What are the common signs/symptoms of a hernia?

Depending on the location and severity of the hernia, hernia symptoms can vary. The most common signs of a hernia are a noticeable bulge that may appear or enlarge with physical activity and pain or discomfort with activity are two of the most common signs that you have a hernia. Sometimes, you may not have any symptoms from her hernia but most patients experience an aching or “dragging” sensation in the groin or abdomen. It is important to distinguish between common hernia discomfort and the signs of a surgical emergency pertaining to your hernia.

Common Symptoms: a dull ach, pressure, or sharp pain when lifting, coughing, or straining. The bulge may disappear when lying down.

Emergency Warning Signs: Sudden, intense pain, nausea, vomiting, or a bulge that becomes hard with skin changes around the hernia site (often red or purple). These signs may indicate a “strangulated” or trapped hernia and require immediate medical attention.

Hernia Symptoms - Acute Pain

One of the most common symptoms of a hernia is the pain at the hernia site. This is the result of increased pressure on the muscles, the peritoneum, and the nerves in the hernia site. As fat and internal organs press through the hernia site (i.e. hole in the muscle), the surrounding muscles and nerves are under pressure which causes acute pain in many hernia patients. When the hernia is “reduced” or pushed back in, it often results in relief of this pain as the muscles and nerves are no longer under the increased pressure.

Hernia Symptom - Bulges Under the Skin

When internal organs or fat push throught he hole in the muscle, a hernia develops which causes the skin over the hernia site to “bulge” out. When the patient reduces the hernia back inside, this bulge often disappears. However, with increased abdominal pressure often caused by exercise, coughing, or sneezing, this bulge will often return. As long as the bulge is “reducible,” the contents of the hernia are able to frely move back and forth through the hernia defect. When the bulge is no longer able to be pushed back it, it is considered an “incarcerated hernia.”

Hernia Symptom - Chronic Pain

As hernias slowly enlarge, it can cause tension on the muscles and nerves around the hole. This slow, chronic process can reult in aching, burning, or throbbing in the area of the hernia. Unlike the acute pain from hernias, this pain often isn’t as sharp or intense and is often described as a dull ache which can interfere with everyday activites.

Hernia Symptom - Nausea or Vomiting

Sometimes, patients may develop nausea or vomiting as a result of their hernia. These symptoms can vary in severity from mild and intermittent to more severe. When the symptoms are mild, it is often the result of a small portion of thier intestines being trapped inside the hernia. When the intestine pops back, the nausea and vomiting often resolves. However, this could cause more serious blockages of your intestines if the intestines are not able to be reduced. If you are experiencing nausea and vomiting related to your hernia, it is recommended that you see a hernia specialist as soon as possible.

Hernia Symptom - Constipation

While constipation could be a symptom of many GI diseases, similarly to the reasons for nausea and vomiting with hernias, sometimes, a piece of intestine could become trapped inside a hernia resulting in a slower transit of food leading to constipation associated with hernias. If you have a hernia and are experiencing constipation, it is recommended you be evaluated by a hernia surgeon as soon as possible.

Hernia Symptom - Strangulation

Strangulation is the most severe symptom of a hernia and requires immediate medical attention. Strangulation happens when a piece of intestine becomes trapped inside the hernia and cannot be reduced back into the abdomen. This can result in the blood supply to that portion of the intestine becoming compromised and leading to lack of blood flow to the intenstine. It is often associated with extreme pain, nausea, and vomiting. These patients often are in such extreme pain that they will call 911 and need emergency surgery. While the risk of strangulation of a hernia is low, when a hernia becomes strangulated, it is a surgical emergency. This is why it is often recommended to fix your hernia when it begins to get larger or you start developing more symptoms to avoid emergency surgery.