The UF Health Comprehensive Hernia Center in Jacksonville offers expert care to ease the pain and discomfort for patients with all types of hernias.

A hernia occurs when tissue or part of an internal organ protrudes through a weak area or defect in the muscle, most often in the abdominal wall. The area of weakness may have been caused by surgery, heavy lifting, weight gain, chronic coughing or may have been present since birth.

While some internal hernias do occur, commonly “hernia” refers to the ones that are visible externally. Hernias can be asymptomatic or can limit your activities due to pain and discomfort. Though uncommon, internal organs can get trapped within the hernia causing significant pain and can lead to emergency operations.

Hernia: Types

Here are some of the most common types of hernias:

• Inguinal hernia occurs in the groin and is the most common
• Femoral hernia is a bulge in the upper thigh, just below the groin
• Umbilical hernia appears in or around the belly button
• Incisional hernia occurs after a surgery through the scar

Hernia: Symptoms

You may feel a small bulge in your abdomen that may be more pronounced when you are physically straining. The bulge is usually reducible spontaneously or manually. If the hernia contains parts of intestine, a gurgling sound may be noted.

Symptoms may include mild discomfort and soreness to severe pain. These symptoms can often have a significant impact on your daily life. Most hernias will require an operation over time, and it’s best to have it checked early by a physician.

Hernia: Treatment

• Hernias will not resolve on their own; most will require surgical repair, though the exact procedure will depend on the type of hernia.
• At the UF Health Comprehensive Hernia Center in Jacksonville, our surgeons are nationally recognized for their expertise in repair of simple and highly complex hernias. Our care is centered around you, and we use the most advanced surgical techniques to ensure your best possible outcome.
• Our team will discuss surgical options with you and make recommendations based on your needs. Typically, hernias are repaired by one of three surgical techniques: open surgery, laparoscopic surgery or robotic surgery.
• Whenever possible, our skilled surgeons will rely on minimally invasive procedures that use tiny incisions and advanced technologies.
• Using these innovative surgical tools, our experts can offer advantages to our patients, such as a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery and less pain and scarring than with traditional open surgery.