Causes and treatments of Hernias
What you should know about treating a hernia

A hernia happens when the contents of your body normally contained within a cavity bulge out. The contents are usually comprised of intestine or abdominal tissue. These are usually enclosed in the membrane that lines your inner cavity. Hernias can describe bulges in other areas, but it is most typically used to describe the bulges that occur in the lower torso and abdomen.

Although hernias by themselves are usually harmless, nearly all have a potential risk of having their blood supply cut off. If the hernia sac contents have their blood supply cut off at the hernia opening in the abdominal wall, it becomes a medical and surgical emergency.

When to see a doctor

Technically, all hernias or symptoms that suggest you might have a hernia should result in a visit to the doctor. Hernias are usually not surgical emergencies, but all have the potential to become serious. You should get elective surgery for your hernia to avoid the risk of having to get emergency surgery should your hernia become irreducible or strangulated.

You should have your hernia checked out in a medical setting if you find a new, painful, tender, and irreducible lump, since it’s possible you may have an irreducible hernia. If a preexisting hernia becomes painful, tender, and irreducible, you should also seek emergency care. Strangulation of intestine within the hernia sac can lead to gangrenous bowel in as little as 6 hours. Although not all irreducible hernias are strangulated, all cases of strangulation are irreducible hernias.

Treating Hernias

Nearly without exception, all hernias should be repaired surgically unless severe pre-existing medical conditions make surgery unsafe. Exceptions to this rule include a hernia with a large opening and a relatively small sac. Trusses and surgical belts or bindings may be helpful in holding back the protrusion of selected hernias when surgery is not possible or delayed. However, femoral hernias should never be treated with these belts or bindings.
 
To help improve your condition, you should try to avoid activities that increase intra-abdominal pressure (lifting, coughing, or straining) that may cause the hernia to increase in size. If your hernia is reducible, you should get it repaired immediately. Certain hernias develop large openings in the abdominal wall that cannot be easily closed. These types of hernias may be best treated using abdominal binders instead of surgery. Indeed, many doctors believe that if your hernia has a large opening and is relatively symptom free, then the risk of strangulation is low and you do not need to get surgery.
On the other hand, all acutely irreducible hernias need emergency treatment because of the risk of strangulation. In the case of surgery for irreducible hernias, the surgeon will typically make an effort to push the hernia back in. If this does not work, then emergency surgery is attempted.