Inguinal hernias can be extremely painful and cause a host of serious conditions if left untreated. Generally, surgery is required to treat inguinal hernias, but there are other non-surgical treatment options available, such as hernia trusses. The purpose of this patient education article is to define what exactly hernia trusses are, when they are used, and whether or not they can effectively treat hernias.
What is a Hernia Truss?
A hernia truss is a brace of sorts that you wear as an undergarment. It is designed to keep the protruding tissue (hernia) in its place and relieve patient pain while the go about their daily routine. Trusses are designed to treat only inguinal hernias.
Modern hernia repair surgery was developed in the early 20th century, so before that trusses were one of the best treatment options available to patients. However, with the current state of surgical techniques and technology, minimally invasive hernia surgery is the most tried and true way to treat inguinal hernias.
Are Hernia Trusses Effective?
The biggest issue with hernia trusses is they do not fix the hernia itself, but rather mitigate symptoms. Wearing a truss may prevent hernia pain in the short-term, but the hernia will not go away by simply wearing a truss. Eventually, you will need to undergo surgery to repair the herniated tissue. If you delay surgery, you run the risk of making the hernia worse or developing a strangulated hernia (where the bulging tissue cuts off blood supply to an organ).
If you have any of the symptoms of a hernia, consult with your physician immediately. They will be able to diagnose the full extent of your condition and offer recommendations for treatment. Ultimately, if you do have an inguinal hernia, surgery will be required to fix the herniation for good. Make sure you find a general surgeon with a successful track record of performing minimally invasive hernia repair surgery.
