A hernia appears when an organ pushes through the muscles and tissues that usually contain it, causing an odd bulge to appear underneath the skin. Hernias most commonly occur when the muscles or tissues responsible for surrounding the effected organ grow weaker with age. While not usually life threating, hernias are uncomfortable and can become dangerous if left untreated.
If you or a loved one are experiencing a hernia that continues to worsen with time, trust our skilled team at Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) General Surgery to provide safe and effective surgical options for treatment.
The physicians and staff of NGPG General Surgery are here to provide you with expert care with a compassionate touch. Our surgeons have decades of experience diagnosing and treating hernias.
What are the symptoms of a hernia?
Because there are many types of hernias that affect different organ systems and areas of the body, symptoms can vary in location and severity. The most common symptoms of a hernia include:
- Bulge, pain or swelling in your groin or abdomen area
- Experiencing pain while lifting, coughing or bending over
- Ability to push the bulge back in while laying down
If you are experiencing severe symptoms such as extreme pain, discoloration of the hernia, nausea or fever, seek emergency care right away. Find an NGPG Emergency Room near you.
What causes a hernia to appear?
Hernias are direct results of weakness in the muscle and tissue meant to keep your organ in place. Some of the most common causes for a hernia can include:
- Strenuous heavy lifting
- Chronic coughing and/or constipation
- Damage from injury or previous surgery
- Failure of the abdominal wall to close after pregnancy
Who’s at risk for a hernia?
While anyone can develop a hernia, some people are at a higher risk than others. Some common risk factors for hernia include:
- Having a physically demanding occupation
- Frequently straining to use the restroom
- Asthma or other causes of chronic coughing
- Pregnancy or other pelvic pressures
- Previous traumatic injuries or accidents
How is a hernia diagnosed?
Typically, a physical exam is enough to diagnose a hernia. Your provider will likely have you cough or strain to get the hernia to emerge, and they may check to see if they can push it back in or not. Some hernias may require imaging tests to diagnose, your doctor may order an:
- X-ray
- CT scan
- MRI
What types of hernias does NGPG treat?
A hernia is a mass buildup of tissue pushing through the opening in your abdomen or groin area. It can also be called a rupture, or referred to as a defect. NGPG General Surgery offers treatment for many types of hernias including:
- Femoral hernia
Often found in women, the tissue bulges from the lower belly into the upper thigh, just before the groin area. - Incisional hernia
Common for patients who have had surgery and their muscles didn’t fully heal. - Inguinal hernia
This is a common type of hernia that occurs in the groin muscle. - Ventral hernia
These hernias appear as a bulge intrusion above the belly button. - Umbilical hernia
A type of Ventral Hernia found near or on the belly button. This hernia occurs when the intestines push through a weak spot in the belly. It’s often found in children. - Epigastric hernia
Found in the middle of the belly, below the breastbone and above the bellybutton. This type of hernia is caused by fat pushing through weak parts of the muscle wall, it’s common for there to be multiple small hernias. - Hiatal hernia
A hiatal hernia is a protrusion of the stomach or other organs through the esophageal hiatus, an opening in the diaphragm that allows the esophagus to pass from the chest to the abdomen.
How is a hernia treated?
The only way to treat a hernia is with surgery. There are a number of surgical options available, which your surgeon will discuss with you based on your specific case. At NGPG General Surgery our physicians perform surgeries at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, and have access to the latest technologies to minimize pain, reduce recovery time and improve outcomes. For hernia surgery, NGPG General Surgery offers:
- Open surgery: This is a traditional surgical option where your surgeon manually pushes herniated tissue back into its place, reinforcing it with stitches.
- Laparoscopic surgery: This minimally invasive surgical option uses a laparoscope and thin tools to repair the hernia through small incisions.
- Robotic hernia repair: By using the da Vinci Surgical System, we offer improved outcomes and reduced recovery with minimally invasive technique.
NGPG General Surgery has proudly offered robotic surgeries using the da Vinci Surgical System since 2009. In 2020 Northeast Georgia Medical Center was the first in Georgia to earn accreditation in both Robotic Surgery and Hernia Surgery.
Following your surgery, you will need to adhere to the recovery plan mapped out by yourself and your NGPG General Surgery provider.
Choose NGPG for Hernia Surgery & Repair
If you or a loved one have been experiencing abdominal pain that you suspect may be a hernia, you can trust our team of experts at NGPG General Surgery to provide you with high quality diagnosis and care.
Our experienced team of surgeons have performed thousands of hernia repairs, and some of our doctors are even pioneers in this field. With locations across northeast Georgia, NGPG General Surgery offers the ability to schedule a consultation and your follow-up appointments close to home, while having access to leading-edge technologies at Northeast Georgia Medical Center for your surgery.