Many patients face a dilemma whether they should wait for the hernia to heal itself or go for surgery immediately. Another situation is to wait until the symptoms get worsened and start bothering you or get it repaired beforehand only. It’s to be noted, these conditions are not applicable for infants and small children. They will always require surgery to correct their hernia condition as any delay can aggravate the risk of strangulation and incarceration.
Important points to remember
One thing is for sure, hernias can only be treated through surgical procedures. The right time for surgery, however, is subjective to the current condition of the patient.
- One thing that you should understand is, hernias don’t cure themselves. Only corrective surgery can repair a hernia.
- Many patients are fortunate enough to delay the surgical process for months and years. However, some patients might need to undergo surgery even for a smaller hernia.
- At times doctors’ advice to wait for some time till the symptoms are more evident.
- Hernias are prone to get larger over a period of time. It happens due to the fact that muscle walls of the stomach get weaker and this leads to bulging out of more tissues.
- Doctors at times ask the patient to immediately go for surgery to prevent a severe condition like strangulation. This happens when a portion of the intestine or fatty tissue gets trapped in the hernia and blood supply is cut off due to that.
- Many people start wearing trusses or corsets to hold their hernia in place. However, these devices are advised for treating hernias. They can do more harm to your body than any good.
What are the Surgery Options?
Hernia surgeries are of different types. Let’s have a look at the different surgery options available for you.
- Open Surgery – Open surgery is one of the most complex surgeries performed to cure hernia. An incision is first done at the location of the hernia. This will help the surgeons in identifying the actual problem. The bulging tissues are stitched back in their respective organ and covered with tissue walls. A piece of mesh is also placed below the organ to give it better support.
- Laparoscopic Surgery – This is one of the most popular surgical options for a hernia. Very small cuts are made around the location of the hernia. Surgical tools are inserted from these cuts into the body to repair the weakened tissues.
- Robotic Hernia Repair – This procedure is quite similar to laparoscopic surgery. The only difference is this surgery is that the surgeon will perform the surgery through a console while sitting in the operating room. This option is used to reconstruct the walls and repair small hernias.
You must know that every surgery has its own advantages and disadvantages. It’s your doctor and surgeon who will determine the best surgery option for you. Make sure you maintain a healthy weight and get rid of the bad habits of smoking and drinking. You must also ensure that you take rich fiber and a high protein diet regularly to keep hernia at bay. Stay alert to any unusual body changes and consult the doctor if you identify any symptoms.
