“When should I worry about hernia pain?”
I am a 38 year old male. I want to know when should I worry about hernia pain?
7 Answers
Dr. David Carlson
Surgeon
Inguinal hernias may be asymptomatic. Some people have pain or discomfort when they have a hernia. If you have severe pain which occurred suddenly you might need to seek a medical attention.
Hernia pain is a sign that there are intra-abdominal contents (usually bowel loops) in the hernia sac. That’s a sign that the hernia is likely more than a simple bulge! Bowel loops can become entrapped in the hernia becoming a surgical emergency. A simple elective hernia repair can be performed as an outpatient under sedation and local anesthesia with return to normal activities in days. They should be repaired before they become an emergency.
PS: The body gives us signs such as “pain” to alert us to seek care!!
PS: The body gives us signs such as “pain” to alert us to seek care!!
All hernia pain is concerning. When to consider urgent evaluation is when the pain is unrelenting, associated with nausea and a firm bulge that cannot be reduced.
Hopefully this was helpful.
Hopefully this was helpful.
If the hernia is painful you should consult with a surgeon to be evaluated and they can discuss treatment options.
Hello, if you have a hernia and it is starting to become painful or you are having symptoms of obstruction it time to book an appointment with a surgeon for repair. If the pain does not go away and is getting worse you should visit the local ER. If you have a bulge that once was able to go back in and now does not causing worsening pain you also should seek emergency care. If you develop symptoms of nausea or vomiting with a hernia this could be a sign of a possible bowel obstruction and again you should seek emergency care.
Many patients do not have pain with a hernia, and are not aware of a hernia until found on an examination. Severe pain, that is unrelenting could indicate the bowel has become trapped and requires emergency surgery. Mild pain or discomfort is very common and may be the first hint that there is a hernia, and while that may be a nuisance is not usually a serious problem. There are studies that show that patients that have significant pain before surgery are more likely to have chronic longterm pain even after repair.
When it is very painful and limits your activities of daily living.
