Diagnosis
In most cases, the treating physician can diagnose the inguinal hernia by simply palpating the groin area. This physical examination usually takes place while lying down. It may be that the examining doctor asks the patient to hold his breath in order to artificially increase the pressure in the abdominal cavity and thus to be able to palpate the hernia better.
Sometimes it can be more difficult to diagnose an inguinal hernia, especially in women, because incomplete inguinal hernias without a hernia sac are more common in women. Here, an ultrasound examination can help to find the weak point of the connective tissue and thus to diagnose the hernia. In case of severe pain, which occurs in the context of an inguinal hernia, no time should be lost to diagnose the inguinal hernia and, if necessary, to identify an incarcerated intestinal loop as the cause of the symptoms.
In these cases an ultrasound can also provide clarity about the situation. In difficult cases it may be necessary to perform a magnetic resonance imaging. During this examination, images are produced which allow the structures of the body to be depicted much sharper and more precisely than is the case with an ultrasound examination.
Prognosis
In general, a spontaneous healing of an inguinal hernia in adults is very unlikely. However, by operating on the inguinal hernia and closing the defect in the connective tissue, healing and thus freedom from symptoms can be achieved. Depending on the existing risk factors, such as overweight, subsequent pregnancies or constant lifting and carrying of heavy objects, the recurrence of an inguinal hernia is more or less likely. This recurrence rate in case of an inguinal hernia is also influenced by the applied surgical technique and the consequent protection after the operation. Thus a further inguinal hernia occurs on average in about 5-10% of cases.
Prophylaxis
Especially if an individual weakness of the connective tissue is known, some things should be taken care of to prevent the occurrence of an inguinal hernia. Especially lifting and carrying heavy loads should be prevented if possible. Overweight can also contribute to the occurrence of inguinal hernias.After an operation, a consequent protection should be observed to prevent a recurrence of the inguinal hernia.
Depending on the surgical technique performed, the period of rest can vary between a few days and weeks. Some sports activities can be performed earlier, as they are less problematic than others. These include swimming or walking. On the other hand, jogging, for example, is a much greater strain on the groin region and should be avoided for longer.
