Hernia: Is There a Cure That Does Not Involve Surgery?

In our bid to embark on a conscious lifestyle, we have started restricting the use of medicines unless there is absolutely no other way out of trouble. On one hand, we want to get better as soon as possible, on the other we treat ourselves with whatever we have at home to avoid getting admitted in a hospital. All this, because the very idea of surgery is horrifying and we do not want to mess up our regular schedule. As a result, we keep postponing that long overdue doctor visit and finally end up getting restricted for days.

Thankfully, some problems as complex as hernia do have a cure that does not involve surgery if treatment is administered in the beginning stages of the condition. For this, you have to be aware of what exactly hernia is and the measures to be taken to avoid surgery.

Understanding Hernia: The Basics

A hernia occurs when an organ or fatty tissue is squeezed through a weak spot in the surrounding muscle or connective tissue called fascia. The most common hernia is inguinal hernia.  It occurs when there is a breakthrough in the abdominal wall from the lower part of the intestine. This could happen from a pre-existing weak spot in the abdominal wall or when excessive pressure is applied on it by strenuous activity, constipation, lifting heavy objects or strain and chronic coughing. It may not necessarily be dangerous or life-threatening but needs timely treatment to avoid further complications in the future.

Going by the stats, one in ten people are diagnosed with hernia in their lifetime. There is more than one type of hernia. The usually suggested treatment for it is surgery with a recovery period of six to eight weeks. But it is totally up to you to avoid that and look for alternate options if the symptoms are not very prominent and don’t bother you much.

What to Do Next to Avoid the Need for Surgery?

You need to know the ways by which you can reduce the strain on the abdominal muscles to increase the chances of treatment without surgery.

1. Maintaining a Healthy Weight:  As the best gastroenterologists would advise,  strengthening the weak abdominal muscles with exercises and yoga postures while maintaining a steady supply of oxygenated blood in the body is crucial. This prevents the displacement of abdominal organs. Lifting heavy weights is best avoided as it could trigger the pain causing discomfort. Some yoga poses prove beneficial when done regularly to take the pressure off the abdominal opening.
2. Including a Fiber-Rich Diet: Concentrating on the quality of food while dealing with hernia and consuming food in small quantities helps. Including nutritional foods like fresh vegetables, non-citrusy fruits, whole grains, seeds and nuts help in overcoming constipation. Additionally, drinking plenty of water and fresh juices aid in avoiding heartburn and acid reflux.
3. Making Use of Hernia Belt and Trusses: These work like binders to keep the hernia intact in the abdominal wall. It prevents the hernia from moving but at the same time this should not be considered as a long-term solution. Consulting a specialist before using these is a good idea.
4. Intake of Ginger-Root: Ginger-root is seen as an effective remedy to alleviate the pain and it will also stop any gastric buildup that happens in the stomach and esophagus. Adding it to your tea or sipping on this concoction by mixing it in water has proved beneficial.
5. Icing: For instant relief from pain, you can directly apply an ice pack to the affected area for reduction in bloating, inflammation and contraction. The common symptoms of inguinal hernia are redness, inflammation and swelling or pain in the abdomen or groin.

Bonus Recommendation: Before going ahead with any of these natural remedies on your own, consult a doctor. They know the best options for your condition and will suggest the appropriate treatment to avoid any trouble in later years.  The prognosis for hernias is encouraging and therefore by consulting the best of gastroenterologists, the problem can be sorted easily.

Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.

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