Interviewer: Will a hernia go away on its own? Dr. Rodney Barker is a hernia expert. So do hernias eventually heal without surgery?
Dr. Barker: No, they don't. It's a defect in the abdominal wall. It's a mechanical issue, and it needs a mechanical fix. Physical therapy, medication won't do anything for it.
Interviewer: If a person has a hernia, should they go in and get it fixed right away?
Dr. Barker: Not necessarily right away. They should have it checked and make sure that's what it is and it's not some other diagnosis. The repair will be a discussion between them and the surgeon as to when it's most desirable to do it.
Interviewer: And sometimes, if somebody notices a small bump that's not giving them any problem that's a hernia, do you ever take a wait-and-see approach?
Dr. Barker: We do. Again, we want to confirm that small bump is a hernia and not an enlarged lymph node or something else. But watchful waiting is an appropriate response.
updated: October 28, 2021
originally published: August 21, 2019
