How To Fix A Hernia Without Surgery?

A hernia is a medical condition when an organ or fatty tissue protrudes or bulges through a weak place in the surrounding connective tissue or muscle wall. Initially, they do not cause any pain or discomfort, however, as they grow increasing in size, symptoms like pain, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and acid reflux may be present. These symptoms can be so severe that it can cause life-threatening complications and would require surgery. Fortunately, not all hernias need immediate surgical treatment, it depends on the type of hernia, the size and symptoms. If the hernia is not symptomatic, it may not need any treatmentl. 

Most often several natural remedies and methods are effective enough to reduce the severity of the condition and help alleviate the symptoms (if present). The conservative or non-surgical management should strictly be done under your doctor’s supervision to reduce the risk of complications like bowel obstruction (a part of the protruded tissue is trapped) and strangulation (the blood supply is cut off to the trapped tissues).

Read on to explore various non-surgical methods and remedies to help fix a hernia.

How to Fix a Hernia Without Surgery?

Not all hernias require surgical treatments since most of the time you may not experience any symptom. Hernias are likely to go unnoticed without causing any discomfort. However, if you are diagnosed with a hernia, the following conservative methods and remedies can help in getting relief from the symptoms of hernia:

• Reduce weight

• • • Being obese (overweight) puts you at a higher risk of suffering from hernia.
    • Obesity also negatively impacts your healing process.
    • Losing weight helps to reduce the unwanted strain and pressure on your body.
    • You can effectively reduce weight by taking smaller meals, cutting down fatty foods from your diet and regular exercise.

• Dietary changes 

• • Diet plays an important role in maintaining overall health, boosting immunity and accelerating the healing process. 
  • Avoid the following foods to prevent further inflammation of the stomach lining:
    • Spicy food
    • Acidic food (citrus foods, etc)
    • Foods that are difficult to digest ( red meat)

  • Include the following foods

    • Fiber-rich foods like fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes.
    • Protein rich foods like eggs and lean meat.
    • Low fat milk like soy and almond milk.
    • Healthy oils like coconut, olive and avocado oils.
    • Healthy and fresh juices like carrot, cabbage juice. These juices have anti-inflammatory properties that soothe the burning and discomforting symptoms caused due to hernia. 

Avoid strenuous exercises

• • Strenuous and vigorous exercises and overexertion are the main causes of hernia due to excess strain and pressure being exerted.
  • Go easy on exercises and refrain from lifting heavyweights.
  • The following exercises can help reduce the strain:
    • Walking 
    • Cycling
    • Light jogging
    • Yoga
    • Swimming

• Reduce stress 

• • • Stress is another major factor for the formation of hernia. Stress can put more strain on your metabolism.
    • Stress-reducing activities include:
      • Yoga 
      • Meditation
      • Massage
      • Aromatherapy
      • Listening to music
      • Following a hobby

• Ice packs (Cryotherapy) 

• • • Hernia can lead to inflammation and pain in your abdomen.
    • Ice packs can be used to reduce the inflammation by triggering a contraction when applied to the affected area.

• Using Hernia Belt and Trusses

• • • These accessories aid in keeping the hernia intact in the abdominal wall.
    • This prevents the hernia from moving. 

• Ginger Root

• • • This provides relief from pain and discomfort in your stomach.
    • Ginger root restricts the production of gastric juices by the stomach, that usually occurs during hiatal hernia. 

• Other natural ingredients

• • These include aloe vera juice and castor seed oil that possess anti-inflammatory properties to soothe the stomach lining.
  • Black pepper can suppress acid reflux and reduce inflammation.

When is Surgery Required?

Initially when hernias are small in size they do not grow in size or cause any pain. However, it is important to know that hernias grow in size most of the time, which can lead to more serious complications if not treated surgically. The most important complications of hernias that requires immediate surgery include:

• Obstruction

• • • Untreated hernias may cause obstruction or blockage of a part of the protruded tissue that gets trapped within the muscle wall.
    • This causes symptoms like:
      • A lump or swelling around the affected area
      • Pain and discomfort
      • Nausea and vomiting
      • This greatly affects your quality of life

• Strangulation

• • When the obstructed part is deprived of the blood supply it may cause a life-threatening complication called strangulation.
  • The following are the  symptoms of strangulation:
    • Extreme pain that worsens over time
    • Gangrenous (necrotic) changes of the tissues involved
    •  A reddish discolored lump that may harden over time
    • Constipation and inability to pass gas
    • Nausea and vomiting

Takeaway

Hernias are common medical conditions that cause abnormal bulging or protrusion of an organ or tissue through a weakened muscle, typically of the abdomen or the groin area. These are small and tend to grow slowly without causing pain or discomfort. Such hernias can be managed or fixed through natural methods, which involve certain lifestyle changes (weight loss, diet changes, regular exercises), hernia belts and home remedies after consulting your doctor.

Weight loss and dietary changes aids in fat reduction that tend to protrude due to an increase in the intra-abdominal pressure, increasing your risks of hernia. Regular, low-impact exercises are important to improve overall blood circulation, and tone the abdominal muscles making them strong to prevent the further growth or expansion of hernias. Physical aids like hernia belts and trusses help in keeping the hernias intact, preventing further spread or damage or complications like hernia obstruction or strangulation.

But, ultimately, hernias need to be repaired and treated surgically when they begin to grow rapidly, causing damage to the surrounding structures. Symptoms like extreme pain and strangulated hernias need immediate medical attention since it is a life-threatening complications of untreated hernias. 

If you happen to experience any such lump or swelling, with or without symptoms like pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation or discomfort, seek medical help from our expert healthcare professionals at Medfin. Our team expertises in healing you with natural non-surgical techniques as well as the latest, minimally-invasive procedures with state-of-the-art equipment. 

Disclaimer: 

The content on this site is the copyright of Medfin and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. This should not be considered as a substitute for medical and surgical expertise. Results from any treatments or surgeries are subjective to an individual patient and the type of procedure/ surgery performed. Please seek professional help regarding any medical concerns. Medfin will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.