Hernias can be painful and may lead to serious health complications if left untreated. Experienced general surgeon Dr. Y.H. Salem diagnoses and treats various hernias to restore your health so that you can resume normal day-to-day activities without discomfort. Call Dr. Salem’s offices, located in Foothill Ranch, Huntington Beach, and Anaheim, California, to learn more or book an appointment online today.
A hernia is a bulge of tissue that pushes through a weak wall of muscle that usually holds the tissue in place. Various types of hernias can happen, but abdominal hernias are the most common in the groin or belly regions. Examples of different hernias include:
You’re at risk for developing a hernia if you have muscle weakness, are straining hard, are pregnant, or lift something heavy.
If you have a hernia, you may experience the following symptoms:
If any of these symptoms resonate with you, contact Dr. Salem to find out if you have a hernia.
If you have symptoms of a hernia, Dr. Salem goes over your medical history and completes a thorough physical examination. He may order imaging tests (CT scans, for example) as needed to make a diagnosis. Dr. Salem recommends an appropriate treatment based on the type of hernias you have:
Dr. Salem doesn't always require treatment if you have a hiatal hernia, but if you have symptoms (acid reflux, for example), Dr. Salem may recommend medication or surgery.
Hiatal hernia surgery involves making your diaphragm opening smaller and reconstructing other parts of the affected area. You’ll be asleep during the procedure, and it’s generally a minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery.
Sometimes umbilical hernias close on their own, but if they don’t, or you have another type of abdominal wall hernia, Dr. Salem may recommend open or laparoscopic surgery.
He’ll make a small incision near the site of your hernia to repair the tissue. He may insert mesh during surgery to strengthen your abdominal muscle wall.
When you’re ready to ease the pain and reduce health risks associated with hernias, call Dr. Salem to learn more or book your appointment online today.
