27th Jan 2021

7 Signs You May Have a Hernia

A hernia is a condition in which an organ pushes through a weak area in your muscle. This condition may cause severe pain and can hamper you from doing your daily activities. Timely treatment is important to reduce soreness and discomfort and prevent additional damage.

Continue reading to discover seven signs indicating that you may have a hernia. 

1. A lump in the abdomen
The most common symptom of a hernia is a sore, evident bulge or swelling in your groin or stomach. It may be hard to spot it until doing an activity that puts the load on your abdomen like running, jumping, standing up, or stretching.

2. Painful sensations while bending or lifting
Painful sensations and discomfort in your stomach and groin can be caused by a hernia, even if there’s no visible lump. Especially, if it’s painful for you to bend down, lift something, or cough. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, it’s better to consult a doctor. Hernias can also occur in the form of tightness in your belly or groin. Femoral or obturator hernia, in which your stomach organ protrudes into the groin or upper leg also rarely causes a bulge. To properly diagnose it, you may be required to undergo a computed tomography.

3. Constipation
Sometimes, a hernia can occur in your large bowel, leading to problems with digestion. Herniated tissue in your bowel can also result in trouble passing gas and stool. Plus there’s a risk that a herniated part of your intestine can become swollen and cut off from the blood supply, a problem that often requires a hernia surgery to be treated.

4. Heaviness in stomach
This symptom can be easily neglected since it’s common to mistake it for an actual feeling of satiety. But one of the most frequently occurring types of hernia - inguinal -develops in the lower part of your stomach or groin. In some cases, it may cause pain, but most likely it can make you feel like you just finished a complete meal. If you’re experiencing a feeling of bloating or heaviness in your belly and you haven’t eaten too much, particularly if the feeling gets worse or starts to cause pain, get examined for a hernia.

5. Weakened muscles
While weakened muscles may be the cause of hernia, they can also be a sign of it. A hernia can lead to additional load on the closest muscles. This can result in a greater sense of tiredness and muscle weakness. If you’ve suddenly started to feel weaker, particularly in the upper muscles of your leg or in the upper area of your groin, a hernia may be the cause of it.

6. Fever
A fever should always be taken seriously, but if it’s followed by other signs of hernia, it’s best to seek medical attention ASAP. Fever can indicate that your hernia is cut off from blood circulation and this can potentially lead to lethal consequences.

7. Heartburn
There’s a risk that a hernia can occur in your upper abdomen. This type of hernia is called a hiatus hernia and it can lead to unusual symptoms like heartburn or soreness in your chest. In this condition, a part of your intestines can squeeze through weakened muscles into your esophagus and cause inflammation due to the escape of gastric acid. As a result, you may experience a burning sensation that is very similar to heartburn.

The bottom line
If not treated, all of the aforementioned symptoms can potentially lead to unwanted consequences. If you’re experiencing one or a few of them and suspect that you may have a hernia, contact a specialist to discuss treatment options.