A herniation is a protrusion of tissue through a weakness in the abdominal wall. It can be either external or internal.
A doctor’s physical examination is often enough to diagnose a hernia. Sometimes you will be able to feel it yourself on the side of the abdomen or groin. You may feel pain when you lift heavy objects, cough, strain during urination or bowel movements, or during prolonged standing or sitting. The pain may be sharp and immediate or a dull ache that gets worse towards the end of the day. Severe, continuous pain, redness and tenderness are signs that the hernia may be entrapped or strangulated. These symptoms are cause for concern and immediate contact of your physician or surgeon is recommended.
The most common types of hernia are inguinal, incisional, and umbilical.
- An inguinal hernia is the protrusion of the intestine or bladder through the abdominal wall in the groin. Most hernias are inguinal, and most occur in men because of a natural weakness in this area.
- An incisional hernia develops at the site of an operation where the muscles have not healed properly.
- An umbilical hernia is situated near the navel. Common in newborns, it also afflicts obese women or those who have had many children.
Causes
People can be born with weaknesses that make them prone to hernias. Anything that causes muscle strain, weakens tissue, or increases abdominal pressures can then induce herniation. Examples include obesity, lifting heavy objects, constipation, smoking, poor nutrition or persistent coughing. Ultimately, all hernias are caused by a combination of muscle weakness and strain: a weak spot in the muscle tears under the pressure of strain, and an internal organ or tissue then pushes through the tear. Sometimes under heavy pressure, the tearing pain of a hernia may be felt. The weakened area may recover by itself or preventative measures may keep the problem from recurring.
- Avoid excessive lifting when possible
- Empty your lungs before heavy lifting, rather than filling them
- Gentle exercise on a regular basis tones and strengthens stomach muscles
- Avoid becoming overweight
- Avoid straining on the toilet.
Traditional Treatment
In babies, umbilical hernias frequently heal themselves within four years, making surgery unnecessary.
In adults, surgery will usually be required to repair the area. It is important to get your hernia seen to by a doctor because if it is left untreated, the protruding organ may become strangulated (have its blood supply cut off), and infection and tissue death may occur as a result.
Signs, symptoms & indicators of Abdominal Hernia
Having a slight/having a moderate/having a high fever
Conditions that suggest Abdominal Hernia
Abdominal hernia
Counter Indicators
No history of abdominal hernias
Abdominal Hernia suggests the following may be present
Abdominal Hernia could instead be
Enlarged Lymph Nodes
Caution: Sometimes a groin discomfort or groin pain aggravated by bending or lifting with a tender lump in the groin or upper thigh is a femoral hernia. A femoral hernia may become incarcerated (stuck) and strangulated (the loop of bowel loses its blood supply). Nausea and vomiting and severe abdominal pain may occur with a strangulated hernia. This is a medical emergency!
Recommendations for Abdominal Hernia
Homeopathic Remedies / Vaccines
Calcarea carbonica is a leading remedy for general use in hernias.
Prolotherapy
Many people are subjected to hernia surgeries for groin pain, which has nothing to do with a hernia! Patients come to doctors who use prolotherapy after a hernia surgery failed to “cure” them of their groin pain. Remember, surgery generally does not cure injuries. To “cure” means that you are stimulating the body to repair the area. There is only one method to do this for a long-standing injury: Prolotherapy.
Most orthopedists do not routinely examine the pubic symphysis area because it means making the patients drop their drawers and palpating them in the groin area. The pubic symphysis is the front of the pelvis joint. It is connected together by a fibrocartilagenous disc, which is often injured. Injuries to this area are most often caused by slipping or falling, when the leg is suddenly pulled out from underneath. Swimmers who do the breast stroke are also vulnerable to injury in this area. Prolotherapy is extremely effective in strengthening the public symphysis and relieving chronic groin pain in this area. This is one of the most overlooked injuries and one of the most easily treated by Prolotherapy.
Key
| Weak or unproven link |
| Strong or generally accepted link |
| Proven definite or direct link |
| Very strongly or absolutely counter-indicative |
| Likely to help |
Glossary
Inguinal
Pertaining to the region of the groin. Generally, the lowest lateral regions of the abdomen just above either side of the genitals.
Constipation
Difficult, incomplete, or infrequent evacuation of dry, hardened feces from the bowels.
Stomach
A hollow, muscular, J-shaped pouch located in the upper part of the abdomen to the left of the midline. The upper end (fundus) is large and dome-shaped; the area just below the fundus is called the body of the stomach. The fundus and the body are often referred to as the cardiac portion of the stomach. The lower (pyloric) portion curves downward and to the right and includes the antrum and the pylorus. The function of the stomach is to begin digestion by physically breaking down food received from the esophagus. The tissues of the stomach wall are composed of three types of muscle fibers: circular, longitudinal and oblique. These fibers create structural elasticity and contractibility, both of which are needed for digestion. The stomach mucosa contains cells which secrete hydrochloric acid and this in turn activates the other gastric enzymes pepsin and rennin. To protect itself from being destroyed by its own enzymes, the stomach’s mucous lining must constantly regenerate itself.
Nausea
Symptoms resulting from an inclination to vomit.