You didn’t plan to read a blog about hernias today.
But maybe… You felt something odd in your belly when you bent down to tie your shoe.
Or noticed a strange bulge in your groin that vanishes when you lie down, but shows up again when you cough or lift your child.
It didn’t hurt much. At least, not at first. But now, it’s hard to unsee it. Hard to ignore it.
And so, here you are.
Googling symptoms. Wondering quietly — “Is this normal? Or is something wrong inside me?”
If you’re here, you’re already doing the brave thing: looking for answers.
And no, you’re not alone. Thousands of people, from young professionals to older parents, find themselves facing this quiet question:
“Do I have a hernia?”
Some already know. A doctor mentioned it. A relative warned about it.
Others are just putting pieces together, trying to make sense of a symptom they didn’t see coming.
Wherever you are on this path, this blog is written for you.
Let’s skip the textbook and keep it real. Don’t worry, I won’t bombard you with medical terms.
Your abdominal wall is like a tightly-woven bag holding all your organs in place.
Now, imagine a small tear or weakness in that bag, and something from inside (like fat or intestine) pushes out through it.
That’s a hernia.
It can look like a soft lump.
It might disappear when you rest.
It might hurt when you laugh, cough, or lift something heavy.
And no — it doesn’t always mean emergency surgery.
But it does mean: pay attention.
The treatment of a hernia depends on two things:
1. Type of hernia you are suffering from
2. The stage of the hernia
I’ll help you understand it step by step.
Let’s decode that without jargon.
As surgeons, we categorise hernias based on their location. However, for you, the patient, it’s more helpful to consider what you’re feeling.
We’ll walk through each type, with stories, not just labels.
Ravi, a 37-year-old gym trainer, noticed a small bulge in his groin after his deadlift sessions. It didn’t hurt much. But every time he strained, it popped back.
That’s classic inguinal hernia, where a part of the intestine slips through a weak spot in the groin.
Note from Dr. Kedar Patil:
“Inguinal hernia is the most common we treat — but it’s also one of the most successfully repaired, especially with Robotic / laparoscopic surgery.”
Naina, 34, thought her post-pregnancy bulge was just “leftover belly fat.” However, her belly button looked pushed out and had become tender.
This was an umbilical hernia, common in babies and women post-pregnancy, where the navel area becomes weak.
Who gets it? Newborns, overweight individuals, and post-pregnancy women.
Symptoms: The belly button protrudes, especially when coughing or crying.
Treatment: Many umbilical hernias in adults are treated with a Robotic / Laparoscopic Umbilical hernia surgery that involves small incisions and a fast recovery.
Sneha, 50, had a persistent thigh pain that her ortho couldn’t explain. A scan revealed a femoral hernia, often missed because it’s deep and hidden.
Who gets it? More common in older women, especially after childbirth or heavy lifting.
What to watch for: Discomfort near the inner thigh or groin, worsened when standing.
Treatment: Femoral hernias can be repaired through surgery, and early intervention prevents complications like strangulation.
If your bulge is invisible but you’re struggling with acid reflux, heartburn, or a feeling of something stuck in your chest, it might be a hiatal hernia.
Here, part of your stomach pushes up through your diaphragm.
Symptoms: Heartburn, difficulty swallowing, chest tightness after meals.
Diagnosis: Needs endoscopy or scan.
Treatment: In severe cases, surgery is recommended; however, most people can manage with lifestyle changes, medication, and avoiding specific foods.
If you’ve had abdominal surgery in the past and now feel a soft lump near the scar, your body may be signalling a weak spot that didn’t heal completely.
How it forms: The muscle wall around a surgical cut doesn’t hold tight.
What to do: Early correction is easier and safer than waiting.
Treatment: Incisional hernias are usually repaired with surgical correction. Laparoscopic techniques are often the preferred choice, offering smaller scars and quicker recovery times.
Some hernias don’t hurt… until they do. Delaying a check-up can mean a simple issue becomes a complex one.
Here are some things you should avoid if you suspect a hernia.
This increases intra-abdominal pressure and can enlarge the hernia.
They may mask symptoms that are crucial for diagnosis.
If it’s stuck or painful, forcing it can cause more harm.
Temporary support belts are intended for specific cases, not as long-term solutions.
“I always tell patients, managing pressure is key. That means no heavy lifting, straining, or self-fixes. The earlier you check it, the simpler the treatment,” says Dr. Kedar.
Let’s be honest: Some hernias are harmless at first.
But they don’t fix themselves. They grow, get stuck, or worse – cut off blood supply, leading to strangulated hernia, a medical emergency.
“We’ve seen patients come in just in time,” says Dr. Kedar.
“And we’ve seen others come too late. Early check-up gives you options. Waiting gives you pain.”
If your doctor has already diagnosed the type of hernia, this section is for you.
Surgery isn’t always urgent, but it’s often the definitive solution.
Robotic / Laparoscopic hernia repair — which Dr. Kedar specialises in — means:
If this blog sounded like your body talking to you… Don’t ignore it.
You don’t need to panic. You just need clarity.
And that begins with a consultation, not a commitment to surgery, just a conversation.
Dr. Kedar’s Promise:
“Whether you’re 18 or 80, I’ll walk you through what’s happening inside “.
