When most of us think of hernias, we think of the telltale bulge. A hidden hernia is not a joke, and unfortunately it is not easy to diagnose because, well, it is hidden. Women seem to be the people who suffer with this unusual and very painful ailment. Pelvic pain and hidden hernias: what to know.
The Invisible Hernia
You can’t see it from the outside like a regular inguinal hernia. It is hard to detect with an ultrasound or MRI. It may be hidden from the human eye and technology, but it causes severe pelvic pain.
All women know is that they have intense pelvic pain that can sometimes travel down the legs and into the lower back. It can become quite frustrating if her physician can’t find the source of her pain. It takes a specialist like Michigan Hernia Surgery to quickly pinpoint the location of the hernia and provide a diagnosis and treatment.
Some Signs of a Hidden Hernia
Sometimes referred to as an occult hernia, look out for these common signs that you may have a hidden hernia. In addition to the stabbing pelvic pain, other signs include bloating in the lower abdomen, pain in the bladder and urgency to urinate, plus vaginal pain and burning.
These symptoms are many times misdiagnosed as endometriosis, fibroids, or ovarian cysts.
Be sure to communicate with your doctor about the circumstances of when the pain becomes worse. These situations indicate a hidden hernia.
They include:
- Coughing
- Laughing
- Getting out of bed
- Exercise
- Anything that causes abdominal pressure
Getting Treatment
Once a hidden inguinal hernia is diagnosed, it is important to get treatment as soon as possible to relieve the pelvic pain.
Michigan Hernia Surgery can employ a laparoscopic technique to find the hidden hernia and repair it at the same time.
If you have seen another physician without relief from your pelvic pain, contact Michigan Hernia Surgery at 248.551.9090 for a second opinion in Royal Oak, MI.
