Dr. Brown Explains What an Inguinal Hernia Is
You notice that you feel pain when you cough, lift objects, sneeze, or do other things that affect the lower abdominal region. And you feel a bulge in the area. You find that even if you take it easy as soon as you use those muscles, the pain returns. Pain and a bulge are indicators that you may have an inguinal hernia.
“What is an inguinal hernia?” In layman terms, an inguinal hernia is a hole in the abdominal wall. Something from inside the abdomen can pop through this hole and causes the infamous bulge underneath the skin. The small intestines are the most common thing to pop out but the large intestines and pelvic organs can pop out as well.
How do you get a hole in the abdominal wall? This area is known as your “core.” Muscles in the core area can tear when you twist, turn or move suddenly. Chronic cough, straining to have a bowel movement, repeated straining to urinate can also weaken the core muscles. Athletes and non-athletes are both susceptible to tearing. Also, there is a genetic component to getting hernias.
So you have a hernia what do you do? Do you just go any surgeon to have it repaired? Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Even though surgeons perform approximately one million inguinal hernia repair operations each year, the surgery and its results are far from perfect. The reality is that patients experience a higher risk for complications and pain with laparoscopic hernia repairs and open mesh hernia repairs. Be sure you know how your surgeon plans to repair the hernia and whether or not mesh will be used. Dr. William Brown helps many patients who are suffering from complications of mesh hernia repairs. If you have pain with movement, especially when you twist, turn, lift, cough or sneeze, then you should make an appointment with an inguinal hernia surgeon, like Dr. Brown. Usually, an exam, along with a review of your family and medical history provides enough information to make an accurate diagnosis. If those aren’t conclusive, then a MRI or other type of imaging test might be necessary to rule out other possibilities.
The doctor with whom you make your appointment and what he or she believes is the best course of treatment is an important decision. With so many complications and law suits surrounding mesh repair, Dr. Brown advocates and only performs no mesh hernia repair. He and his staff can answer question and address concerns you might have about your inguinal hernia diagnosis or surgical repair options. Contact them for more information.