Home FAQ's What is a Hernia? |
A hernia is the protrusion of a structure through the wall of the cavity containing it. In the context of this website, a hernia is simply the protrusion of bowel through a hole or weakness in the muscle layer of the wall of the abdomen.
There are many different types of hernia, named according to the site
of the weakness of the abdominal wall. All hernia may gradually
increase in size over time. They can be asymptomatic, but may cause
symptoms of aching or pain. A lump may or may not be palpable. One of
the key concerns is the risk of a hernia becoming obstructed or
strangulated. The first signs of this are a sudden increase in pain and
tenderness of the hernia. The swelling may increase in size and it may
not be possible to reduce the hernia, that is to push the swelling back
in.
|
|