Does Hernia Pain Come and Go?

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1. Hernia cannot be manipulated with manual pressure (incarcerated).
2. Malaise (a general feeling of illness) with or without fever.
3. Severe nausea or /and vomiting.
4. A hot or burning sensation around the hernia that persists or more difficult to relieve.
5. Constipation, especially if the problem doesn’t relieve with lifestyle measures such as diet high in fiber and exercise (constipation usually improves when you have adequate physical activity).
6. Severe, sharp pain in the hernia or elsewhere in the abdomen cavity.
7. Passing blood with stools.

Diagnosis and tests

A physical examination is often enough to diagnose hernia – especially if there is already a lump /swelling to see or feel. In general, no other tests are required if:

1. There is an obvious bulge in the particular areas commonly associated with hernia.
2. The bulge is less obvious or disappears when you’re lying down.
3. The bulge is more obvious when you have pressure in the abdomen such as when standing, coughing, or straining.

However sometimes patient has inconclusive symptoms. In such a case, additional tests are usually needed. Some of these tests are as follows:

1. Abdominal ultrasound. It can provide shadowy white and black pictures to exam your abdominal cavity.
2. Herniagram, a kind of x-ray test that involves an injection of special liquid to the abdominal cavity. If you have hernia, the liquid can flow through the hole and shows on x-rays. Sometimes herniagram is used to help confirm whether a repaired hernia has recurred (returned).
3. Sometimes other imaging tests such as MRI and CT-scan can be used, too.

For a better understanding of whether or not your pain is caused by a hernia, see experienced hernia specialists!