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Can I do sit-ups with an abdominal hernia?

I am a 25 year old mother of 3. I am in decent shape, meaning I am not over weigh. I have an abdominal hernia that is about 2 inches that causes occasional pain. I am pretty active, usually in the warm months and since being diagnosed as having a hernia I do not want to do anything to make it any bigger. After exercising my hernia doesn't feel any different. I haven't found out what makes it poke out and become painful but exercising doesn't seem to. I've also heard that if it doesn't hurt than it probably isn't a problem. Will sit-ups help or hurt my hernia?
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Avatar universal
Hello Dr. Vinod, I also have a hernia that sits above my navel, the pain comes and goes depending on the physical activities at that time. I am searching for some excessive that will not aggravate my hernia. I also had fibroid surgery a few years ago and since then I have gained some stomach fat. Do you have some suggestions on what excessive are safe for the upper and lower abdominal are.

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Avatar universal
When I was little I had a hernia about 2 or 3 inches below where  my xiphoid process is. It wasn't a problem so we never got it fixed, but ever since i started gym in school it hurts there when I do more than 5 sit-ups. I had a doctor tell me in 7th grade (I'm 20 now)  that my muscles weren't connected right around where that was. Could that be why sit-ups hurt me after only a couple of them?
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In 2010 I had surgery and came out with 2 hernias.  Both are just below the belly button, one one the left (small) and one one the right (large). I literally have not worn a bathing suit since. My belly us saggy and desperately needs toning if it is not to late. I would like to try the situps . Yes? or No?
Avatar universal
As with any injury, only do what you can do without it causing any pain or discomfort.

Full Sit Ups DO NOT work the abdominals, they work the illiopsoas (hip muscle)!!!!

Instead, do CRUNCHES to target the Rectus Abdominus (six pack muscle).
The six pack muscle is NOT the most important CORE muscle, in fact it is a really small, thin muscle, there are way more important abdominal muscles and core muscles that you should be working on in order to get a strong core.

Hernias are caused by muscle weakness and strain. Knowing this, it is common sense that you should be strengthening your core to both prevent and heal hernias, but do so with common sense. If it hurts, don't do it. If you need surgery to repair a huge tear, then get the surgery and give your body time to heal before strengthening your core.

Doing sit ups and crunches alone won't give you a strong core.

To get a strong core, you need to work the transverse abdominus muscle!!!! It is the main core muscle that keeps all of your intestines and internal innards inside of you, it acts like a girdle to keep all the contents in your abdomen strong and tight.
To work this muscle, you have to do PLANKS. If doing planks gives you acid reflux, try doing DEAD BUGS or STOMACH VACUUMS (google these moves online) but only do these excer if they do not cause pain.

You also have to strengthen the sides of your abdominals, also called the OBLIQUES. It's easy enough to work them by adding some rotations (twists) to your crunches or doing lateral crunches.

Don't forget to work the lower back, the Quadratus Lumborum, another important core muscle. Do this by doing SIDE PLANKS. Work the Erector Spinae by doing SUPERMAN's, and add all of these to your exercise plan (that hopefully strengthens every muscle in your body) as well as remembering to do KEGEL FLOOR exercises and you will have a strong core.

Be mindful what hurts you. If it hurts don't do it, but if it doesn't, go ahead. Look up alternative exercises if something hurts you, you may be able to find something you can do without causing pain.
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Avatar universal
I am a 48 year old female and have had three large babies all resulting in a C-section, after the third child I developed an incisional hernia which was repaired with mesh surgery, now 14 years later I have been diagnosed with both an umbilical hernia as well as a ventral hernia, I am quite limited with general daily activities, I have also been diagnosed with ms and severe lower disc degeneration what can I do to stay fit and do I need surgery  help!!!!!
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Avatar universal
Can someone other than Dr Vinod answer as he has lost me with his blatant non-knowledge of Umbilical Hernias. His advice is shoddy at best and inaccurate at worst. No offense but having healed my hernia naturally with exercises. Specifically core sit ups, i find much of his advice intolerable.
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12074635 tn?1423281598
I do zumba 4 times a week with a abdominal hernia! I would think it should be ok. :) I just wouldn't do ab work.
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Avatar universal
Abs exercises for a hernia require great care!!
The slant board leg scissors exercises use a piece of exercise equipment that allows your head to be kept below your legs during exercise, as recommended by Edwin Flatto, M.D., in Health Freedom News. A slant board is also called an incline bench, decline bench, sit-up board or crunch board. Lie face-up on the board with your head on the end toward the floor. Squeeze your abs and grab the sides of the board. Then, lift your legs toward the ceiling about one foot up. Open your legs wide and then close them, like the blades of a pair of scissors. Have a workout buddy stand at the top of the board and place her hands on the outside of your ankles and push gently as you open your legs for extra resistance.
Cycling your legs while lying on a slant board is another way to strengthen your abs. Because your leg bones don't attach to your abdominal muscles, you're not using your abs to move your legs. You do, however, use your abs to stabilize your body on the board while your legs are moving. Lie face-up on the board with your head near the bottom. Grasp the sides of the slant board for balance. Bend your knees and raise them so they're above your stomach. Squeeze your abs and press your lower back into the board. Then "pedal" your legs by alternatively straightening one and bending the other.
A mini crunch is a very small crunch that can strengthen your abs without making your hernia worse. Exhale as you lift your body to empty your body of air so the pressure in your abdomen doesn't increase. Lie face-up on the floor with your arms at your sides. Bend your knees and place your feet on the floor. Slowly lift your head and the top of your upper back off the floor, but keep your shoulder blades just touching the floor. Return to the floor.
Before doing anything check with your doctor!
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Avatar universal
Hi Doctor Vinod.

Thank you for receiving this communication.

I have more than one question if I may...

My name is Paul.  I am 47 years old and had cancer removed which were hanging on the bottom of my left kidney last year (ten months ago).  I developed a large incisional abdominal hernia within 8 weeks post surgery.  I am now going to have it repaired laporoscopically with mesh.  The surgeon who will be performing the surgery is very experienced in this kind of procedure, but I have heard many stories about this kind of hernia seldom being repaired fully.  Is this true in your view?

In real terms, what exactly is the time-frame for rest and no physical exertion post the repair of this large hernia? I don't want to mess up the post-surgery period and have the hernia return. I have a small company that cannot operate without me - an antique refurbishing business requiring some physical activity. I am and have been an active sportsman all my life. I used to be a social smoker as well.

I hope you respond soon.

Regards
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Avatar universal
I had hernia op last march and when i do just 5 sit ups i get very bad pain in the hernia area.  Why is this happening?
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Avatar universal
I have small a hernia above my belly button can I still do crunches or sit ups
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Avatar universal
What if a Hernia starts to feel tight after standing on your feet for 8 hours at work? Is that a sign that it needs medical attention ASAP?
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Avatar universal
What exercises can I do that does not put pressure on my large hernia? My body is deconditioned  from lying around and my back is very angry.  How can I get my arms, butt and legs stronger lacking a core?
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Avatar universal
Hi
I have a surgical hernia after 7 stomach operatins and find that when i do normal sit ups im in agony how can i safely excersise as i find myself losing my abdominal muscles thanks
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Avatar universal
Hi
I have a surgical hernia after 7 stomach operatins and find that when i do normal sit ups im in agony how can i safely excersise as i find myself losing my abdominal muscles thanks
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am a 43 y.o. male.  I have exercized all my life but I started very intense weight lifting and ab workouts 2 years ago.  Very shortly after, I noticed 2 bulges near my groin.  I didn't know what they were and ignored them.  Last year at a physical a doctor told me I have a double inguinal hernia.  I continued to do intense ab workouts and the hernias are getting worse.  I am about to get hernia surgery.
Is it possible and likely that intense exercize are what caused my hernias to occur??
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Avatar universal
akv
I am 30 years old male and having swollen of lower right flank abdomen without pain since 10 -15 days.When I press the swollen a sensation run all around to fingers of right leg. Also sometime i feel mild pain.Please suggest ?

I had mater health check up on 08-08-2012.Doctor told it is normal report
In check up I have Ultrasound of whole abdomen and pelvis.X-ray of chest,ECG,blood,stool and urine test.Doctor told all reports are normal.

Note: at the time of check up swollen was not there.      
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Avatar universal
I have had two see section baby delivers and one reg. Delivers and now my stomach won't go back down. I have always had a flat stomach even after the second baby I went back to my flat stomach. After I had the third child and the second cut on my bikni area and my tubes tied I never lost the weight. I was told by my doctor I have a herina right before I had a back fusion done, so now I have a third cut but its going like a line up and down and it hurts when you touch it or if my cloths are too tight. My Dr won't remove it unless its giving me a problem so is there another way I can lost the belly fat
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Avatar universal
I was diagnosed with a hernia just above my navel today.  It was stivking out and the doctor pushed it back in.  It does hurt now, but it is buldging.  My doctor told me to loss weight and see a surgeon.  Can I do sit ups...4forgt to ask...
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Avatar universal
Hi I'm 25 years old and I was pregnant 4 times and I have a abdominal hernia it sticks out but it dose not hurt but I look like I'm still pregnant it's very embarrassing ,can I do sit ups or that leg thing to make it go down ?
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Avatar universal
I have had 2 umbilical hernia surgeries and 1 hiatal hernia surgery. My question is can I ever tighten those muscles again with any exercise at all?
My second surgery was a mesh with the umbilical and haital hernias..
I'm almos thinking about liposuction or tummy tuck if you advise staying away from exercise in the abdominal area.
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Avatar universal
I had an  incisional hernia repaired in 2007 and now have a mesh. Am I able to do any stomach flattening exercises. I walk approx 2 miles every work day but really need to flatten the tomach area and tone up.
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Avatar universal
i have a very big abdominal hernia that is totally sticking out. what exercises do you recommend i do. i needed to lose 35lbs to get the surgery done and in total now i have lost -60lbs im just waiting to get the surgery now. i dont usually have alot of pain but some days i do feel alot of press pushed against my abdominal and my hernia get really hard it almost feels like a tumor and i know how that feels because i had a 22cm tumor and that is what cause me to get the hernia after my surgery.
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Avatar universal
I just went to a doctors appointment.  I complained about stomach bloating and the doctor had me lie down.  As I did she pointed to a small bulge between my  umblicus and my xyphoid process.  She said, "it looks like you have a hernia".  I have never really noticed it before.  It is not painful at all.  My self diagnosis is that it is an epigastric hernia.   I was thinking of starting an exercise program, how will this affect me?  Can I slowly build up my muscle strength to correct this?  I suspect the cause is a weakened abdomen.  I have cystic fibrosis. and I think I may have overexerted myself during a lung function test.  Also I don't think chronic coughing helps matters much.
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Avatar universal
I have an umbilical hernia.  My Dr. has said not to worry about it, go on with my life, everything is fine, do exercises as usual, no surgery is necessary. It's small and protrudes just a little.  I am concerned with it and am not sure if my Dr. knows what she is talking about.  I was in and out of her office in no more than 5 minutes.  I keep reading these comments about how it can become a real problem, and am worried.  I don't know if I can exercise an am just taking it easy with walks etc.  I live in Canada, and have complete coverage.  Am very concerned...

BTW, there is absolutely no pain, very little protrusion, easy BM's etc, goes down when lying on my back.  Please help
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