Possible hernia?

[hillis212]

I am a male and have recently injured my upper adominal area about 6 inches up from navel and 4 inches to the right of midline by coughing or at least that's the first time I noticed it. There is a small bulge at the bottom of my ribcage on the right side. It hurts when I cough or sneeze. It also itches and its numb in that area. The bulge is hardly noticeable. It has been this way for a couple months now and everytime I think its going to get better I end up sneezing or coughing and irritating it again. I originally thought the small bulge was a lipoma because I have several of them in different areas on my body. Could I possibly have a hernia and is it dangerous to have one in this area? It's on the right side and I would estimate at the top of my colon.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Itching and numbness could sometimes be felt in a lipoma. Lipomas do not usually cause any discomfort unless they are positioned in a way that presses on a nerve. Lipomas, if they become large enough or are located in certain areas, can certainly compress nerves and cause symptoms. Such symptoms as tingling, pain, and a heavy sensation might be experienced.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[hillis212]

No suturing and no scaring. I think it may be a lipoma too. It is getting much better. I started doing some abdominal work like crunches, leg lifts and it seemed to make it better instead of worse. If I had a lipoma in that area cough coughing make it irritated and hurt?

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

After the injury, did you need any suturing? Hernia is the protrusion of abdominal contents through an abnormal opening. In your case, if there is a scar it could be an incisional hernia, where the abdominal contents protrude through an opening in the incision. If no sutures are there, then it may not be a hernia. Hernias increase in size on coughing and decrease on lying down. It could also be a lipoma. When in doubt best to have it checked by your doctor. Hernias are diagnosed by a physical examination.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.