Hernias are a very common condition which affects many people around the world. Every year, more than 500,000 people undergo the treatment of hernia. So hernia is basically a condition which occurs when an internal tissue or organ protrudes through a weak spot in the surrounding tissue or muscles. These can occur in different and multiple parts of the body, but are commonly found in the groyne and tummy area. While in most of the cases, hernia is not that serious, they can still cause a lot of discomfort and pain. And so in some cases, hernia requires surgical intervention also, when it is serious. Thus, when a person starts to suspect any kind of symptoms related to it, it is very important to know and understand when to worry about hernia pain, and when to consult a doctor to seek medical attention. And so to help you find this out, we got you covered through this article.

As you scroll down, you will find out complete details about when to worry about the hernia, including what are the different types of hernia, its most common symptoms, its signs of trouble, how to relieve this pain at home, and much more. So just keep reading below to check out all the related info.

When to worry about hernia pain?

In case you experience any of the below mentioned symptom, you immediately need to seek medical attention before it gets serious-

• Swelling or Discoloration- if the lump or bulge of the hernia starts to turn purple or red, or when you notice tenderness or swelling in it.

• Severe Pain- when you start to feel or experience severe pain in the areas that are affected, especially when it is also accompanied by nausea or fever.

• Changes in the urination or bowel movement- if you also start to experience changes in your urination or bowel movement, like difficulty in passing the urine and problem of constipation, these could be a sign of a serious complication which is associated with your hernia pain.

• Unable to push the bulge back in- And when you are unable to push in your lump or bulge back, or it just gets stuck at that point, then it could also be a sign of a serious kind of hernia. 

And so when you experience any of these above-mentioned symptoms of when to worry about hernia pain, your doctor might do a physical exam and would recommend doing more tests. These tests could consist of a CT scan or ultrasound, which will help to determine the best course of treatment. 

Different types of Hernia

There are 5 different types of hernias which can develop in your body, details of which are as follows-

• Hiatus Hernia- This generally happens when a part of your stomach squeezes up through a weak spot in the diaphragm into the chest area. This kind of hernia might cause you heartburn and is normally treated with medications.

• Incisional Hernias- This kind of hernia happens when tissue pokes in your stomach through a surgical wound which has not fully recovered or healed or closed properly.

• Umbilical Hernias- This type of hernia is known to be most common in babies and usually occur when the weak spots appear in the abdominal wall. This causes a lump to develop near the belly button area. And so this should be noted for when to worry about hernia pain, as this happens in small babies.

• Inguinal Hernias- This is considered to be one of the most common types of hernia which usually occurs. This happens when the fatty tissue of the bowel or your intestine pokes through into your groyne area or inguinal canal. This generally affects men and is known to be associated with ageing only.

• Femoral Hernias- This kind of hernia is a lot similar to inguinal hernia, but is less common than it. It affects women more than men.

What are the common symptoms of Hernia?

As you read above about when to worry about hernia pain and its serious signs, here are the details of some of the most common and other possible symptoms of hernia, which includes the following-

• Sensation of burning or aching at the bulge.

• Creating a bulge in the area on either side of the public bone, which actually becomes more obvious when a person is upright, and especially when you have strain or cough.

• Pressure or weakness in the groyne.

• Swelling or pain around the testicals, when the protruding intestine descends into the scrotum.

• Dragging and heavy sensation in your groyne. 

• Discomfort or pain in your groyne, especially when coughing, lifting or bending over.

How to relieve hernia pain at home?

Now, as you know when to worry about hernia pain, its different types and what are its other possible symptoms, below we have provided details on how you can relieve hernia pain at home-

• Wear a supportive garment- A hernia  truss or belt is usually recommended to help support the area that is affected while reducing the discomfort and pain. These garments apply a gentle pressure to the hernia, which helps to keep it in place and prevent the hernia from bulging out.

• Apply cold or heat- To the affected area, apply cold or heat, which helps to reduce the discomfort and pain. A compress of heat or warmness helps to relax the muscles and also reduce the inflammation. And a cold compress helps to numb the affected area and also reduces the swelling. So try to apply an ice pack or a heating pad for 15-20 minutes to the affected area.

• Avoid doing activities which aggravate the hernia- There are certain activities like strenuous exercise or lifting heavy objects which can aggregate the hernia pain, and can cause discomfort and pain. So try to avoid doing these activities and also limit your physical activities until you start to feel better and recover. 

Alos, remember that these tips are not a substitute for medical treatment. So whenever you feel serious hernia pain, immediately talk to your doctor.