Health

Hernia surgery | Who needs it and why? 

  1. Notice a bulge around your groin or belly button area? Can it be pushed back in or disappears when you are lying down? If your answers are yes, then chances are that you have a hernia. Your visit to the doctor should confirm this diagnosis. 

Before we get into why surgery is required for hernia, let us understand this condition a bit more. Hernia occurs when an internal organ or any body part pushes through muscle or tissue containing it possibly due to strain or weakening of the muscle/tissue.   

In most cases, hernia does not cause any significant symptoms. Due to this reason, a large number of patients are comfortable delaying treatment as the hernia doesn’t really bother them. Being apprehensive of surgery also plays a significant role in delaying surgery.  

Without further ado, here are 3 major reasons as to why going for surgery now is better than postponing it for a later date.   

  1. Surgery is literally the only treatment option for any type of hernia. So, what is the point of waiting? In reality, the longer you wait to get the hernia removed, the longer your recovery time would be. Getting your hernia removed in the early stages ensures that the procedure is simple and the risks of developing complications are minimum.    
  1. Hernias can worsen with time. The main cause of a hernia is weakened tissue/muscle. Additional strain by simple activities such as coughing, laughing etc can further weaken these tissues and muscles, resulting in the growth of the hernia. As the hernia grows in size, your symptoms can also become more severe, and the surgery to remove it becomes more complicated.   
  1. Hernia surgeries are generally done with the help of a laparoscopic procedure. This means lower post-op pain, lower risk of complications and lower recovery time. You can even be discharged on the same day, if you have undergone a laparoscopic surgery. However, if you delay the procedure too much, you can develop complications such as strangulated hernia (which occurs when the blood supply to the hernia is cut off) etc. In this event, you would require an emergency hernia repair. For this, your doctor might then have to perform an open hernia repair which has a far more complicated and longer recovery.   

Today, the COVID-19 pandemic which has taken over the world has become an additional factor in delaying hospital visits. This worry, though understandable, is actually unfounded. Especially due to the fact that there are a number of steps and safety guidelines that they have to follow in order to safeguard their patients against coronavirus and COVID_19. This and the fact that they are better informed about this disease and how it spreads, makes them safer than ever before. Hospitals like the CK Birla Hospital which is known as the best hospital in Gurgaon for surgery, diligently conduct routine sanitisation drives for their facility and strictly screen every patient and staff who walk through their doors. If you are still apprehensive, you can discuss the suitability of treatment in this current scenario with your doctor over call.   

In some cases, your doctor might postpone your treatment. Some of the reasons for delaying treatment include:  

  1. If you are suffering from any other ailments which require you to take blood thinners.   

If you have health problems like severe diabetes that increases the risk of complications during surgery.  

  1. If you have any allergies or risk of infection from the material used in hernia surgery.  

To make the right decision of undergoing hernia surgery or not, it is important that you consult experienced gastrointestinal surgeons to evaluate your condition. Whichever decision you take, it is advised to understand the condition clearly including the risks and complications associated with either course of action. 

Cheryl Henson

Cheryl Henson is a passionate blogger and digital marketing professional who loves writing, reading, and sharing blogs on various topics.

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