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Symptoms, Their Causes & Cures: Groin Bulge

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Groin Bulge

WHEN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR

* Any bulge should be brought to the attention of your doctor.

What Your Symptom Is Telling You

Unlike a solid lump, a bulge is soft and usually retracts when you push or lie down on it. If you have a bulge, it's probably in your groin or on your upper thigh, and it's probably a hernia.

A hernia happens when there's a weakening of the muscles and connective tissue in the abdominal wall that keeps the intestines in place. The intestines pop through the wall, and that protuberance is the hernia.

Hernias are fairly common. Men are the more likely victims because they have a weak area in the groin muscle where it's intersected by the tube that carries sperm. Heavy lifting and straining during bowel movements increase your chances of getting a hernia. Laughing or coughing can trigger one, too.

Hernias are seldom life threatening, but they can lead to complications. If the intestine actually gets stuck in the opening, you can develop an intestinal blockage or even gangrene, says John C. Rogers, M.D., M.P.H., vice chairman of the Department of Family Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Symptom Relief

Treatment for hernia is straightforward. Here's some information to help you choose your options wisely.

Forget the truss. A truss is an elastic or canvas pad that keeps the bulge from protruding. But trusses are bulky, and if the hernia enlarges, a truss can choke off blood supply to it and complicate treatment.

Consider surgery. Most doctors recommend surgery. "Wearing a truss is just a stopgap. The only certain way to cure a hernia is surgery," says Glen Hollinger, M.D., an internist at the Hospital of the Good Samaritan in Los Angeles.

In many cases, the surgery can be done as an outpatient procedure in less than an hour, and you can go home soon afterward. You can return to work and resume most normal activities within two to four days.

"Generally, hernia surgery is fairly minor and it prevents serious complications. So, in my opinion, it's well worth doing," says Dr. Rogers.

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