I was wondering if hernias are fairly common and if there is anything that I can do before surgery to prevent it from getting worse.
Hernias are defects in any wall of the body which allows what's behind the wall to come through.
Most close up or at least get substantially smaller before the age of 7 years and require no surgical treatment. Some larger ones may need to be surgically closed. The muscles and ligaments in the groin area do not come together completely also allowing the sac holding the intestines to poke through. In addition, adolescents particularly males may acquire these. This type of hernia generally does not close on its own.