two categories which are, acquired and congenital. A person may be born with a hernia, or a hernia may be acquired from obesity or daily activities like heavy weightlifting, persistent sneezing or coughing and certain changes in lifestyle.
Types of disease
Inguinal hernia
Umbilical hernia
Incisional hernia
Femoral hernia
Hiatal hernia
Epigastric hernia
Causes
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Increased physical exertion in the abdomen
- Heavy and frequent coughing or sneezing
- Heavy or regular weightlifting
- Chronic Constipation
Symptoms
- A small lump initially in the affected area
- Discomfort or pain in the groin or abdomen while performing physical activities
- Discomfort while coughing or sneezing
- Constipation
- Discomfort while walking, sitting
- Burning and aching sensations in the abdomen of groin
- The lump might disappear or get reduced in size while lying down
Diagnosis
If one consults a doctor for hernia, the doctor might carry out certain tests depending upon the symptoms and severity of the hernia. Generally, a physical examination is all it takes for the doctor to diagnose a hernia. However, in certain cases where the diagnosis isn’t clearly apparent, the doctor might prescribe an imaging test such as an abdominal ultrasound, CT scan or MRI.
Severity
Generally, in the first stage, a person might experience a lump or swelling in and around the areas of the abdomen. The lump will be clearly visible while straining, coughing, and carrying out other physical activities but the same lump might disappear or get reduced as soon as the person lies down. Initially, the person would not feel any sort of pain or discomfort.
Risks & Complications
There might be a number of complications involved during a hernia repair surgery. Although rare, the general risks of a surgical hernia removal procedure include:
- Reaction of anesthesia
- Infection of the wound
- Blood clots
- Urinary tract injury
PreventionTo prevent a hernia from developing, it is important to maintain a healthy body weight as an obese person is more likely to acquire a hernia. Certain other ways to prevent the occurrence of a hernia involve inclusion of high-fibre food in one’s diet, avoiding smoking, proper treatment of persistent coughing and sneezing, and using proper techniques while lifting heavy objects.
Celebrities who had been diagnosed with hernia- Amitabh Bachchan: Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan had gone through multiple hernia surgeries due to severe pain in his lower abdomen. Due to the hernia appearing in his lower abdomen, he had to use a special belt while performing dance sequences and action scenes.
- Madonna: Pop-star and well known singer/songwriter Madonna had previously been diagnosed with hernia and she underwent a minor hernia surgery back in 2006.
- Dwayne Johnson: Popular actor and WWE superstar went through an emergency surgery for a torn abdominal hernia which he is said to have sustained from a wrestling match.
- Charlie Sheen: Back in 2011, popular actor Charlie Sheen was diagnosed with hiatal hernia for a long standing time and was rushed to the hospital in an emergency medical condition due to severe abdominal pain.
- Denise Richards: Actor Denise Richards was diagnosed with four hernias- two femoral and two inguinal. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills fame admitted that she had ignored her pain and the symptoms for months before being rushed to the hospital in an emergency medical condition.
Myths & factsMyth 1: Hernias can heal on their own.
Fact: No, hernias cannot heal on their own.
Myth 2: Exercises can heal hernia.
Fact: Well no, exercises cannot heal hernia.
Myth 3: Hernia can be cured with medications and alternative treatments.
Fact: Although medications and alternative treatments can ease the pain and discomfort, they cannot cure hernia.
Myth 4: Hernias can always recur.
Fact: Hernias generally don’t always recur, but in rare cases they might return months after being repaired.
Myth 5: Everyone is eligible for laparoscopic hernia surgery.
Fact: No, laparoscopic hernia surgery is not advisable for children and pregnant women.
Myth 6: Laparoscopic hernia surgeries are extremely painful.
Fact: Laparoscopic surgeries or minimally invasive surgeries are not painful at all.
Lesser known facts about hernia- Hernias are more common in men than in women.
- A hernia can appear all of a sudden.
- A hernia repair surgery is one of the most common surgeries performed annually among more than 20 million people.
- Initially, a hernia might not cause any pain or discomfort and remain stagnant and manageable but hernias don’t get repaired on their own and can get worse with time.
When to consult a doctor ?
The hernia in any given condition might not keep bulging, but neither will a hernia heal on its own. Delaying its treatment can result in severe complications as it wouldn’t even come with warning signs. The complications might appear suddenly which would lead the patient to be rushed in an emergency medical condition. If there is a noticeable bulge or protrusion accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fever or chills, or if one is unable to have a normal bowel movement, it might mean that the person is suffering from strangulated/incarcerated hernia and should immediately seek medical help.
Questions to ask your doctor
What is the best treatment for hernia?
Is it necessary to place a mesh on the affected area?
Can the hernia be repaired without placing a mesh?
Is it safe to place the surgical mesh inside my body?
What are the measures to be taken to ease the pain and discomfort?
Will the anaesthesia have an effect on my body, given my health conditions?
When will I be able to return to performing my daily activities?
What are the possible chances of my hernia returning back?
Treatment Options & Cost
There are certain non-surgical treatment options to treating hernia that include medication and lifestyle changes. If a person is awaiting a surgery or is not fit for the surgery, they might be able to ease the pain or discomfort for a particular amount of time by wearing a corset, binder, or truss. However, these are temporary solutions as a hernia usually does not go away on its own without surgery.
Insurance coverageThe basic treatment cost of a Hernia repair surgery is covered by almost all major general and health care insurance providers in India. However, the cost bracket may differ in the case of every individual and policy. It should be noted that, as with any other treatment, insurance covers only the surgical expenses and the patient must be hospitalized for at least 24 hours to file the claim. To learn more about the insurance and its claim process, you can get in touch with us.
Recovery rateThe standard recovery time of a laparoscopic hernia repair surgery takes about a day or two at the most in the hospital. Right after the surgery, it is common to experience mild to moderate pain. Usually, a person can get back to performing regular activities within two weeks but will have to avoid strenuous activities and make sure that no pressure is exerted around the area of the surgery. With the introduction of advanced methods like minimally invasive surgeries, the success and recovery rate of certain life-threatening diseases like hernia has been reduced to a greater extent over the due course of time.
Long term outlook of the treatment
Like all other surgeries, hernia repair surgery also involves certain risks, including infection, bleeding, pain, and discomfort. Additional care and certain adjustments in lifestyle can ensure the best possible outcome and surgeries don’t necessarily end up solving the problem. Taking adequate precautions during the recovery period is a key factor as within the first two to three years after the surgery as there is an increased risk of a reoccurrence of the hernia.
Pristyn Care for the treament
Patient Experience
Experts Say
Case Study
A 47-year old man noticed a small lump in his lower abdomen, which gradually kept on increasing in size. It started appearing with full visibility while straining, coughing or lifting heavy weights and disappeared while lying down. But, after living with the same for almost a year, he started to notice that the lump would not disappear on lying down. The swelling had been accompanied by pain that would increase with the exertion of pressure while coughing, or straining.
It was then that he immediately visited his nearest Pristyn Clinic and got consulted by our expert doctor. After a physical examination, it was revealed that he had a large, irreducible, non-tender inguinal hernia. The doctor, after thoroughly diagnosing the condition, suggested a laparoscopic hernia repair surgery. The surgery was performed and a surgical mesh was placed around the hernia. The patient has been very thoroughly following the doctor’s instructions since the past one month and has been recovering from the treatment.
FAQ
What is a strangulated hernia?
Strangulated hernia is a complicated medical condition that can be life-threatening as well. The fatty tissue of the small intestine bulges through a weakened area of the abdominal muscles. The muscle then clamps down, cutting off the blood supply to the small intestine. It deters the blood supply to the bowel which leads to unpleasant symptoms. It is a surgical emergency that is extremely painful and can also lead to severe complications.
Is there an alternative to hernia surgery?
There are no alternatives to a hernia surgery. There are certain medicines and alternative treatments that can help a person deal with the pain and discomfort temporarily but a hernia does not heal on its own.
How serious is a hernia?
Initially, a hernia might not cause any sort of pain or discomfort, but if ignored and not treated, it can result in complications that can be fatal.
How do I know if I have hernia?
A person might experience a lump or swelling in and around the areas of the abdomen. The lump will be clearly visible while coughing, standing up or sitting down and the same lump might disappear or get reduced in size once the person lies down.
Facts and statistics around Hernia:
- Hernias can occur among people of any given age group.
- About 3-5% of healthy babies are born with hernia and the rate of occurrence increases by 30% among premature infants.
- Hernias can be acquired by performing certain simple day-to-day activities that one can least expect to get hernia from, such as coughing, sneezing or weightlifting.
Is hernia an emergency?
A hernia might not keep protruding through the weakened area even if it is left untreated, but a person might experience certain symptoms like nausea, fever, vomiting and severe pain all of a sudden as untreated hernia can lead to strangulation due to the blocking of the muscle tissues from inside preventing blood circulation and causing fatal infections like gangrene, which is considered a medical emergency.
What happens if you do not get a hernia fixed?
It is understandable that going for a surgery is never a convenient option for anyone suffering from any disease. But in case of hernia, there are several risks involved if proper treatment is not provided in time. Delaying a hernia treatment might lead the hernia to get strangulated or incarcerated as it might get trapped outside the abdominal wall, cutting off the blood supply to the hernia and can obstruct the bowel, resulting in a strangulated hernia. Although not all hernias progress to this point, this is a potential risk.
The risks would not come with any warning signs and the complications might appear suddenly, causing the hernia to grow and weaken with time. It is always better to get treated before any of the complications show up and interfere with the daily schedule, bringing drastic changes to the lifestyle which is never easy to cope up with.
Why choose Pristyn Care for hernia repair surgery?
- Pristyn Care houses some of the best hernia specialists of the country who have more than 8 years of experience in delivering laparoscopic surgical treatment for inguinal hernia with a proven success rate.
- Pristyn Care is associated with the top hospitals in the country that are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities required to perform advanced surgeries for inguinal hernia treatment.
- Laparoscopic Surgeons/Primary Care Doctors working with Pristyn Care do a thorough consultation in the case of every patient to understand the health condition and then determine the minimally invasive approach for hernia treatment.
- To ease out the commuting process for our patients, we also provide free cab facilities to bring you from home to the hospital and help you return back home after the surgery.
- Pristyn Care strives to make the whole surgical experience for every patient a seamless one. A dedicated ‘care buddy’ is assigned to every patient on the day of the surgery to provide the patient with a hassle-free experience to take care of all the formalities and paperwork on your behalf.
- Pristyn Care also provides a free cab facility to ensure proper treatment of the patient. You will be picked up from your home to the hospital and on the completion of your surgery, you will also be dropped off at home.
- A free-of-cost follow up is provided to every patient within the first seven days of the surgery.
How to book an appointment with hernia specialists at Pristyn Care?
Every surgery at Pristyn Care is done using the most advanced medical technology and equipment. Pristyn Care ensures that a patient has a care-filled and hassle-free experience. Being one of the leading health tech startups in India dedicated to simplifying the surgical experience of every patient, we provide end-to-end facilities to our patients and give complete assistance in their treatment journey. You can book an appointment and get in touch with our doctors virtually from the comfort of your home or anywhere by dialing on the given numbers or by filling up the ‘Book Appointment’ form below.
During the initial consultation, the doctor will have a detailed discussion and examine the condition of your hernia. After a thorough assessment, the doctor will come up with the best treatment plan for you and take you through all the necessary steps to get your hernia treated in the most effective and efficient way.
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