How to Relieve Incisional Hernia Pain

After abdominal surgery you may develop an incisional hernia, a bulge of tissue at or near the site of your incision. Hernias don’t always cause pain, but need an evaluation when they do. 

At Transform Bariatrics in Greenbelt and Rockville, Maryland, our expert general surgeon, Dr. Hitesh Amin, performs hernia repair procedures and provides recommendations for patients experiencing incisional hernia pain. 

Read on to learn more about incisional hernias and how to get relief from your discomfort.

About incisional hernias

We perform many surgeries in the abdominal area, including weight loss surgery, gallbladder surgery, and colon repair. Though we use advanced tools that allow us to perform surgeries through tiny incisions, we still cut through the abdominal wall to gain access to the organs.

The incision we make affects the strength of the abdominal wall and takes time to heal. The weakened muscle may allow organs or tissue underneath to protrude through, resulting in a hernia.

Anyone who has abdominal surgery is at risk of developing an incisional hernia. They usually occur within six months after surgery, but can happen at any time. 

Causes of incisional hernias

About one-third of people develop incisional hernias after abdominal surgery. You’re at greater risk of having this type of hernia if you stress the abdominal muscle before the incision has time to fully heal.

Causes of incisional hernias include:

• Engaging in strenuous activity too soon after surgery
• Significant weight gain
• Pregnancy

We provide patients with individualized guidelines following abdominal surgery to reduce risk of complications like an incisional hernia. We recommend patients avoid heavy lifting and intense exercise for several weeks. 

Following post-surgical guidelines may prevent problems that cause pain or require additional procedures. Though recovery varies, it can take six or more months for a surgical incision to fully heal. 

How to relieve incisional hernia pain

Pain is one of the symptoms of an incisional hernia. The severity of the discomfort ranges from dull to excruciating. If you have abdominal pain at or near your abdominal incision, you need to schedule an appointment with your doctor.

If your pain is tolerable, we may recommend wearing a hernia belt to relieve the discomfort. You can also take over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication.

However, surgery is the primary treatment for incisional hernia pain. During surgery, we push the protruding tissue back into the abdominal cavity and suture the weakened muscle. We may also place a mesh device for additional abdominal wall support. 

If you have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea and your hernia is red or purple, you may have a strangulated incisional hernia, where a portion of the intestines gets trapped in the abdominal wall. 

The entrapment may cut off blood supply to the intestines, causing tissue death. This is a serious complication that needs emergency surgery.

We use robotic surgery for hernia repair, so our surgical incisions are very small and precise. Like your previous surgery, you need to follow our post-procedure guidelines so the incision can heal. 

You can manage your incisional hernia pain with at-home care, but you still need to consult with your doctor to talk about treatment options. 

Do you have an incisional hernia that’s causing pain? We can evaluate your hernia and provide a personalized plan that works for you. Call our office today or request an appointment online.