Health Tip of the Month

Treatment available for painful hernias

Dr. Olawale Ayeni

On the web: For more information, go to the Hernia Resource Center web site at www.herniainfo.com

Hernias can be painful and potentially life threatening if not treated, but there are more options to fix hernias than most people realize.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, approximately 5 million Americans have hernias. Each year approximately 750,000 seek treatment, yet experts believe hundreds of thousands choose to suffer in silence, primarily because they fear painful surgery. However, there are less invasive hernia repairs than can be performed on an outpatient basis.

June is National Hernia Awareness Month, to raise public awareness about treatment options.

Olawale Ayeni, MD, a family medicine physician at the Colchester Backus Health Center, said not all hernias are painful; in fact some patients may not even be aware of them. Not all hernias will get worse or need immediate repair, but a doctor should examine them.

A hernia is a protrusion of an organ or tissue through an abnormal opening in the body. Most hernias occur when a piece of intestine slips through the abdominal wall, creating a bulge you can see and feel. Hernias can develop around the navel, in the groin, or any place where you may have had a surgical incision. People who perform chronic lifting or activities that require straining are at risk of developing a hernia. Also, those who suffer from chronic constipation, chronic bronchitis with a hacking cough or are morbidly obese, are at high risk for hernias.

A hernia that can be easily pushed back or flattened (reducible hernia) is generally not an immediate danger to your health, although it can be painful. A non-reducible hernia, however, can become life threatening if part of the intestine gets trapped, or strangulated, in the opening. This is also called an incarcerated hernia and in an emergency situation may require immediate surgery.

Dr. Ayeni said patients should talk to their primary care provider about the pros and cons of repair options and can ask for a referral to a surgeon if necessary. Some hernias can be repaired through laparoscopic techniques, with a small incision made to insert a mesh patch or plug.

“Unless it is an emergency situation, often the surgery can be scheduled around your lifestyle, so you can set up a time when you can resume activities slowly,” Dr. Ayeni said.