hernia

[jim509]

i have a suspected hernia but becaus eits quite small the doctor is not 100% sure.

However if its a hernia at what point do i decide to have surgery?

IS there a chance it can be left alone and not grow much without having to resort to surgery?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
Well it is difficult to comment without examining the lump. It could be a scar tissue, a hernia, a bulge due to gas, fat, or just an abnormal shape that was there since your childhood. Maybe your surgeon can help you out.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[ericarasm]

Hello,
I have a question for you about umbilical hernias. I'm not completely sure i have one but
I used to get terrible pains in my naval area and my gyn told me that i had a hernia because the pain increased I went to a surgeon and he told me that i didn't really have
one so I didn't need surgery. I still had the pain though. Then when I was pregnant with my first baby the thought of pushing through the delivery was very worrisome for me so I saw an accupuncturist which helped my pain and I usually don't get pain anymore. Anyway after I had the baby I noticed that I have a lump inside where the naval is. It's not just fat but you can feel it as a lump sometimes it goes in farther and I can't feel it as much but it's still there. I also wanted to mention that a few years ago, I had an ovarian cyst rupture and they went through the naval for surgery.  I'm now wondering do you think this lump could be scar tissue that has grown a lot or could it be a hernia in there. My stomach is always sticking out too and the gyn has always commented on the weird shape that I have in my naval area. Can you let me know if you have any idea of what this problem could be.
thank you

[jim509]

But regarding the small lump which comes and goes in the groin, is there anything else it could possibly be other than an inguinal hernia?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
Diagnosis of hernia is generally by a clinical examination. CT scan may reveal it. However an ultrasound is needed to rule our varicocele, hydrocele, and other local conditions.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[Maliss]

Hey I also had a inguinal hernia, I believe my car accident caused this.  The problem was I am female so everyone thought it was an ovarian cyst and I actually had laproscopy only to have the bump come back in a month.  Turns out he cut the hernia open.  Even with ultrasounds and ct scans they couldnt see it because you have to lay on your back.  Finally after 9 years of pain I had surgery and it was so worth it.  You will have pain till you heal.  

[jim509]

Will the ultrasound give me a definite answer?

What will the ultrasound show if it's a hernia?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
The pain of hernia increases or decreases, depending on the degree of herniation and the content of the hernia. Hence some days are good and some bad. In your case it is a suspected case. As I wrote earlier consult an urologist once.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[jim509]

The pain is less now though, it appears to be getting abit better over the course of the  week. Does this variation indicate what's happening?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for keeping me posted!
Yes, I am a doctor. ):

The pain in the area you specified can be due to various reasons beyond the scope of diagnosis on net without a clinical examination. The various causes are epididymitis, testicular torsion, or infected epididymal cyst. Varicoceles too at times cause scrotal pain. An ultrasound of the testiclular area and scrotum can be done to diagnose this.
Please discuss this with your doctor (preferably an urologist). You may also need to get a urine exam done. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[jim509]

hello?

[jim509]

can i ask who you are by the way?

I mean there is no information about you and so I am not sure where your advice is coing from.

Are you a medical doctor?

IN fact there is something else. The same time I found the lump and went to the doctor I started getting a stinging pain on the the joint between thigh and scrotum and even in the scrotum which hasn't gone away.

Doctor says its epididimtyis but am not convinced.
what do i do?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for the update!
If you do not strain much as in lifting any weight, push ups, sports and avoid constipation and chronic cough then you should be fine. The hernia will not progress much and fast. The decision of surgery can be taken only by you in consultation with your doctor ans it is not possible to advice without examining on the net.
Hope this helps. Do let me know if there is any thing else and keep me posted. Take care!

[jim509]

hi

thanks for your quick reply.

It is suspected of being an inguinal hernia.

Can it not be the case that they may not grow?

If the ultrasound which Im going to take, shows that its only a small hernia, should surgery still be done? Its just that I have read many people saying they have chronic pain becuase of surgery, which makes you think that its not really beneficial if you fix the hernia but get chronic pain or even reocurrence after surgery.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
It all depends on what hernia you have. Is it umbilical, paraumbilical or inguinal. All hernias will grow with time in size. If factors like straining activities, constipation etc persist, then they enlarge faster. Surgery is the treatment opted for when the size is large and hernia is symptomatic. Having said that, I would also say that the earlier it is repaired, the better it is. There are belts available for umbilical and paraumbilical hernias which you can wear to minimize pressure on the hernia.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!