Protrusion of organ through wall of its containing cavity.Encyclopedia Entry for Hernia :Hernia. Usually, there is no clear cause of a hernia. Sometimes, hernias can occur due to: Heavy lifting Straining while using the toilet Any activity that raises the pressure inside the belly Hernias may be present at birth, but the bulge may not be evident until later in life. Some people have a family history of hernias. Babies and children can get hernias. It happens when there is weakness in the belly wall. Inguinal hernias are common in boys. Some children do not have symptoms until they are adults. Any activity or medical problem that increases pressure on the tissue in the belly wall and muscles may lead to a hernia, including: Long-term (chronic) constipation and pushing hard (straining) to have a bowel movement Chronic coughing or sneezing Cystic fibrosis Enlarged prostate , straining to urinate Extra weight Fluid in the abdomen ( ascites ) Peritoneal dialysis Poor nutrition Smoking Overexertion Undescended testicles.There are usually no symptoms. Some people have discomfort or pain. The discomfort may be worse when standing, straining, or lifting heavy objects. In time, the most common complaint is a bump that is sore and growing. When a hernia gets bigger, it may get stuck inside the hole and lose its blood supply. This is called strangulation. This causes pain and swelling at the site of strangulation. Symptoms may include: Nausea and vomiting Not being able to pass gas or have bowel movements When this occurs, surgery is needed right away.The health care provider can usually see or feel a hernia when you are examined. You may be asked to cough, bend, push, or lift. The hernia may get bigger when you do this. The hernia (bulge) may not be easily seen in infants and children, except when the child is crying or coughing. Ultrasound or CT scan may be done to look for a hernia. If there is a blockage in the bowel, an x-ray of the abdomen will likely be done.Surgery is the only treatment that can permanently fix a hernia. Surgery may be more risky for people with serious medical problems. Surgery repairs the weakened abdominal wall tissue (fascia) and closes any holes. Most hernias are closed with stitches and sometimes with mesh patches to plug the hole. An umbilical hernia that does not heal on its own by the time a child is 5 years old will likely be repaired.The outcome for most hernias is usually good with treatment. It is rare for a hernia to come back. Incisional hernias are more likely to return.In rare cases, inguinal hernia repair can damage structures involved in the function of a man's testicles. Another risk of hernia surgery is nerve damage, which can lead to numbness in the groin area. If a part of the bowel was trapped or strangulated before surgery, bowel perforation or dead bowel may result.Call your provider right away if you have: A painful hernia and the contents cannot be pushed back into the abdomen using gentle pressure Nausea, vomiting, or a fever along with a painful hernia A hernia that becomes red, purple, dark, or discolored Call your provider if you have: Groin pain, swelling, or a bulge. A bulge or swelling in the groin or belly button, or that is associated with a previous surgical cut.To prevent a hernia: Use proper lifting techniques. Lose weight if you are overweight. Relieve or avoid constipation by eating plenty of fiber, drinking lots of fluid, going to the bathroom as soon as you have the urge, and exercising regularly. Men should see their provider if they strain with urination. This may be a symptom of an enlarged prostate.Hernia - inguinal; Inguinal hernia; Direct and indirect hernia; Rupture; Strangulation; Incarceration.Inguinal hernia repair - discharge.Inguinal hernia Inguinal hernia Inguinal hernia repair - Series Inguinal hernia repair - series.Aiken JJ, Oldham KT. Inguinal hernias.Encyclopedia Entry for Hernia :Herniated disk. The bones (vertebrae) of the spinal column protect nerves that come out of the brain and travel down your back to form the spinal cord. Nerve roots are large nerves that branch out from the spinal cord and leave your spinal column between each vertebra. Skeletal spine The spinal bones are separated by disks. These disks cushion the spinal column and put space between your vertebrae. The disks allow movement between the vertebrae, which lets you bend and reach. With herniated disk: The disk may move out of place (herniate) or break open (rupture) from injury or strain. When this happens, there may be pressure on the spinal nerves. This can lead to pain, numbness, or weakness. The lower back (lumbar area) of the spine is the most common area affected by a slipped disk. The neck (cervical) disks are the second most commonly affected area. The upper-to-mid-back (thoracic) disks are rarely involved. A herniated disk is a cause of radiculopathy. This is any disease that affects the spinal nerve roots. Slipped disks occur more often in middle-aged and older men, usually after strenuous activity. Other risk factors may include: Lifting heavy objects Being overweight Repetitive bending or twisting the lower back Sitting or standing in same position for long hours Inactive lifestyle Smoking.The pain most often occurs on one side of the body. Symptoms vary depending on the site of injury, and may include the following: With a slipped disk in your lower back, you may have sharp pain in one part of the leg, hip, or buttocks and numbness in other parts. You may also feel pain or numbness on the back of the calf or sole of the foot. The same leg may also feel weak. With a slipped disk in your neck, you may have pain when moving your neck, deep pain near or over the shoulder blade, or pain that moves to the upper arm, forearm, and fingers. You can also have numbness along your shoulder, elbow, forearm, and fingers. Sciatic nerve The pain often starts slowly. It may get worse: After standing or sitting At night When sneezing, coughing, or laughing When bending backward or walking more than a few yards or meters You may also have weakness in certain muscles. Sometimes, you may not notice it until your health care provider examines you. In other cases, you will notice that you have a hard time lifting your leg or arm, standing on your toes on one side, squeezing tightly with one of your hands, or other problems. Your bladder control may be lost. The pain, numbness, or weakness often goes away or improves a lot over weeks to months.A careful physical exam and history is almost always the first step. Depending on where you have symptoms, your provider examines your neck, shoulder, arms, and hands, or your lower back, hips, legs, and feet. Your provider will check: For numbness or loss of feeling Your muscle reflexes, which may be slower or missing Your muscle strength, which may be weaker Your posture, or the way your spine curves Your provider may also ask you to: Sit, stand, and walk. While you walk, your provider may ask you to try walking on your toes and then your heels. Bend forward, backward, and sideways. Move your neck forward, backward, and sideways. Raise your shoulders, elbow, wrist, and hand, and check your strength during these tasks. Leg pain that occurs when you sit on an exam table and lift your leg straight up usually suggests a slipped disk in your lower back. In another test, you will bend your head forward and to the sides while the provider puts slight downward pressure on the top of your head. Increased pain or numbness during this test is usually a sign of pressure on a nerve in your neck. DIAGNOSTIC TESTS Tests done may include: Electromyography (EMG) may be done to determine the exact nerve root that is involved. Myelogram may be done to determine the size and location of disk herniation. Nerve conduction velocity test may also be done. Spine MRI or spine CT will show where the herniated disk is pressing on the spinal canal. Spine x-ray may be done to rule out other causes of back or neck pain. However, it is not possible to diagnose a herniated disk by a spine x-ray alone.The first treatment for a slipped disk is a short period of rest and taking medicines for the pain. This is followed by physical therapy. Most people who follow these treatments recover and return to normal activities. Some people will need to have more treatment. This may include steroid injections or surgery. MEDICINES Medicines can help with your pain. Your provider may prescribe any of the following: NSAIDs for long-term pain control Narcotics if the pain is severe and does not respond to NSAIDs Medicines to calm the nerves Muscle relaxants to relieve back spasms LIFESTYLE CHANGES If you are overweight, diet and exercise are very important for improving back pain. Physical therapy is important for nearly everyone with disk disease. Therapists will teach you how to properly lift, dress, walk, and perform other activities. They teach you how to strengthen muscles that help support the spine. You will also learn how to increase flexibility in your spine and legs. Take care of your back at home : Reduce activity for the first few days. Slowly restart your usual activities. Avoid heavy lifting or twisting your back for the first 6 weeks after the pain starts. After 2 to 3 weeks, gradually start exercising again. INJECTIONS Steroid medicine injections into the back in the area of the herniated disk may help control pain for several months. These injections reduce swelling around the spinal nerve and disk and relieve many symptoms. They do not solve the underlying problem and your pain may return after weeks or months. Spinal injections are an outpatient procedure. Herniated disk repair SURGERY Surgery may be an option if your symptoms do not go away with other treatments and time. Diskectomy is surgery to remove all or part of a disk. Discuss with your provider which treatment options are best for you.Most people improve with treatment. But you may have long-term back pain even after treatment. It may take several months to a year or more to go back to all of your activities without having pain or straining your back. People who work in jobs that involve heavy lifting or back strain may need to change their job activities to avoid injuring their back again.In rare cases, the following problems can occur: Long-term back pain or leg pain Loss of movement or feeling in the legs or feet Loss of bowel and bladder function Permanent spinal cord injury (very rare).Call your provider if you have: Severe back pain that does not go away Any numbness, loss of movement, weakness, or bowel or bladder changes.To help prevent back injury: Use proper lifting techniques. Maintain a healthy weight. Do exercises to keep your abdominal (core) and back muscles strong. Your provider may suggest a back brace to help support the spine. A brace may prevent injuries in people who lift heavy objects at work. But using these devices too much can weaken the muscles that support your spine and make the problem worse.Lumbar radiculopathy; Cervical radiculopathy; Herniated intervertebral disk; Prolapsed intervertebral disk; Slipped disk; Ruptured disk; Herniated nucleus pulposus: Low back pain - herniated disk; LBP - herniated disk; Sciatica - herniated disk; Herniated disk.Skeletal spine Skeletal spine Sciatic nerve Sciatic nerve Herniated nucleus pulposus Herniated nucleus pulposus Herniated disk repair Herniated disk repair Lumbar spinal surgery - Series Lumbar spinal surgery - series Herniated lumbar disk Herniated lumbar disk.Gardocki RJ, Park AL. Lower back pain and disorders of intervertebral discs.