A hernia is one of the most prevalent but least recognised diseases. In India, the incidence of hernia is 25% in men and nearly 7% in women. Despite its effect on several people, a hernia is not well understood among the general population. There are several misconceptions and a substantial lack of awareness on the treatment of the illness.
One such misunderstanding about the hernia that is commonly present in people is that it can be easily fixed without the need for surgery. However, according to Dr Mayank Madan, the best hernia surgeon in Gurgaon, surgical intervention plays a crucial role in the effective treatment of hernia.
In this article, we will explore the treatment options for hernia with insights from Dr Mayank Madan who can be consulted at the CK Birla Hospital, the best hospital for hernia surgery in Gurgaon.
What is a hernia?
A hernia is defined as a condition in which an internal organ pushes through a weak muscle or tissue. It occurs mostly in the abdominal region when tissue protrudes or bulges through an abnormal opening. Hernias can also occur anywhere between the chest and the hips.
There are several different types of hernia depending upon the area they bulge through and the gender of the person they affect. Some common forms of hernia include:
- Inguinal hernia
- Femoral hernia
- Umbilical hernia
- Hiatal hernia
Besides the above, there are some other types of hernia too which include:
- Incisional hernia
- Epigastric hernia
- Spigelian hernia
- Diaphragmatic hernia
Hernias are caused as a result of repeated strains on the abdominal cavity. Sometimes, weakening of the muscles also happens due to ageing leading to a hernia.
Hernias are mainly characterised by a visible bulge or lump. However, there are certain other symptoms that can highlight this condition. Common symptoms of a hernia include:
- Reappearance of bulge due to coughing, physical exertion, laughing, crying etc.
- Swelling in the groin or scrotum
- Increased pain in and around the bulge
- Excessive pain while lifting
- Increased size of the bulge size
- Consistent aching sensation
- Changes in bowel movement or bowel obstruction
How is a hernia diagnosed?
It is pretty simple to diagnose a hernia. You will be able to see the bulge appear very clearly. You may also experience the above-given symptoms, nonetheless, with varying intensity from person to person.
However, only your healthcare provider can accurately diagnose the type of hernia. They may order a number of tests and screenings to visualise the hernia. Some common tests include abdominal ultrasound, CT Scans, MRI and more.
You can receive a timely and proper diagnosis of hernia at the CK Birla Hospital, the best hospital for hernia surgery in Gurgaon.
Can hernia be treated without the need for surgery?
Sometimes, the symptoms of hernia do not always aggravate. Some patients may experience that their symptoms have not increased or are not bothering them. They may be able to carry on with their everyday life with nearly minimal disruption from the hernia.
While on the other hand, some patients experience severe symptoms that interrupt their everyday activities.
In either of the cases, surgical treatment of the hernia is the ultimate solution. Even when the hernia is not causing any problems to your daily routine or your general health if you wish to get rid of the hernia, the treatment can be performed with surgery only.
Non-surgical treatment methods cannot help in improving your overall health or treating your hernia. Non-surgical options such as wearing a corset may help in keeping the bulge back in its place and restrict it from protruding further. However, these options cannot help in getting rid of the hernia. These methods may also offer some amount of pain relief. It should be noted that that the pain relief is also temporary and may come back as soon as the treatment is removed or if the bulge increases in size.
However, if your condition is not causing problematic symptoms, your doctor will help in deciding whether or not you need immediate surgery. Your healthcare provider will analyse your overall health and offer the best course of treatment if your hernia does not need urgent repair.
In case your problem aggravates, you may be asked to undergo surgical repair for a hernia. Hence, it is established that a hernia cannot be treated without surgery.
For personalised guidance on your hernia condition, consult Dr Mayank Madan, the best hernia surgeon in Gurgaon.
What are the treatment methods for hernia?
Now that it is evident that hernia is only treated with help of surgery, let us understand the various types of surgical options available to us for the treatment. There are two types of surgical methods used to treat hernia:
Open surgery – An open surgery is a traditional way of treating the hernia. In this surgery, your general surgeon makes a large incision (surgical cut) at the site of the bulge. Through this incision, the surgeon pushed the bulge back in its place and stitches the weak muscle walls back together.
Laparoscopic surgery – A laparoscopy is a modern and advanced surgical technique. In this method, the surgeon makes several small incisions in the abdominal region or the site of the bulge. Through one of the incisions, the surgeon inserts a long thin tube with a camera attached at one of its ends. This device is known as a laparoscope.
The laparoscope reflects the insides of the abdomen on a monitor installed nearby. With the help of the laparoscope, the surgeon is able to view the insides of the abdomen clearly on the monitor. Through another incision, the surgeon proceeds to insert devices in order to repair the hernia. Afterwards, the laparoscope is removed and all the incisions are stitched back together.
Laparoscopic surgery has many advantages over open surgery for a hernia. It has less blood loss, fewer possibilities of complications, less scarring, quicker recovery and less hospital stay.
Dr Mayank Madan, the best hernia surgeon in Gurgaon is well-known for his high success rates in both open and laparoscopic hernia surgery.
For more information, visit the CK Birla Hospital, the best hospital for hernia surgery in Gurgaon.
References:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15757-hernia
https://www.medicinenet.com/can_you_heal_a_hernia_without_surgery/article.htm
