Abdominal Hernia Treatment Options: What You Need To Know

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When you find yourself diagnosed with an abdominal hernia, you may not know what to do. After all, up until your diagnosis, the concept of a hernia (a protrusion of an internal organ through the abdominal wall) was completely unknown to you. However, now that you know what it is and have been diagnosed with an abdominal hernia, you need to begin to consider the various treatment options available to you. There are several methods available to you, ranging from home remedies to surgical interventions. So get to know your options and work with your doctor to choose the treatment method that is best for you. 

Rest, Icing, and Herb Treatments

If your hernia is minor and shows no signs of being an emergent case (strangulated or especially painful), you may be able to employ the wait-and-see method. In other words, you may be able to avoid hernia surgery, but you and your doctor have not ruled it out as a possibility just yet. 

In the meantime, you can treat your hernia symptoms at home. The first step that you will need to take is to rest yourself as much as possible. Because a hernia is essentially a tear in your abdominal wall, you will want to avoid any significant physical exertions, particularly heavy lifting. Getting plenty of rest and avoiding strain on your abdominal muscles will serve you well. 

If your hernia is painful or swollen, you can also place ice packs on it periodically to help reduce inflammation and pain. Some herbs can also help you to heal and to feel better in the meantime. These include licorice (the herb, not the candy), and ginger root. If you are experiencing stomach upset as a result of your hernia, these herbs will help with that symptom as well. 

Binders or Corsets

Sometimes surgery is not an option, either because of bad timing or because of other medical conditions that make an elective hernia surgery too dangerous to undergo. In these circumstances, you may find yourself relying on binders or corsets to hold your hernia and abdominal wall in place.

These constrictive devices should only be used as a temporary, rather than permanent, solution. Either they will help your hernia to retract and heal, or you will eventually need to have surgery. Be aware that binders and corsets can be quite uncomfortable and can cause skin irritation.

Hernia Surgery

The most common solution to an abdominal hernia is surgery. Depending on the size of your hernia and other risk factors, the procedure can either be performed through a traditional incision which is more invasive, or laproscopically. 

Either way, hernia surgery is designed to re-position the protruding organ in the right place and to repair the weakened and damaged points of the abdominal wall. A successful surgery will not only relieve you of your current hernia, but also prevent future hernias in the same location. 

As you can see, there are several treatment options available to you for your abdominal hernia. You should consult with a doctor like Johnson David - Premier Surgical Associates to determine the best course of treatment for you, and get started right away to ensure a successful and speedy recovery. 


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