Background

Hernias usually present with a visible lump because there is a protrusion of tissues through a weakness in the abdominal wall. The weakness can be natural as at the belly button/umbilicus or develop through a tear in the muscular wall. This might occur from a fit of coughing, lifting heavy objects (e.g. at work, home or gardening). The diagram shows the different types of hernias that can arise from the abdominal wall.

Symptoms

Symptoms include discomfort and/or an ache after walking. If bowel is within the hernia you might experience gurgling noises in the hernia, colicky abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and an inability to open your bowels or pass flatus (known as absolute constipation).

Serious complications from a hernia include strangulation – this is when tissue is trapped and the blood supply to it is strangulated. You may experience continuous pain, possibly quite severe, feeling unwell. You might feel sweaty and clammy and the skin over the hernia could be red and hot. Another complication is when bowel is trapped and becomes blocked causing bowel obstruction. A combination of bowel obstruction and strangulation is a very serious emergency and if you suspect this present to the Emergency Department immediately for assessment