What is a hernia? Symptoms, types & when to get care 

Despite being a common medical condition, a hernia may come with some confusion: Can you ignore it? Do you need surgery?

Peter Young, MD, with MultiCare General Surgery – Cascade in Yakima, helps break down what hernias are, why they happen and when it’s time to see a doctor or other health care provider.

Types of hernias

A hernia occurs when a hole develops in the muscle wall of the belly or groin, allowing tissue to poke through.

You can develop a hernia over time from repetitive heavy lifting, which puts chronic strain on the muscle. You can also be born with a hernia. Sometimes they’re present at birth, but other times don’t appear or develop until later in life.

There are different types of hernias, but the three most common are inguinal, umbilical and incisional. An inguinal hernia occurs in the groin, while an umbilical hernia originates near the belly button. People who have had abdominal surgery may be at risk for an incisional hernia.

“Any time we close muscle tissue together after someone is operated on, it’s never as strong as it was before surgery,” Dr. Young explains. “Over time, it can gradually pull apart, causing a hernia.”

Yakima resident Katrina Henkle, 47, has undergone successful treatment at MultiCare for ovarian cancer. She experienced several incisional hernias after a hysterectomy and ovary removal.

Her surgeon, Amber Wooten, MD, also with MultiCare General Surgery – Cascade, performed both surgeries.

“At MultiCare, you’re not just a number,” Henkle says. ”Dr. Wooten really listens to her patients and their concerns. She talks through the process before surgery and checks in to see how you’re healing afterward.”

How do you know if you have a hernia?

If you’ve noticed a bulge, pressure or discomfort in your abdomen or groin, you may be dealing with a hernia.

“When someone has a hernia, they will often feel a lump under the skin that sometimes is also accompanied by pain with activity,” Dr. Young adds. “What distinguishes a hernia is not only can the person feel the lump, but they can push it back in.”

When is surgery necessary?

“As a general surgeon, hernias are one of the most common conditions we take care of,” Dr. Young says. “But because hernias typically develop slowly over time and symptoms start as mild discomfort, there is usually no urgency to have surgery right away.”

However, hernias do not heal on their own and often get bigger over time. That’s why addressing a hernia earlier is often easier and safer than waiting until it becomes more painful or complicated.

“I always tell patients when they have a hard lump that won’t go back in, they need to see someone right away before it becomes an emergency,” Dr. Young adds.

That symptom indicates the hernia has become incarcerated, meaning part of the intestine is trapped. This can lead to strangulation, which is when the blood supply to the intestine is cut off.

What happens during hernia surgery?

The goal of surgery is to close the hole in the muscle and reinforce that closure with a patch or mesh to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Dr. Young says most hernia surgeries are performed with robotic assistance at MultiCare.

“The advantages of robotic-assisted surgery are that recovery is fast — we only need to make three small incisions — and, unless it’s a large hernia, it doesn’t involve an overnight stay at the hospital,” he explains.

Because it’s a minimally invasive surgery, post-recovery pain is typically mild. The majority of people resume most of their normal activity within a few days.

“You can’t do heavy lifting for six weeks, but the goal is to resume normal activity by the time you are fully healed,” Dr. Young says.

Henkle, who works full time as a mortgage broker and is an active community volunteer, healed well after her surgeries and was able to get back to work and volunteering quickly.

“I waited a long time to get my largest hernia repaired,” she adds. “The delay almost led to very serious complications. I encourage anyone who thinks they have a hernia to get it checked sooner rather than later before something important gets trapped, possibly cutting off the blood supply and leading to very serious issues. I was lucky.”

Next steps

If a hernia is affecting your comfort or daily activities, help is available. Talk with your primary care provider to see if a surgical consultation may be right for you.