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Is A Hard Bulge At The Right Abdomen Apart From Numbness At The C-section Scar Something Serious?
Question: For the last 2 to 3 months I have noticed a hard buldge to the right of my abdomen. I can push it and it will shift to what feels like the side of my ribs and back. I am 34, thin (5'9 130 lbs). If I flex my abs you cannot see the abs lines on my right side. Also as of a week ago the right of my c-section scar has become numb and if I turn a certain way it feels like there is stretching in there? Also, if I press on the right side of my abdomen, below my ribs, you can hear loud gurgling noises/squishing sounds.
Brief Answer:
possible Spieglian hernia
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Your symptoms may indicate ventral or Spigelian hernia which is not so common on young women but we see it from time to time. It would be good to abdominal ultrasound to rule this out. Numbness in CS area is common and nerves are usually cut during C.S.
It may take many years for sensation to recover completely. Other issues such as diastasis rectus muscle or intraabdominal cysts is also possible but you should do further tests to rule this out. All in all, I don't think this is something serious, and even if this is hernia, this can be treated.
Wish you good health.
Regards
possible Spieglian hernia
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Your symptoms may indicate ventral or Spigelian hernia which is not so common on young women but we see it from time to time. It would be good to abdominal ultrasound to rule this out. Numbness in CS area is common and nerves are usually cut during C.S.
It may take many years for sensation to recover completely. Other issues such as diastasis rectus muscle or intraabdominal cysts is also possible but you should do further tests to rule this out. All in all, I don't think this is something serious, and even if this is hernia, this can be treated.
Wish you good health.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thank you for the reply. I have been anxious about this for a long time. The CS scar is new. It was numb for a long time after the second one (2 years ago now) and just recently started tingling and becoming numb and having that stretching feeling in the last week or two. Still normal?
I wanted to try to attach pictures of my stomach and will see if I can find a place. It is also causing a lower rib to sit funny sometimes. Things just on my right side seem to be situated funny/differently. I have always been active. I have a 4 year old and 2 year old and my poor two year old is 35 pounds so lifting him and twisting sometimes to get him in a car seat would be the only thing I can think of on damaging my abdominal wall. Will a hernia feel like an organ? Hard and sensitive to touch? And will it ever heal on it's own or is surgery the only option?
Just in case I can't find a place to attach photos It's about 3 inches to the right of my belly button and up just a tad.
I keep looking up hernias and I am just not sure that's it.If I flex my abs you can feel my abdominal wall all the way down. Wouldn't a hernia still be poking through? I don't know if there would be a problem with my appendix or gall bladder? Can they just cause pain/tenderness and no other real symptoms besides my original post?
I wanted to try to attach pictures of my stomach and will see if I can find a place. It is also causing a lower rib to sit funny sometimes. Things just on my right side seem to be situated funny/differently. I have always been active. I have a 4 year old and 2 year old and my poor two year old is 35 pounds so lifting him and twisting sometimes to get him in a car seat would be the only thing I can think of on damaging my abdominal wall. Will a hernia feel like an organ? Hard and sensitive to touch? And will it ever heal on it's own or is surgery the only option?
Just in case I can't find a place to attach photos It's about 3 inches to the right of my belly button and up just a tad.
I keep looking up hernias and I am just not sure that's it.If I flex my abs you can feel my abdominal wall all the way down. Wouldn't a hernia still be poking through? I don't know if there would be a problem with my appendix or gall bladder? Can they just cause pain/tenderness and no other real symptoms besides my original post?
Brief Answer:
hi
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Yes, I see your photos. Considering these and your description, this still can be hernia, which is caused by weakened abdominal fascia and intraabdominal organs may then protrude and lead to such lump. If bulge changes shape or pulls back after you lay down, then this is indicative of hernia. If not, then other lesions of abdominal wall may be considered such as lipoma or myoma and if this seems to be attached to last right rib then also chondroma may exist.
Lastly, intraabdominal cysts are another option but it doesn't looks to me like typical intraabdominal lesion since at this area there are no organs such as ovaries, spleen or kidney in which could form. Appendix is lower and it hurts increasingly over 2-3 days and then ruptures and pain would be unbearable. Gallbladder is in this projection, a bit to the left, but gallbladder is deeper under the liver and this is never seen as bulge.
If it hurts, then it would be good to do some imaging test (US, or CT scan). IF there is no pain you can wait and see. If this is on US seen as a lump inside abdominal wall then needle biopsy can be taken and then surgeon be consulted if necessary.
Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards
hi
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Yes, I see your photos. Considering these and your description, this still can be hernia, which is caused by weakened abdominal fascia and intraabdominal organs may then protrude and lead to such lump. If bulge changes shape or pulls back after you lay down, then this is indicative of hernia. If not, then other lesions of abdominal wall may be considered such as lipoma or myoma and if this seems to be attached to last right rib then also chondroma may exist.
Lastly, intraabdominal cysts are another option but it doesn't looks to me like typical intraabdominal lesion since at this area there are no organs such as ovaries, spleen or kidney in which could form. Appendix is lower and it hurts increasingly over 2-3 days and then ruptures and pain would be unbearable. Gallbladder is in this projection, a bit to the left, but gallbladder is deeper under the liver and this is never seen as bulge.
If it hurts, then it would be good to do some imaging test (US, or CT scan). IF there is no pain you can wait and see. If this is on US seen as a lump inside abdominal wall then needle biopsy can be taken and then surgeon be consulted if necessary.
Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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