Symptoms and treatment of inguinal hernia in men

An inguinal hernia is a common disease, more common in men. It consists in the exit of the abdominal organs into the inguinal canal, due to eventration (defect) in the anterior abdominal wall. More often, the pathological protrusion is right- or left-sided, occasionally the formation of a hernial sac is possible on both sides.

Causes of inguinal hernia in men

In children, congenital hernias are more common, and in adults, acquired ones. There are a number of risk factors, the presence of which in a patient can sooner or later lead to the disease. These predisposing factors include :

• non-closure of the vaginal process of the peritoneum;
• atrophy of the muscles of the abdominal wall;
• congenital weakness of the superficial inguinal ring;
• elderly age;
• sudden weight loss;
• violation of the innervation of the inguinal region.

But not always the presence of risk factors alone is sufficient for the development of this disease. Hernia in men occurs due to a number of reasons :

• prolonged physical activity, combined with weight lifting;
• chronic constipation;
• diseases of the respiratory system, accompanied by a long persistent cough;
• overweight;
• diseases of the genitourinary system.

These reasons lead to an increase in intra-abdominal pressure and the formation of a defect in the abdominal wall, followed by the development of a pathological protrusion.

Symptoms of an inguinal hernia in men

It is possible to recognize an inguinal hernia in men by symptoms, since this pathology has pathognomonic signs. With a hernia, the first appearance of symptoms may not coincide with the development of the disease, which is determined only when examined by a doctor. Therefore, it is important to understand: swelling and pain in the groin indicate that the disease is progressing and the patient needs urgent treatment .

The male body requires increased attention to itself, since an inguinal hernia most often occurs in the representatives of the stronger sex. It is connected with the intrauterine period, or to be more precise, with the moment of lowering the testicles into the scrotum cavity through the abdominal wall.

Clinic of uncomplicated inguinal hernia

An uncomplicated inguinal hernia does not have severe symptoms, and is rarely of great concern to a man.

The main symptoms of inguinal hernia in men include:

1. Pathological (tumor-like) formation in the area of ​​the exit gate in the form of a protrusion. It is unstable and can disappear when the muscles relax or when you take a prone position. But this symptom does not always accompany an uncomplicated hernia: firstly, it disappears with an increase in the hernial sac, secondly, with infringement, and thirdly, it may be absent initially.
2. The descent of the hernial sac along the spermatic cord into the scrotum is accompanied by its increase on the corresponding side.
3. Pain of varying intensity in the groin . At first, they occur with little physical activity, walking, and later they begin to disturb at rest. The nature of the pain is usually aching, often periodic, but may accompany the disease permanently.
4. Dyspeptic disorders : diarrhea / constipation, nausea, vomiting.
5. Possibly impaired urination .

The problem of diagnosing a disease uncomplicated by infringement is that at the first stages of development, a hernia is most often small and may not be noticeable to an ordinary person, so he is unlikely to see a doctor in time. With the appearance of minor pain in this area, you should immediately visit the clinic, where an experienced specialist can easily make a diagnosis even at the earliest stage of the disease. After all, it is much easier to cure an inguinal hernia of the first degree than a complicated one.

Clinic for strangulated inguinal hernias

An inguinal hernia with incarceration is a serious disease, the symptoms of which are more pronounced and often cause great discomfort.

For a disease complicated by infringement, it is characteristic:

1. Sharp pain that occurs sharply on the right or left, and spreads to the entire abdomen.
2. Pain is accompanied by another sign: a decrease in blood pressure and tachycardia, which can ultimately lead to the development of pain shock.
3. The tension of the protrusion in the inguinal region and its increase. This symptom is one of the main ones for the differential diagnosis of complicated and uncomplicated hernias.
4. The uncontrollability of the protrusion speaks of infringement only if it was previously reduced. Sometimes it doesn't fit in the first place.

Common symptoms of a hernia

What other symptoms may accompany a hernia? Firstly, a non-specific symptom complex: headache, fever, sweating, weakness, clouding of consciousness . Secondly, the development of asthenic syndrome is possible . But these signs only complement the clinical picture and are not specific to the disease.

With fever accompanying the disease, a serious complication can be suspected in the patient - infringement with the development of an infectious process or necrosis of an organ that has fallen into the hernial sac.

This situation is dangerous because the generalization of the process is possible with the involvement of many systems and organs and severe intoxication of the patient.

Symptoms that occur with complications of inguinal hernia

1. Inflammation of the inguinal hernia - redness of the skin over the protrusion, acute pain when pressing on the hernial sac.
2. Violation or acute urinary retention, either when it enters the hernial sac of the bladder, or when it is infringed.
3. Intestinal obstruction is a late symptom of a complicated disease with infringement, requiring urgent surgical intervention. It is manifested by frequent urge to the toilet and the complete absence of stool and gas. The pain radiates from the groin along the bowel.
4. Ischemic orchitis - inflammation of the testicle due to infringement of the arteries that provide their blood supply. Manifested by acute pain in the scrotum.

Treatment of inguinal hernia

In many cases, an inguinal hernia in men requires treatment, which should be urgent . But if the disease is at an early stage of development and is not complicated by the infringement of the abdominal organs, then the treatment can be based on drug principles and therapeutic exercises.

Operation

The main method of treatment was and remains surgery. It consists in opening the hernial sac, repositioning its contents into the abdominal cavity and plastic surgery of the inguinal canal to prevent relapse.

The operation can be performed either under general anesthesia or local anesthesia. Which method will be chosen to remove the hernia is decided by the surgeon, based on the presence of certain contraindications and on the main indicators of the patient (age, weight, concomitant diseases).

Physical education with inguinal hernia

Therapeutic exercises for inguinal hernia are suitable for those patients who have either recently undergone surgery to remove it, or are at risk of developing the disease. These are people with a hereditary predisposition, overweight, patients with chronic diseases of the respiratory or gastrointestinal systems, the elderly. Very rarely, special physical exercises are suitable for the treatment of small, uncomplicated inguinal hernias.

This type of hernia treatment has a number of contraindications:

• complicated (incarcerated) hernia;
• postoperative period, unhealed sutures;
• feeling of discomfort when performing a complex of physical exercises;
• peritoneal injury.

Before proceeding with the therapy and prevention of the disease with physiotherapy exercises, you should consult with your doctor. He must collect a complete history of your life and disease, prescribe appropriate tests and instrumental methods of examination.

The main methods of non-surgical treatment

It should be remembered that it is possible to treat a hernia in such ways only at the first stages of the disease and after consultation with a specialist.

A set of physical exercises

Treatment of inguinal hernia in men with physical exercises requires a clear implementation of the technique, since only in this case a positive result is possible. Basic Rules:

• exercise 1 hour before meals or 2 hours after eating;
• if the slightest discomfort appears, the exercise should be stopped;
• regularity: every day for 1-2 workouts;
• constantly monitor your breathing: perform the exercise while inhaling.

Traditionally, for the treatment of a hernia, they perform:

1. Exercises "Bicycle" or "Scissors".
2. Lifting the body from a prone position with bent legs.
3. Sitting on a chair, lean your back on the back and hands in the seat: lifting the pelvis while inhaling, lowering while exhaling.
4. Also sitting on a chair, pulling up the legs, bent at the knees, to the stomach. Alternating right and left legs.
5. Therapeutic walking, cycling or running in small amounts is effective.

All exercises must be performed under the supervision of an instructor. Physiotherapy exercises are often combined with wearing a bandage.

Wearing a bandage

Sometimes in the postoperative period or during the treatment of a reduced hernia, a bandage may be prescribed to the patient. Its design supports the weakened abdominal wall and stops the progression of the disease.

You cannot wear a bandage in the following situations:

• infringement of organs;
• oncological diseases;
• skin diseases (dermatitis) in the groin area.

An inguinal hernia can have a number of complications dangerous to humans. Therefore, you should not postpone going to the doctor if you find characteristic symptoms in yourself, and treatment in this case will not be accompanied by pain and complications, as well as a long recovery period. Only a doctor, based on each specific case, knows how to cure a hernia, so do not self-medicate, contact the clinic.