Though Hernia is usually not a serious ailment, they do not go away on their own and you have to get surgery done near or later. In fact, the sooner you get it done, the easier it is for your body to heal and repair as the damage done by a hernia is lesser.
A hernia is a swelling or lump that develops usually in the stomach area which can initially cause occasional pain and in the long run, can cause lots of discomforts.
Many people do not experience much pain hence may assume they could delay the surgery, but it is better to get it checked with your doctor to get the right recommendation. Honestly, it is best to get operated soon as any delay can be risky as discussed below.
Risks of Delaying a Hernia Surgery
1. Hernias can Grow Bigger:
It is highly likely that a hernia can keep growing bigger and also weaken with time. This means you will experience more symptoms such a pain especially when you run or jump which may change the way you live. Smaller hernias can be easily repaired as compared to larger ones hence there is no real reason why you should wait.
2. Delay can Cause Incarcerated Hernia:
One of the known complications of waiting too long is that the herniated tissue can get trapped outside the abdominal wall and cannot be easily moved back to its place. This can in turn lead to bowel obstruction or strangulation, which may need urgent surgery to repair. This is just a scenario and not all hernias progress this far, but this is a risk which you cannot ignore for long.
3. You Cannot Avoid a Surgery:
You may not really experience many symptoms but that does not mean your hernia is getting better You will have to get the surgery done one day or other. If you wait longer, the size of the hernia may grow hence your recovery time will increase.
4. Your Age Matters:
You may postpone the surgery for years, which will only lead to your aging. As you age, you may develop other health issues that may interfere with the surgery and make the entire process riskier. Whereas if you are aged and not really physically active, most probably your hernia will not be causing many problems. It is better not to risk surgery at such an age as it will not change your lifestyle much.
Choosing the Right Time to Get Operated
Honestly, today is better than tomorrow to get operated on for a hernia hence waiting for the surgery with no valid reason is not recommended. We understand it may take months for you to get the hernia repaired if you are on the NHS waitlist, hence we highly recommend you to opt for a Private Hernia Clinic so you do not have to wait to get treated.
Having surgery sounds like a big decision, but honestly, when there is no other treatment option, it is best to get it done rather than suffer for longer and taking the chance of the development of more complications.