Will a hernia repair itself naturally or is surgery necessary ?

A few years ago I had a C section and delivered prematurely. I am morbidly obese, have no co-morbidities but did develop pre-eclampsia. My question is, after my surgery I develop a few hernias. One is an umbilical hernia, and the other is along my surgery scar. I have learned to eat healthy in the last year and I have lost weight but eating low glycemic index foods and becoming more active. yay for me, but it does not necessarily repair my "buldge" Will these in time repair itself naturally once my weight normalizes or is surgery my only option at this point ? I do wear a girdle to hold it so that when I cough it does not "pressure out" I would hate to have to continue to do this forever even after my weight becomes healthy. Any suggestions relating to surgical hernias and obesity ?

Hi Juicy Apple

Here are some ideas on how to heal the issue without surgery.

Cause
The people most prone to hiatal hernia are smokers and people who are overweight.

Hiatal hernia is often due to chronic, extreme tension in the psoas and quadratus lumborum, two large muscles that merge with the diaphragm, causing the diaphragm to become chronically stressed. Osteopathic manipulation can help normalize these muscles.


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Natural Cures

Breathing Exercises: Deep breathing exercises can help to strengthen the muscles of the diaphragm and expand the lungs. This is important since many people with hiatal hernia have restricted breathing patterns and have a habit of swallowing air more frequently than normal. This causes the excessive air to enter the stomach, stressing the diaphragmatic opening through which the esophagus passes, and exacerbating hiatal hernia symptoms. Conscious, deep breathing exercises can help slow down the rate of swallowing to more normal levels.

Diet: Avoid overeating and minimize your intake of spicy foods, fried foods, coffee, tea, carbonated drinks, citrus juices, alcohol, whipped cream, milk shakes, peppermint, green and red peppers, and onion, all of which can worsen symptoms. Also avoid eating large meals and then lying down or bending over, and do not drink too much during and after meals. While your condition exists, it is best to eat small meals throughout the day, rather than the typical three-meal plan.

Exercise and Lifestyle: Sit in an armchair, inhale, and then and hold your breath as you lift your legs up toward your chest. Lower your legs and then exhale. Repeat this exercise several times per session, and do it several times a day.

If your symptoms include shortness of breath or food becoming lodged in your esophagus, drink 16 ounces of pure filtered water and bounce on your heels 10-20 times.

When you sleep, be sure that your upper body is in an elevated position so that your chest cavity is above your stomach. This will prevent your stomach from rising into your chest cavity.

Herbs: To reduce the inflammation and symptoms of acid reflux caused by hiatal hernia, make an infusion of equal parts comfrey root, marshmallow root, and meadowsweet and drink throughout the day and before going to sleep.

Homeopathy: Calc carb., Hepar sulph., and Ferrum phos. can help relieve symptoms.

Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the application of water, ice, steam and hot and cold temperatures to maintain and restore health. Treatments include full body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation and the application of hot and/or cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating a wide range of conditions and can easily be used in the home as part of a self-care program. Many Naturopathic Physicians, Physical Therapists and Day Spas use Hydrotherapy as part of treatment. I suggest several at-home hydrotherapy treatments.

Nutritional Supplementation: The digestive enzymes pancreatin and hydrochloric acid can help relieve symptoms, as can aloe vera juice. Vitamin B complex and a multivitamin/mineral formula can also help.

Alternative Professional Care
If your symptoms persist despite the above measures, seek the help of a qualified health professional. The following professional care therapies have all been shown to be useful for treating hiatal hernia: Applied Kinesiology, Biofeedback Training, Bodywork, Chiropractic, Detoxification Therapy, Magnetic Field Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine, Osteopathy, Reflexology, and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Best of health to you

Hernias can be a result of a weak abdominal muscle. I would suggest doing some strengthening exercises such as crunches, sit ups, etc., and consider asking your doctor for something called a TRUSS, which exerts pressure directly of the the hernia, so you could toss the girdle. If this doesn't work for you, surgery is an option...