Inguinal hernia

Sharp pain in the groin area after sport or at work? The first signs of a hernia can occur unexpectedly, but can escalate into serious symptoms. And did you know that it can also cause life-threatening complications if left untreated? What’s behind it and what can you do? You can find out all this and much more in this guide.

  • Men are affected 5-6 times more frequently than women. Regular heavy physical exertion and certain types of sport are risk factors for developing a hernia.

  • An inguinal hernia does not heal on its own, so surgery is usually required promptly.

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Written & medically reviewed by:

Written & medically reviewed by:

Dr. Peter Herndlhofer

Forehead wrinkles: Simply explained!

An inguinal hernia occurs when tissue penetrates through a weak point in the lateral abdominal wall. The result: a protrusion develops in the groin. The technical term for this is hernia inguinalis. This problem, which mainly occurs in men, often causes pain and can develop dangerous complications if left untreated, requiring immediate surgery. Early recognition of symptoms is important in order to plan the right treatment in good time. In the long term, surgery is usually unavoidable. In women, a hernia occurs much less frequently and is much more difficult for inexperienced doctors to diagnose.

Inguinal hernia: recognizing symptoms

The symptoms can vary depending on age. However, an inguinal hernia is usually initially noticeable as a slight swelling or protrusion in the groin area. If you also notice any of the following symptoms, a hernia may also be the cause:

  • Drawing pains during physical exertion (e.g. when lifting heavy weights).
  • The pain is often better when lying down.
  • The swelling can be pushed in so that it disappears again at rest, but comes out on exertion.
  • The protrusion is only on one side. But be careful: in 10 – 20% of cases, a hernia also occurs in a double pack, occurring in both groins.

The symptoms of a hernia can vary, so it is all the more important that you see a doctor early on to get an accurate diagnosis.

Inguinal hernia as an emergency

Very important: If left untreated, a hernia can cause serious problems by becoming trapped. Fatty tissue or intestinal loops are pushed through the hernia gap in the groin and become trapped. This is an emergency that should be treated immediately. The following symptoms may occur:

  • Severe pain and tenderness to touch in the groin area
  • Firm hardening that cannot be pressed in
  • Redness in the groin area

If you notice these signs, consult a doctor or hospital immediately. Because if you wait too long, life-threatening complications can arise.

Inguinal hernia: Causes

A hernia can be congenital or acquired with age. Here we will limit ourselves to the variant that occurs later. For a long time, the cause of an inguinal hernia was thought to be a weakness in the connective tissue. But why it occurs in some people and not in others is not fully understood. According to doctors, there are several risk factors that favor a hernia. These factors include:

  • Frequent carrying of heavy loads
  • Overweight
  • Certain sports (e.g.: soccer, football, basketball & handball)
  • Pregnancy

Most of these factors have one thing in common: they increase the pressure in the abdominal cavity. As a result, the connective tissue in the groin area is exposed to greater stress than normal, which increases the risk of a hernia. Important: competitive athletes sometimes experience recurring groin pain during physical exertion. This pain can be the first sign of a preliminary stage of a hernia (= athlete’s hernia).

Inguinal hernia: When to see a doctor?

Do you feel a painful swelling in your groin or do you suspect you have a hernia? Then consult your family doctor immediately to clarify the matter. Did you know: Just like a tiny umbilical hernia, a small inguinal hernia is often difficult to diagnose, which is why inexperienced doctors can be wrong and sometimes overlook a hernia. He should therefore send you for an ultrasound of both groin regions with a referral. This also makes it possible to determine the hernia gap and whether there are already intestinal loops or fat in the hernia sac.

Inguinal hernia: The way to the surgeon

As soon as the diagnosis of a hernia has been made by ultrasound examination or during a clinical examination by a general practitioner, consult a specialist in general surgery so that a possible operation can be planned as soon as possible. This is because a hernia cannot be cured without surgery. Different surgical techniques are now available depending on the physical situation and personal preferences, which also have various advantages and disadvantages. It is best to discuss with a specialist which method is suitable for you and whether you should actually have surgery soon.

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Any questions? Our FAQ section has the answers!

The first signs of an inguinal hernia are usually pulling pains in the groin area, which occur mainly during physical exertion. Typically when lifting heavy objects or doing sports. But beware: in athletic people, an incipient hernia can also be mistaken for a groin strain due to overuse. This is why an examination by a specialist is all the more important. If a hernia has been present for some time, increasing, painful swelling in the groin area can also be an indication of a hernia. If in doubt, a specialist should be consulted in order to obtain an exact diagnosis.

It is usually a pulling or slightly stabbing pain during physical exertion or movement. Typically, the pain is not present at rest or when lying down. An exception is the incarceration of the hernia. Affected persons feel constant severe pain in the groin region. This is a medical emergency that should be treated immediately at the nearest hospital. But pain does not always have to be present. This is because hernia pain is sometimes also dependent on age. Because pain is something very subjective. For example, the pain associated with a hernia is sometimes perceived as less intense at an advanced age and in rare cases there is even no pain.

As soon as a hernia has been diagnosed by a doctor, surgery is necessary. This means that every hernia should be operated on, although there are a few exceptions (e.g. old age with serious concomitant illnesses). But how quickly should surgery be performed? If there is no acute incarceration of a hernia, a hernia is not an acute operation. This means that it does not have to be operated on immediately, but should be operated on in the next few weeks to months. However, you should not wait too long to reduce the risk of entrapment. If it becomes trapped, it must be treated immediately as part of an acute operation, otherwise life-threatening complications can occur.

No, a hernia cannot heal on its own. As soon as a hernia has been diagnosed by a specialist, surgery should usually be planned.

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References

Last update: 19.06.2024

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