How to relieve pain with umbilical hernia
Many patients facing a disease such as an umbilical hernia may not even be aware that the pathology of the abdominal wall can lead to a noticeable pain syndrome. But the pathology is very different from the spinal disease of the same name, giving a completely different clinical picture and complications.
So what to do if an umbilical hernia hurts? How to treat the disease and how to avoid its occurrence?
Causes of the disease
An umbilical hernia is a defect in the abdominal wall, which is formed due to the passage of the fatty layer through the muscles. A kind of bag is formed from the fatty layer, into which the intestines or other internal organs of a person can get.
In order for an umbilical hernia to form, two main factors must be present.
Firstly, congenital weakness of the umbilical ring region is necessary. The fact is that in most people this area of the abdominal wall itself is quite vulnerable compared to other anatomical areas. Usually, a small negative impact, especially at a young age, is enough for the disease to form.
Secondly, it is necessary to increase intra-abdominal pressure . It is this factor that leads to the fact that the navel does not withstand the load, and a defect is formed.
Both factors are closely related. Without umbilical ring weakness, intra-abdominal pressure can rise as much as desired without a defect, and if there is no pressure from within, the weak area is not stressed and, therefore, there are no problems with the onset of symptoms.
Many doctors believe that genetic predisposition, problems with connective tissue, excess weight, pregnancy and some other factors also play a role in the formation of the disease.
In some patients, the pathology is formed in response to constant coughing or sneezing, with prolonged and high physical exertion, against the background of labor. But, if you carefully consider the influence of all factors, the key points will remain the main ones: increased intra-abdominal pressure and weakness of the umbilical ring.
Main symptoms
An umbilical hernia is a specific disease that for a long time can practically not manifest itself. Many patients accidentally pay attention to the fact that a bulge has formed in their navel area, which at first completely disappears with light pressure.
However, as the disease progresses, a symptom such as pain may appear. It is she who often makes patients see a doctor, as they simply do not know what to do with it, and how dangerous this condition is.
In fact, even with a fairly advanced umbilical hernia, pain is not such a common complaint. Compared with lesions in the lower back, for example, pain may be an exception in general, but an exception indicating serious danger, which cannot be said when a lumbar defect is detected, for which exacerbations are not uncommon.
The fact is that with hernias of the back, the spinal cord is often pinched, and the muscles also spasm, which explains the appearance of an unpleasant sensation. With a defect in the navel, in principle, muscle spasm does not occur, and therefore pain appears only if there is a clamping of the organs that are in the hernial sac. And this is a rather dangerous situation.
As the disease progresses, patients also often complain of digestive problems. There may be, for example, complaints of bouts of nausea or vomiting, which do not bring noticeable relief.
When is surgery needed?
What medicines to take for umbilical hernia in adults? How to cope with pain syndrome, and can it be done at home?
Most often, the danger is the defect that is large. This is explained by the high probability of pinching. If pinching has occurred, then it is impossible to relieve pain with an umbilical hernia at home, a mandatory visit to the doctors is necessary. The best option for solving the problem in this case is a simple surgical intervention that will solve the problem once and for all.
In general, contrary to popular belief, the most optimal way to deal with a hernia of the umbilical ring is surgery, which will eventually be shown to any patient sooner or later.
It is important to remember that in an adult patient the disease cannot go away on its own, in any case, he will need an operation, and it is better to carry it out as early as possible in order to avoid possible complications. With children, things are somewhat different. There is always a chance that the baby will outgrow the pathology, and therefore they are shown invasive intervention only if, nevertheless, the organs in the hernial sac have been infringed. The main thing is to consult a doctor in a timely manner.
Postoperative recovery
If the hernia of the navel, accompanied by pain, has been successfully operated on, the recovery of the patient will not take so much time.
In the first few days it is recommended:
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- adhere to bed rest, making only short-term walks, but gradually increasing their duration;
- wear a special bandage, which is designed to reduce the likelihood of recurrence of the disease, as well as speed up the healing process of sutures;
- drink antibacterial drugs prescribed by a doctor, which are necessary to prevent the development of an infection;
- regularly do dressings of the postoperative wound.
If there are no problems in the hospital, then usually the patient is discharged 48 hours after the operation. At home, he is advised to continue wearing the brace. Also, over the next six months, you will have to protect yourself from intense physical exertion, which can again provoke the development of the disease.
To avoid an increase in intrauterine pressure, the patient will also have to follow a special diet.
It will include products that will not provoke constipation and gas formation. Remove all lifestyle restrictions only after you get the approval of your doctor!
Association with pregnancy
According to statistics, in women, a hernial protrusion in the navel area most often appears during pregnancy. This is facilitated by a change in the position of the internal organs in connection with the growth and development of the fetus, as well as a rather strong jump in intra-abdominal pressure, which play a significant role in pathogenesis.
During pregnancy, when many drugs, and even more so surgical treatment, are prohibited, it is necessary to carefully choose approaches to therapy. After all, pinching a defect can lead to miscarriage and loss of a baby, which no expectant mother wants.
What to do if there is pain in the umbilical hernia during pregnancy? First of all, it is necessary to consult with your doctor! Only he will be able to fully assess the situation and decide what measures are best taken in a particular case.
As a preventive measure, women are advised to wear a bandage, use special compression underwear, and also visit the surgeon regularly so as not to miss the moment of pathology development.
Possible Complications
An umbilical hernia is a disease that is quite capable of leading to the development of serious complications.
First of all, they remember, of course, such a problem as infringement of the hernial sac. This is one of the most dangerous complications, since during the infringement, the organs that are in the defect zone stop receiving blood. Because of this, the development of their necrosis is possible.
The condition always requires immediate surgical intervention, and the doctor during the operation must examine not only the contents of the hernial sac, but also the nearest free organs. This is necessary to make sure that no circulatory disturbances that are invisible to the eye have occurred.
Inflammation of the umbilical hernia is a slightly less dangerous pathology. With it, various irritating factors lead to a negative reaction of the body, but the operation is not always required. Sometimes the situation can be resolved with medication.
Another complication is the stagnation of feces in the intestine, which is formed in the area of the intestine, which is located in the hernial sac. Pathology is also considered dangerous and requires serious medical intervention to solve the problem. Prolonged stagnation of feces can lead to the formation of bedsores in the intestines. Those, in turn, will provoke the development of peritonitis, which is regarded as a situation that poses a direct threat to life.
Disease prevention
An umbilical hernia is a disease that is well preventable. If a person has a genetic predisposition to this pathology, he is recommended to regularly engage in light physical activity, monitor his weight and eat right. It is also necessary to take measures aimed at preventing stagnation of feces in the intestines in order to prevent an increase in intrauterine pressure.
As a preventive measure, pregnant women are advised to avoid intense physical activity, wear a bandage and compression underwear. Also, the fair sex is recommended to regularly visit a doctor who can monitor the patient's condition and pay attention to the presence of any problems in a timely manner.
Elimination of risk factors, the effect of which on the body can lead to the development of a hernia, will significantly reduce the likelihood of a collision with the disease. The main thing is to take care of your own health in a timely manner and pay due attention to prevention.
An umbilical hernia is a serious disease that many patients consider to be something completely simple and safe. However, as practice shows, this is far from the case. Many people go to the doctor only when the defect starts to hurt, although this approach is fundamentally wrong and in the presence of a pathology it is recommended to constantly monitor its course and, if necessary, perform surgery.
A timely visit to the doctor, most likely, will not prevent the need for surgical intervention, since in adult patients an umbilical hernia cannot resolve itself.
But, nevertheless, timely intervention will help to avoid serious complications that can pose a serious threat to the health and life of the patient. A preventive visit to the doctor for a hernia in the umbilical region is an important element of therapy.
