An inguinal hernia often shows as a lump when the person stands or strains. The lump may go away when the patient lies down. Straining may cause a sharp, steady pain. With a small hernia the affected area may simply appear full. An examiner can feel the pressure of a hernia when the patient coughs.
Surgery can repair most inguinal hernias in a short and simple operation.
Many cases require only local pain killers. The surgeon makes a small cut and pushes the gut back to its normal position. He or she then repairs and reinforces the weakened muscle. A rare but serious complication is a strangulated hernia. This is when the hernia opening pinches a loop of intestine so tightly that it cuts off the blood supply and gangrene develops.