Umbilical hernias are generally considered to be a minor health concern, as they are often painless and can sometimes even go away on their own. However, if a hernia is large or persists for a long period of time, it can become more serious.
In some cases, an umbilical hernia can cause complications such as a strangulated hernia, which can lead to tissue becoming trapped in the hernia and potentially leading to infection or gangrene. This can require emergency surgery to correct it.
Additionally, an umbilical hernia can lead to a fragile abdominal wall, making it more susceptible to future hernias. Therefore, it is important to take an umbilical hernia seriously, especially if it is large or causes discomfort.
When should I be concerned about an umbilical hernia?
If you notice a bulge around your belly button, or have pain in that area, it is important to see your healthcare provider as soon as possible. While umbilical hernias are generally considered harmless and may even go away without any treatment, they can sometimes indicate a more serious condition and require medical attention.
It is especially important to seek medical attention if the bulge becomes painful or swollen, or hurts when you laugh, strain, or cough. You should also be concerned if your baby is born with a visible umbilical hernia, as newborns are most likely to require surgery to repair the hernia.
If you are diagnosed with an umbilical hernia, your provider may recommend surgery to repair the hernia if it doesn’t resolve on its own. Without surgical intervention, an umbilical hernia can become strangulated, meaning the loop of intestine it contains can become blocked, causing serious pain and other symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
In short, if you notice a bulge near your belly button or have pain in that area, it is important to have it checked by your healthcare provider. The earlier the diagnosis, the less likely it is to cause serious complications.
How do I know if my umbilical hernia is serious?
An umbilical hernia may be serious if you have symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, difficulty urinating, or constipation. If your hernia is causing these symptoms, you should seek medical care immediately as this may be an indication of a more serious problem or complications.
In addition, if your umbilical hernia is bulging or discolored, you should also seek medical attention as soon as possible.
In some cases, umbilical hernias may require surgery. This is usually recommended for larger hernias, hernias that cause obvious discomfort, or those that persist despite conservative treatments such as lifestyle changes and medications.
Furthermore, your doctor may suggest surgery if you have an incarcerated or strangulated hernia, both of which can lead to potentially life-threatening complications.
Therefore, it is important to talk to your doctor if you have any concerns or symptoms related to your umbilical hernia. Your doctor can determine if surgery is necessary and can provide more information about the risks, benefits, and expected outcome of the procedure.
What happens if you leave an umbilical hernia untreated?
If you leave an umbilical hernia untreated, a range of potential problems can develop. An umbilical hernia occurs when tissue or a part of the intestines protrude through the abdominal wall, causing a lump or bulge in the area of the navel.
This can cause discomfort, cramping and pain. Or, the hernia may remain asymptomatic, in which case no symptoms are present.
If an umbilical hernia is left untreated, the hernia may worsen over time and can cause additional symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, and vomiting. It can also lead to a strangulated hernia.
A strangulated hernia occurs when the hernia becomes trapped, cutting off the blood supply of the hernia and causing the trapped tissue to die. This can cause severe pain and necessitate emergency medical treatment.
While umbilical hernias can resolve on their own in some cases, it is important to seek medical attention in order to assess the severity of your hernia. Your doctor will likely recommend surgical intervention, depending on the size of your hernia and the associated symptoms.
In the case of a large, symptomatic umbilical hernia, the doctor may suggest surgery in which the hernia is repaired through an incision. This is considered the best option for reducing the risk of future hernia-related complications.
Is it OK to live with an umbilical hernia?
Yes, it is generally okay to live with an umbilical hernia. Most umbilical hernias are small enough that they may not cause any complications or require treatment. If the hernia is causing pain or discomfort, your doctor may recommend lifestyle adjustments or wearing a support garment.
Self-care measures to help manage an umbilical hernia include:
• Taking pain medication as necessary
• Avoiding activities that put strain on the abdominal muscles
• Making dietary changes to reduce symptoms
• Applying a warm compress to the hernia
• Losing excess weight to reduce abdominal pressure
• Doing gentle stretching and other exercise to improve muscle strength
• Wearing a medical support garment like a girdle to help keep the contents of the hernia in place
It is important to monitor the umbilical hernia and make sure that it does not get worse. If the hernia enlarges, it can cause a blockage in the intestines. In this case, urgent medical attention will be needed.
If it is decided that the umbilical hernia needs a surgical repair, laparoscopic surgery may be recommended.
Can an umbilical hernia become cancerous?
No, an umbilical hernia itself cannot become cancerous. It is a localized weakness or defect in the abdominal wall muscles near the navel, causing a part of your intestine to protrude through the opening.
It is usually associated with obesity, pregnancy, and strenuous activities. However, if the hernia is left untreated, the protruding gut may become strangulated, preventing the flow of blood to the fibrous tissue.
A strangulated hernia may become infected, but will never turn into cancerous tissue. If you have an umbilical hernia, it is important to have it evaluated and treated as needed. If left untreated it can cause complications such as swelling and pain, intestinal obstruction, and infection.
Treatment may include lifestyle modifications and supportive devices such as binders or a truss. In some cases, such as when a hernia is too large to close, or other medical reasons, surgery may be recommended.
How long can you wait for umbilical hernia?
It is important to see your doctor as soon as possible if you think you may have an umbilical hernia. In most cases, an umbilical hernia is not a dangerous condition and usually does not require any urgent medical attention.
However, if your umbilical hernia is causing you pain or discomfort, you should seek medical attention sooner rather than later to address the issue. Additionally, if your umbilical hernia is gradually getting bigger, is associated with severe pain, or is accompanied by fever, vomiting, or other symptoms, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.
If your umbilical hernia does not cause any pain and it is not getting larger, your doctor will likely recommend a “watch and wait” approach, where they will monitor your hernia closely and recommend lifestyle modifications to reduce the size of the hernia and prevent it from getting worse.
Typically, surgery is only recommended if the hernia is large, growing in size, or causing pain and/or complications. The amount of time you can wait for an umbilical hernia depends on the size of the hernia, any symptoms you are experiencing, and your doctor’s recommendation.
Do umbilical hernias get worse over time?
Umbilical hernias can worsen over time if they remain untreated. Depending on the size of the hernia and the location, if left untreated, the hernia can become larger and potentially dangerous. In rare cases, umbilical hernias can lead to strangulation, in which the tissue in the hernia becomes twisted or blocked, which causes a decrease in blood flow to the area.
Additionally, if the wall of the hernia is stretched too much, it can lead to a hernia repair operation being more difficult or even impossible due to the weakened area. For this reason, it is important to seek medical treatment for umbilical hernias so that they do not worsen over time.
Is umbilical hernia a major surgery?
No, an umbilical hernia is often a minor outpatient procedure. An umbilical hernia is a condition in which the abdominal wall at the belly button is weakened, allowing for abdominal contents to protrude through the area.
Surgery to correct an umbilical hernia typically lasts 20 to 30 minutes and involves making an incision near the umbilicus to push the prolapsed tissue back into the abdomen. The weakened abdominal area is then closed with stitches or sometimes with surgical mesh to prevent recurrence.
Pain and discomfort is minor, and most people are able to leave the hospital or surgical center shortly after their procedure. Usually, one to two days of rest is recommended, but typically no extensive rehabilitation is necessary.
What is the recovery time for an umbilical hernia surgery?
The recovery time for an umbilical hernia surgery will vary depending on the patient’s overall health and the size of the hernia that needs to be repaired. Generally, umbilical hernias are quite small and quite easy to repair.
Patients can usually expect to be able to return to their normal activities in about a week. They may have some soreness, bruising, or swelling around the incision site, but this should resolve in a few days.
Those who have had larger hernias or general anesthesia during the umbilical hernia repair may take longer to recover but should still be able to resume their daily activities after a couple of weeks.
It is important to follow up with your surgeon to ensure that the hernia repair is healing correctly and to see if any further treatments are needed.
Is hernia surgery minor or major?
Hernia surgery can be either minor or major depending on the type of hernia and the surgical approach that is taken. In general, hernias are typically repaired surgically with a minimally-invasive procedure and the surgery is considered minor; in most cases the patient is able to go home the same day.
The procedure usually involves using small sutures and a mesh patch to strengthen the weakened abdominal wall. The surgery may involve either a local anesthetic or a general anesthetic.
Minor hernia repairs require only a small incision, whereas major hernia repairs typically require a large incision and more extensive surgical repair. More complex procedures involving complex or recurrent hernias may require a general anesthetic and a longer recovery period.
The type of hernia will greatly impact if the surgery is minor or major. Common types of hernias that are repaired with minor surgery include inguinal hernias, umbilical hernias, epigastric hernias, and femoral hernias.
Complex hernias like ventral hernias, recurrent hernias, and incisional hernias usually require a more major procedure.
No matter the type of hernia, as long as you follow the post-operative instructions from your doctor and take the necessary precautions, the surgery will be successful.
How can I prevent my umbilical hernia from getting worse?
The most important thing you can do to prevent your umbilical hernia from getting worse is to take steps to manage your weight. An increased amount of abdominal pressure can cause an umbilical hernia to become larger or worsen over time.
Therefore, it is important to stick to a healthy diet as well as exercise in order to maintain a healthy weight and reduce your overall risk. Additionally, you should avoid activities that could increase abdominal pressure such as becoming overweight, heavy lifting, pressure from tight clothing, and strain from a chronic cough.
If your hernia is already showing signs of getting worse, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. A hernia that remains untreated or is not properly managed can cause health complications such as strangulation, where part of the intestine can become stuck in the hernia and lead to serious damage.
Surgery may be recommended to prevent this occurrence. During surgery, the doctor may repair the hernia using a mesh patch or tissue graft, or he/she may recommend a watch and wait approach.
Finally, it is important to be aware of signs that your hernia may be getting worse. These can include an increase in pain or swelling, redness around the hernia, tenderness or discomfort, burning or aching sensations in the area, or vomiting and nausea.
If you experience any of these signs, contact your doctor to seek medical advice.