What Is Scrotal Hernia?
Protrusion of a part of viscera or its outer covering membranes from any weak point in the body musculature is called hernia.
As the name suggests, scrotal hernia is herniation or protrusion of a part of abdominal viscera (or only the omentum) from a weak point in abdominal muscles into the scrotal sac.
This weak point is usually along the course of the inguinal ligament. Omentum is a delicate membrane covering the visceral organs in the abdomen.
Why Does It Occur?
A scrotal hernia occurs when there is some weakness in the abdominal musculature coupled with increased pressure in the abdomen.
This weak point may be a developmental anomaly or develop later in life due to aging or some muscular degeneration.
Increased pressure may be due to:
- Pregnancy
- Chronic cough, as in asthma, bronchitis, smokers etc.
- Obesity
- Heavy weight lifting
- Conditions leading to fluid in the abdominal cavity
- Chronic constipation, followed by straining during stools
- Certain jobs that require you to stand for prolonged periods
- Prematurely born babies may have a weak spot in the abdominal musculature, through which viscera may protrude.
Symptoms
A scrotal hernia may be symptomless, especially if small in size. In such cases, a doctor may notice it on routine examination.
Scrotal hernias may give the following symptoms:
- A swelling on either side of the groin
- A heavy sensation, particularly after standing for long hours.
- Pain or discomfort while lifting heavy loads or coughing.
Most of these hernia get reduced while lying down. Patient is often able to reduce it with hands.
Strangulated Scrotal Hernia
This hernia or protrusion of viscera may sometimes get trapped and is not able to reduce back. If the blood supply of the protruded viscera gets blocked, the hernia is called strangulated.
This is an emergent condition. The patient feels intense pain in the bulge, which turns bluish in color. He may have a feeling of nausea and fever may be there.
It is suggested to rush to the hospital in such cases.
Management
Most small scrotal hernias, which get reduced easily may be left as such. Patient learns to avoid heavy lifting of objects, long standing hours and all other factors that may contribute to the enlargement of the hernia.
If you have a hernia, do the following to prevent complications:
- Avoid heavy meals, which may increase the abdominal pressure. Take small frequent meals instead.
- Constipation is absolutely bad for you. Take adequate dietary fibers to stay away from it. If required, you may take Castor oil or metamucil in milk before bedtime.
- Avoid lifting of heavy objects.
- Avoid standing for long hours.
- Avoid smoking or any other stimulant which may give you cough.
Surgical Repair
Bigger hernias, or hernias which may complicate/strangulate are treated by surgery, called herniorrhaphy.
Treatment is a surgical procedure where the hernia is carefully reduced into the abdominal cavity and the weak spot is repaired.
For this, a synthetic hypoallergenic mesh is taken. Alternatively, a piece of muscle may be taken from the thigh of some other place of the body. This piece is stitched on the weak spot (hernioplasty).
What is the medical treatment of a complete AV block?
A patient present with central chest pain, tight band in nature,productive coughx3/12, dyspnoeic when walking, climbing stairs, even doing any activities, No oedema,
ECG read sinuses- bradcardia, plus a complete AV block.
CXR-cardiomegally
Pacing would be essential.
For around two weeks I’ve been having groin and thigh pain. It hurts to lift and spread my leg occasionally. Especially when seated. When standing it hurts sometimes but most times i don’t have much of a problem. I haven’t noticed any lumps. Bending doesn’t seem to be a problem except for when I lift my leg. Coughing doesn’t seem to be a problem either. Sometimes pain goes into my hip. I noticed tenderness in my thigh muscle and when trying to lay back my knee pops causing more pain. Ice sometimes reduces the pain as does heat. I’ve been trying to do stretches but they work on varying degrees only. The symptoms are usually worse after waking up. I have noticed some kind of “pouch” behind the scrotum but am not sure if it’s normal and that has always been there (am a bit overweight) or fairly new. Sometimes, when my thigh muscle “locks” or I tense my muscles for one reason or another there is pain. As said, it also happens when my knee pops. I occasionally feel spasms in my leg and a sort of wet sensation in my groin. I worry there might be hernia but, as said, don’t seem to have many symptoms other than groin pain. I don’t remember doing anything to cause a strain. Unless it started when I twisted my ankle a while ago but not sure if that was the cause of the problems. I usually walk to work which is around 2 or 3 miles from my home. It is retail so I spend hours on my feet. Is this a hernia or something else?
You need to see a surgeon for physical exam. Could be hernia.
My left testicle has been swallen up like an orange for over a week. Is that a hernia?
Very likely. Needs a physical exam for diagnosis.
Have a hernia in right scrotum. No pain. Just obvious annoyance. Wearing boxer briefs and compression shorts to provide support. How large can this type of hernia get ? Is it possible that it will not get largee?
If not taken care off, such hernia may enlarge with time and get big enough to cause pressure symptoms. Refer to the management steps mentioned above to keep it under control.
So my pain that I am having, it doesn’t stay, it comes and then it goes, when I do have the pain it feels like my testicles are being squeezed and then the pain stops but comes back then it leaves and it’s a repeated situation, I think it might be a hernia and my Mom thinks it’s the same thing but at first, she thought it was a kidney/bladder infection and then she thought it was sciatica.What do you think I have???
You need to be physically examined to get diagnosed.
hernia pains are usually sagging and aching.