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Femoral hernia Q&As

Published by Bupa's health information team, September 2008.

Answers to questions about femoral hernia

This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email.

 

Are there any other symptoms apart from a lump?

Many people with a femoral hernia have few, if any, symptoms. If the hernia becomes strangulated you will quickly develop more obvious symptoms such as pain, vomiting and feeling weak and faint - if this happens you should get medical help immediately.

Explanation

A femoral hernia can be quite difficult to diagnose and is often mistaken for another kind of hernia, called an inguinal hernia, or a lymph node. Many people with a femoral hernia have few, if any, symptoms until a problem develops. As well as a small, grape-sized lump in your groin you might feel a dragging or aching sensation. This might feel worse when you are playing sport or being physically active.

Femoral hernias are more likely than other hernias to become strangulated or incarcerated leading to more symptoms. If your hernia becomes incarcerated, it means that your bowel becomes trapped or stuck outside your abdominal wall (a tough sheet of muscle and tendon that runs between your ribs and your groin) and can't be pushed back in. If the blood supply gets cut off from an incarcerated hernia, it becomes a strangulated hernia. Both of these conditions need medical treatment straight away.

Once your hernia becomes incarcerated it will become more painful and you might feel sick or vomit. If your hernia becomes strangulated you are likely to have symptoms including:

  • pain in your abdomen (tummy)
  • a swollen or distended abdomen
  • vomiting
  • constipation
  • blood in your faeces
  • feeling weak and faint with pale, clammy skin and a fast heart rate
  • pain and a feeling of heat over the place where the hernia is

If you have any of these symptoms, it's vital that you get medical help immediately. An untreated strangulated hernia can be very serious. Treatment is with surgery and if a strangulated hernia is dealt with quickly you should make a full recovery.

Further information

Sources

  • Hair J, Paterson C, O'Dwyer P. Diagnosis of a femoral hernia in the elective setting. J R Coll Surg Edinb 2001; 46:117-118
  • Femoral hernia: clinical features. GP Notebook. www.gpnotebook.co.uk, accessed 29 June 2008
  • Hernia. Malehealth/Men's Health Forum. www.malehealth.co.uk, accessed 29 June 2008
  • Hernias. CORE. www.corecharity.org.uk, aaccessed 28 June 2008
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What can I do to prevent another femoral hernia from happening in the future?

There is no sure way of preventing another hernia but you can take steps to reduce the chances of it happening. These include taking care when lifting heavy weights, controlling any persistent coughing and sneezing and preventing constipation.

Explanation

Once you have had a femoral hernia you are at risk of having another. How likely this is to happen depends on how big your hernia was. For every 100 people who have a small hernia repaired about two will develop another hernia in the future. If you do develop another hernia, the surgery to repair it can be done again. There are some things that may mean you are more likely to develop a hernia again, including:

  • a persistent or smokers' cough
  • violent sneezing
  • constipation
  • lifting heavy weights
  • being overweight

If you smoke, stopping can help to improve your cough. If you have a persistent cough for any other reason, talk to your GP or pharmacist for advice on treatments that can help to ease the problem.

If you have hay fever, you can be affected by violent sneezing. Talk to your GP or pharmacist about effective treatments for hay fever to control your symptoms.

Try not to get constipated as this can cause you to strain, which puts pressure on your abdominal wall. To prevent constipation eat plenty of fruit, vegetables and fibre, make sure you are drinking enough fluid (six to eight glasses or cups a day) and be active.

Lifting heavy weights may also strain your abdominal wall. If your job involves lifting heavy weights, you may need to look at ways to reduce this kind of work. You can also reduce the risk by making sure you are lifting properly.

Being overweight or obese may increase your risk of developing a hernia. The evidence isn't definite but you should try to lose any excess weight as it will improve your overall health and wellbeing.

Further information

Sources

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How long will it take for me to recover?

The time it takes for you to recover will depend on the kind of surgery you have and how big your hernia is. Most people will be able to return to their usual life and go back to work between one and three weeks after their operation.

Explanation

Your recovery will generally be quicker with a small hernia repaired using keyhole surgery than with a large hernia repaired in a traditional operation. Keyhole surgery is carried out in the same way as a traditional, open operation, but is done through several small cuts. In an open operation, the surgeon makes a larger incision and you have stitches.

In general if you have keyhole surgery, you should be able to go back to work within one to two weeks. If you have an open operation, recovery will take longer and it may be two or three weeks before you can return to work. However, if your job is physically demanding and you have to lift heavy weights, it may be several months before you can return to your full work activities.

It may be some weeks before you are able to drive after your operation. You should feel confident that you will be able to brake suddenly, for example for an emergency stop, before you start driving again. You can contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) for more information. If you're in any doubt about driving, please contact your motor insurer so that you're aware of their recommendations, and always follow your surgeon's advice.

Some people who have a hernia operation have pain for some time after their operation. In an open operation the muscles of your abdominal wall are more affected than during keyhole surgery so you might have more pain. How long this lasts is different for everyone but it's possible that you may have pain for several months after surgery. It's thought that as many as half of all people who have a hernia repaired have some pain that persists in the long term. For a small number of these people the pain will be severe. Doctors think that this pain may be partly due to swelling and inflammation in and around the wound, and partly because nerves may be damaged during the operation. Always ask your GP or pharmacist for advice about which painkillers will be best for you and read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine.

Further information

Sources

  • Hernias. CORE. www.corecharity.org.uk, accessed 28 June 2008
  • Hernia. Malehealth/Men's Health Forum. www.malehealth.co.uk, accessed 29 June 2008
  • Hernia: postoperative time to full activity including work. GP Notebook. wwww.gpnotebook.co.uk, accessed 29 June 2008
  • Kehlet H, Jensen T, Woolf C. Persistent postsurgical pain: risk factors and prevention. The Lancet 2006; 367(9522):1618
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This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.

Publication date: September 2008

 

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