Every year in the United States, more than 1.6 million hernia surgeries are performed to repair abdominal wall hernias, including inguinal (groin) hernias, the most common type. If you have a hernia, you may be wondering if you’ll need surgery, too.
At his practice in Deerfield Beach, Florida, Michael H. Tarlowe, MD, has close to 20 years experience in treating abdominal wall hernias. Here, learn why abdominal wall hernias happen, and when surgery is the best option for relieving symptoms and preventing complications.
Your abdominal wall is a strong layer of muscle and other tissue that surrounds your abdominal organs, providing support and protection. An abdominal wall hernia happens when a weak area develops in the abdominal wall, allowing organs or tissue to protrude, creating a lump or bulge that’s often visible beneath your skin.
Hernias can happen for different reasons, including:
Hernias tend to become more common with age as muscle tissue weakens after years of strain.
Smaller hernias may cause few symptoms or none at all. Others become more visible when you lift a heavy object, cough or sneeze, or perform other activities that put pressure on the abdominal wall.
If your hernia is especially small, if it’s not getting larger, and if you’re not having symptoms, you might be able to take a “wait-and-see” approach with regular monitoring to track it and make sure it’s not causing complications.
But the fact is, hernias will not go away on their own, and without surgery, there’s always a risk that the hernia will cause serious complications. That means that even if you don’t have surgery right away, there’s a really good chance you’ll need it in the future.
Hernias tend to worsen over time as the pressure against the weak area persists and even increases. Without surgical intervention, a hernia can become larger and more painful, even leading to complications like hernia strangulation and tissue death, a potentially life-threatening emergency.
What’s more, without surgical repair, even a small hernia can cause discomfort and restrict you from doing many of the activities you enjoy. Hernia repair strengthens the weak tissue, preventing symptoms and giving you much-needed peace of mind.
While surgical repair is the only way to “fix” a hernia, for a very small hernia, Dr. Tarlowe may recommend careful monitoring if you’re not ready for surgery, with the end goal of having it repaired in the near future.
The first step in managing your hernia and preventing complications is to have Dr. Tarlowe evaluate it, and the sooner the better. To learn more or to schedule an evaluation for your hernia, call 954-210-7127 or request an appointment online with Dr. Tarlowe in Deerfield Beach, Florida.
