“Can you have a hernia without a lump?”
I am a 40 year old female. I wonder if you can have a hernia without a lump?
5 Answers
Yes, abdominal wall hernias can be present without a palpable lump or bulge. You may not feel it due to subcutaneous fat, or it may be fairly small. If you have a concern for hernias, please see a general surgeon for evaluation.
Yes, especially if you are obese.
Hi, Dr. Willkomm here. The answer to your question is yes. You can’t have a small hernia and not necessarily notice a lump. A Doctor who specializes in hernias can examine you and check for a small lump when you were either bearing down or coughing. This might be a small hernia which is spontaneously reducible.
A hernia is a defect in the abdominal wall. There has to be a bulge at some time, but it does not have to be there constantly. There is usually some pain associated with it. This can be determined by exam or CT, some use ultrasound to diagnose this. Check with your health care provider if you think you have one.
Not everyone that has a hernia has a bulge. Usually it is associated with some discomfort. A physician may be able to feel it on exam.
