Abdominal hernias are sometimes tender or sore, and they may hurt if you knock them or do too much vigorous exercise, but they're not usually that painful. However, they can cause problems if they are strangulated.
Strangulation is where the tissues, typically your intestines, twist or fold in such a way that it cuts off the blood supply. That leads to oxygen starvation followed by tissue death without urgent surgery. Hiatal hernias can also twist, causing a blockage that requires emergency gastrointestinal surgery. If your hernia strangulates, you need to undergo surgical repair without delay to avoid potentially life-threatening outcomes. Because of the risk of strangulation, it's also wise to consider surgery to repair your hernia before you encounter any problems.

Where possible, Dr. Lin performs minimally invasive laparoscopic or robotic-assisted hernia repair rather than traditional open surgery. Laparoscopy uses a flexible tube fitted with a tiny video camera and a light source. Dr. Lin inserts the camera into a small cut in your skin and uses the images the camera sends back to see the surgical site.
Robotic-assisted surgery takes that a step further. Dr. Lin controls a robotic arm via a computer console, using the superior precision of the robot to complete your hernia repair with minimal tissue damage. In each case, Dr. Lin repairs the hernia with stitches if necessary and uses a special medical mesh to reinforce the repair.For expert hernia repair, call Clarence Lin, MD, today or book an appointment online.