What is a Hernia?

A hernia occurs when an internal organ or tissue pushes through a weak spot in the surrounding muscle or connective tissue.

DEFINITION – What is a Hernia?

A hernia is what happens when the tissue within a bodily cavity pushes through its natural restraining wall. Normally sections of fatty tissue or intestine within the abdomen are contained within a thin skin or membrane that lines the wall structures, but when a weak area or tear occurs, they can bulge outwards, pushing right through into the lateral cavity.

In many cases, hernias are asymptomatic and people don’t realize anything has happened. Hernias can also be quite painful, and often the pain presents even while resting. The greater concern is strangulation of the bulging tissue. As the muscle wall where it pushed through eventually tightens up around it, enough pressure can exist to severely constrict the blood flow. Such a situation requires immediate surgical care, as a reduction in oxygen from a reduced blood supply can potentially kill the tissue, leading to all sorts of serious complications. Hernias are generally the result of a seam weakness or a wall failure due to a natural or external cause. While some hernias are present at birth, the majority come about later in life. Pressure within the abdominal cavity is a major cause of hernias, driven by various factors such as poor diet, obesity, excess fluid in the cavity, heavy lifting, forceful coughing, and straining abdominal muscles during evacuation. Surgery is another common cause of abdominal wall failure; in fact between 2% and 10% of people who have received abdominal surgery eventually experience a hernia.

BREAKING DOWN – Hernia

There are several general categories of hernia that you can have. The most common are the following:

  • Incisional: The result of a surgical incision or trauma.
  • Inguinal: Occurring in the inner groin area.
  • Femoral: Affecting the outer groin.
  • Umbilical: Related to the belly button.
  • Hiatal: Within the upper stomach.

The second example, inguinal, occurs where the thigh joins with the torso, at the inguinal crease. This seam is responsible for three quarters of all abdominal hernias, and men are 25 times more likely to experience an inguinal hernia than women. If you feel a soft bulge in your stomach or groin area that seems to disappear when you lay down or when you press directly on it, you may have a hernia, and you should go see a doctor. This is especially so if you feel pain in the same area when you use the toilet, cough forcefully, lift something heavy, or even when you just bend over. A hernia may also present itself as an extremely painful and tender lump that cannot be pushed down (it has become irreducible). In such a case, strangulation is likely occurring and an urgent visit to the emergency room is necessary. A strangulated piece of intestine can lead to a dead bowel in just six hours.

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About Athlete’s Choice Massage

Athlete’s Choice Massage was created to provide consistently excellent rehabilitative services for health-conscious people. Our team is extremely well-trained and they take pride in their work. They are constantly striving to learn and better themselves in their respective fields so that they can help you recover and aid in the maintenance of your well-being.

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All appointments will begin with a short but in-depth one-on-one assessment. This is your opportunity to point out what area you’d like to work on during your time, as well as identify any special requests or concerns you may have. Should you have more than one area of concern, your therapist will prioritize the chief complaint and create a treatment plan for the time allotted and for follow-ups as needed.

Please note our 24 Hour Cancelation Policy.

With massage therapy being covered by many people’s extended health care benefits, it is now easier than ever to experience the positive effects of therapeutic massage.

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