Hernia

General & Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery, including hernia repair, gallbladder surgery and colorectal surgery, as well as breast surgery located in Lithonia and Decatur, GA

Hernia services offered in Decatur, Lithonia, GA

A hernia is a painful bulge caused in the abdomen when intestines or soft tissue protrude through a weakness in the muscular wall that normally protects them. Men develop hernias more commonly than women. Hernias are uncomfortable, but more importantly, they can become an emergency if not treated in a timely manner. Luis A. Quinones, MD, and the surgical team at Q&S Surgical in Decatur and Lithonia, Georgia, treat hernias with a quick, minimally invasive surgical procedure using laparoscopy to ensure maximum precision, minimal pain and the lowest risk of infection. You can make a painful hernia a thing of the past by calling the office or using the online scheduling tool.

Hernia Q & A

What is a hernia?

Your intestines and other organs are protected in your abdomen by layers of muscle and connective tissue. Sometimes, for various reasons, a small amount of intestine or soft tissue may protrude through a weak spot in this abdominal wall, resulting in a painful bulge. This bulge is called a hernia.

While a hernia is not necessarily dangerous, it won’t heal on its own, and complications from a hernia can be life-threatening.

What causes hernias?

Hernias result from increased abdominal pressure and weakness in the abdominal wall. Sometimes these conditions can occur for no apparent reason, but other times they can occur due to:

Strenuous physical activity
Straining while lifting heavy objects
Straining during urination or bowel movements
Pregnancy
Chronic or severe coughing or sneezing

Many people have weakness in their abdomen from birth without ever realizing it, but others develop it after an injury or surgery.

Men usually develop hernias at the abdomen’s natural weak spot, the inguinal canal at the base of the abdomen. Likewise, women tend to get them around where the uterus connects to the pubic bone. We also develop hernias at the umbilicus (belly button), because that is where there is a natural weak spot through which arteries carry nutrition and oxygen while we are in our mother’s womb.

What are the symptoms of a hernia?

You can recognize a hernia by looking for:

A painful lump on either side of the groin, at the belly button or at a previous surgery site, that becomes more obvious when you’re upright
Pain, discomfort, or a heavy feeling at the same sites
Pain, redness, or swelling in the scrotum for men

Some more extreme cases may result in:

Nausea or vomiting
Fever
Sudden, intensifying pain
Inability to have bowel movements or pass gas

These are signs of a dangerous complication called an incarcerated hernia, when tissue cannot move from where it has lodged. These are much more dangerous, and you should seek immediate emergency care if you have one.

How do I treat a hernia?

A hernia will require a doctor’s care, as it can’t heal by itself. Dr. Quinones will most likely be able to diagnose a hernia on the spot from the painful bulge, and might recommend a minimally invasive hernia repair.

Your provider performs a laparoscopic hernia repair, a simple procedure where he repairs the weakness in the abdomen with synthetic mesh. Very soon, Dr. Quinones will start using robotic assistance for extra precision to ensure minimal discomfort and scarring.

If you think you may have a hernia, don’t wait any longer. Call the office or make an appointment online today.

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