Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

Suggest Treatment For Inguinal Hernia

My husband has had an inquinal hernia for several months, that his GP has said to it is better to live with until it begins to interfere with life. He has a job that requires heavy lifting, and recently had a bad cold that increased coughing fits, so it has been more uncomfortable than usual. It has also seemed to be getting bigger, beginning to go down into the scrotum at times. Today he woke up with quite a bit of pain and discomfort. As he is not a complainer, it concerns me. Of course it is the weekend. Do we go to the emergency room or wait and make a regular appt with his doctor?
posted on Thu, 21 Jul 2016
Twitter Tue, 16 Aug 2016 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 16 Aug 2016 Last reviewed on
Report Abuse
General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Inguinal hernias are one of the most common reasons a primary care patient may need referral for surgical interven¬tion. Symptomatic patients often have groin pain, which can sometimes be severe and may worsen toward the end of the day and after prolonged activity. Activities that increase intra-abdominal pres¬sure, such as coughing, lifting, or straining, cause more abdominal contents to be pushed through the hernia defect. Although most hernias are repaired, surgical intervention is not always necessary, such as with a small, minimally symptomatic hernia and patient can be followed expectedly. However strangulation may occur. If acute onset of groin pain occurs, the hernia may have become strangulated (i.e., the blood supply to the entrapped contents is compromised). Strangulation should be suspected in the presence of tenderness, red¬ness, nausea, and vomiting and is a surgical emergency.
Advice
1.     Go to emergency for examination for signs of strangulation
2.     If pain is hindering normal life you can ask your surgeon to repair the hernia
Thanks
I find this answer helpful
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 
Loading Online Doctors....
Suggest Treatment For Inguinal Hernia

Inguinal hernias are one of the most common reasons a primary care patient may need referral for surgical interven¬tion. Symptomatic patients often have groin pain, which can sometimes be severe and may worsen toward the end of the day and after prolonged activity. Activities that increase intra-abdominal pres¬sure, such as coughing, lifting, or straining, cause more abdominal contents to be pushed through the hernia defect. Although most hernias are repaired, surgical intervention is not always necessary, such as with a small, minimally symptomatic hernia and patient can be followed expectedly. However strangulation may occur. If acute onset of groin pain occurs, the hernia may have become strangulated (i.e., the blood supply to the entrapped contents is compromised). Strangulation should be suspected in the presence of tenderness, red¬ness, nausea, and vomiting and is a surgical emergency. Advice 1. Go to emergency for examination for signs of strangulation 2. If pain is hindering normal life you can ask your surgeon to repair the hernia Thanks