Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
In general, hernias that are at risk for complications, that cause pain, or that limit activity should be repaired. If they are not repaired, there is a risk that an emergency surgical procedure may be required at a later date.
Sometimes, a hernia can be temporarily controlled by wearing a belt-like device that applies external compression, which
pushes the tissues back into the abdomen and holds them there. This device is called a truss. The truss must be carefully
applied on a daily basis. It should only be used for selected situations following careful evaluation by a doctor.
How can I tell if a lump or swelling is a hernia?
Not all lumps or swellings on the abdominal wall or in the groin are hernias. A doctor should evaluate any such swelling.
Other possible causes include benign or malignant tumors or enlarged lymph nodes. These problems require entirely different types of evaluation
and treatment.
Symptoms of a hernia include pain or discomfort and a localized swelling somewhere on the surface of the abdomen or in the groin area.
There are many different types of hernias.
Serious complications from a hernia result from the trapping of tissues in the hernia (incarceration), which can result in the damage of death of the tissue.
Hernia repair and the treatment of hernia complications require surgery.
REFERENCE:
Stylopoulos, N., and D.W. Rattner. "The History of Hiatal Hernia Surgery: From Bowditch to Laparoscopy." Ann Surg 241.1 Jan. 2005: 185-193.
Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
Marfan syndrome is hereditary condition affecting connective tissue. A person with Marfan syndrome may exhibit the following symptoms and characteristics: dislocation of one or both lenses of the eye; a protruding or indented breastbone; scoliosis; flat feet; aortic dilatation; dural ectasia; stretch marks; hernia; and lung collapse. Though there is no cure for Marfan syndrome, there are treatments that can minimize and sometimes prevent some complications.
Testicular pain, or pain in the testicle or testicles are caused by a variety of diseases or conditions such as testicular trauma, testicular torsion, testicular cancer, epididymitis, and orchitis. Common symptoms of pain in the testicle or testicles are abdominal pain, urinary pain or incontinence, fever, nausea, vomiting, and pain in the scrotum or testicle. Treatment depends on the cause of the testicular pain or pain in the testicles.
Testicular cancer symptoms include a painless lump or swelling in a testicle, testicle or scrotum pain, a dull ache in the abdomen, back, or groin, and a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum. Treatment for cancer of the testicles depends on the type of cancer (seminoma or nonseminoma), the stage of the cancer, and the patient's age and health.
Hydrocele is a collection of clear fluid in a thin walled sack that also contains the testicle. Hydroceles are more common in males than females. There are two types of hydroceles: 1) communicating and 2)non-communicating. Hydroceles present at birth may resolve on their own. Hydroceles that appear in the teen or adult years may require surgery.
Regular physical activity can reduce the risk of disease. Regular exercise can also reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety. There are fitness programs that fit any age or lifestyle.
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