Why Operate?
Assuming you can see and feel a swelling in your groin and both you and the surgeon are agreed it is an inguinal hernia what are the reasons for having an operation? NOTE – the swelling doesn’t have to be very large or very uncomfortable, BUT it does have to be there
i.e. you do have to have a swelling – see below.
These are the reasons for having your inguinal hernia repaired
You can see or feel a swelling in the groin when you stand or have been standing for a while, and it often aches if you have been standing or walking for a while.
It is fairly large and you often have to push it back with your hand it is getting larger as the months go by. You don’t want it to get any bigger.
You are worried it might ‘strangulate‘;. Relatively uncommon. Not the best reason for having surgery if the swelling is small and you have no symptoms.
A NOTE – I never operate on someone who does not have a swelling in the groin.
I examine patients when they are standing and I need to clearly feel the swelling.
The swelling should ideally be visible or able to be felt by you, the patient.
I never operate only on the basis of an ultrasound scan report.
Reasons for not having an operation, or at least thinking very hard before having surgery.
There is a small ‘bump’ – noticeable because you are fairly slim, but you have no discomfort.
There is a small ‘bump’ – noticeable because you are fairly slim, and although you have no discomfort, you are worried about “strangulation” because of what you have read on the internet.
There is a small swelling, which you have noticed, but which you are never normally aware of, and which gives you no symptoms at all.
You had some discomfort in the groin, your doctor sent you for an ultrasound, and the ultrasound report says you have an inguinal hernia but you cannot see or feel a lump when you put your hand over the area.
You had some discomfort in the groin, you were examined and told – yes there is a ”cough impulse”, and you are told that you have an inguinal hernia which needs an operation, (but you cannot see or feel a lump when you look down or put your hand over the area).
You had an MRI or CT scan of the abdomen for something else, and the report mentions that you have an inguinal or groin hernia.
NOT a hernia
These are GROIN symptoms which are rarely if ever (I am tempted to say never) due to an inguinal hernia Pain or discomfort in the groin AFTER sports activities. A few hours later or even the next day.
Groin discomfort when getting in or out of a car.
Groin discomfort during a long car journey.
Groin discomfort when lying in bed or turning over in bed.