Think you might have a hernia?

While some hernias have no symptoms — and are found during a routine physical — most hernias will have one or more obvious signs:

• What you may feel: A dull ache, feeling of weakness, heaviness, pressure, tingling, or a burning sensation in your abdomen, groin, or scrotum. It may get worse when you stand for long periods or strain your abdominal muscles, such as when you cough, lift heavy objects, play sports, or have a bowel movement. It may feel better with rest.
• What you may see: A soft bulge in the groin area or scrotum that you can push back in with gentle pressure or that gets smaller or disappears when you lie down. The bulge may get bigger over the course of the day or when you cough, bend, lift, or strain.
• What you may notice: A sudden, sharp pain in the groin area or a sensation that something had “torn.” Even if you have no other symptoms, it is important than you see your doctor as soon as possible.