Incisional Hernia Symptoms
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Understanding the Signs of an Incisional Hernia
An incisional hernia develops when tissue pushes through a weakened area of the abdominal wall at the site of a previous surgical incision. This type of hernia can occur months or even years after abdominal surgery.
The symptoms of an incisional hernia can vary depending on the size of the weakness, the position of the hernia and whether complications are present. Early assessment is important, as symptoms may gradually worsen over time.
What Is an Incisional Hernia?
An incisional hernia is one of several different types of hernia. It develops when the abdominal muscles do not fully heal after surgery, creating a weak area near the incision site.
This weakness can allow fatty tissue, bowel or other abdominal contents to push through the abdominal wall, resulting in a visible lump or swelling.
Incisional hernias can develop after many forms of abdominal surgery, particularly following larger procedures or wound complications.
Common Incisional Hernia Symptoms of
The symptoms of incisional hernia often become more noticeable during movement or physical activity.
Common symptoms include:
- A lump or bulge near a previous surgical scar
- Swelling around the incision site
- Discomfort when coughing, bending or lifting
- Pain during strenuous activities
- A feeling of pressure or weakness in the abdomen
Some hernias remain small, while others gradually increase in size over time.
How we've helped make a difference
Frequently Asked Questions
Hernia surgery is no different to any other walk of life in this regard. If other operations are done better by people who specialise in that work, then hernia is no different. Expert opinion now recognises the importance of specialisation in hernia, not only by the surgeon, but the rest of the team and the unit where the work is done.
Our own results have been improved on because of our experience with so many cases each year. We started off with excellent results, but by doing tens of thousands of hernias, even they were dramatically improved upon. See Value of Specialisation.
Traditionally (using previous techniques) many hernia repairs fail (recur) and they tend to fare even worse when they get repaired again. The failure rate is thought to double with each subsequent attempt.
Happily we have an established track record in repairing recurrent hernias and are repairs are as reliable as primary (first time) repairs. The risks of recurrence are an insignificant fraction of one percent.
See the page specifically on Recurrent Hernia.
Do NOT go on any kind of active holiday or travel anywhere far from good surgical care with a known hernia condition. You are at risk AND may well find yourself uninsured under the terms of your travel insurance. See the page on Holidays with known hernias.
Most hernias around the world are repaired by general surgeons as just one of the list of procedures they perform. Hernia is not a subject that has attracted enough interest generally to make it a specialised area. The slow development of modern hernia techniques is a result. We feel that hernia needs specialisation.
See also, why a specialist hernia centre.
Keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery represents a great advance in many areas of surgery, such as ovaries, throats, knees, etc.
For hernia though, we find that results that are as good, or better, can be achieved without the risks of keyhole surgery (except in certain specific cases).
Furthermore, our preferred approach does not need general anaesthesia. Keyhole surgery can only be done with general anaesthesia or spinal injections, which carry additional risks.
We stress that different ideas and beliefs by surgeons are healthy in order to make the changes that lead to advances and improvements. Although there are some eminent proponents of keyhole hernia repair, we have done more of these tension-free hernia repairs than any hospital in the entire world, so we could use any technique known to surgical science. Our conclusions are therefore based upon very significant experience.
We DO offer laparoscopy, but in very specific cases where we find that to be more appropriate than the open repair we describe.
See Methods of Repair.
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When Symptoms Become More Serious
In some cases, part of the bowel can become trapped within the hernia. This may affect the blood supply to the tissue and lead to serious complications.
Symptoms requiring urgent medical attention can include:
- Sudden or severe pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Redness around the hernia
- A firm lump that cannot be pushed back in
These complications are considered medical emergencies and should be assessed urgently.
Treatment and Incisional Hernia Surgery
While some smaller hernias may be monitored, symptoms often worsen over time. Hernia repair surgery is commonly recommended to strengthen the abdominal wall and reduce the risk of complications.
At The British Hernia Centre, many procedures are performed under local anaesthetic where appropriate, although some patients may require open hernia repair or minimally invasive keyhole techniques. Specialist assessment helps determine the most appropriate treatment approach and reduce the risk of recurrence following incisional hernia surgery.
Incisional hernias do not usually improve on their own and many gradually become larger over time. As the hernia increases in size, repair surgery can become more complex. Early specialist assessment is therefore recommended.
Arrange a Consultation
The British Hernia Centre provides specialist assessment and treatment for incisional hernias, including complex and recurrent cases.
Contact The British Hernia Centre to arrange a consultation with a specialist hernia surgeon.