The average hospital price for inguinal or femoral hernia surgery in 2006 is $ 10,600 for an adult male in the United States. (Source: Healthia)
For a patient with viable insurance, most of the cost of hernia surgery is covered. Unfortunately, over 40 million Americans are not insured. In addition, some health plans call certain forms of hernia surgery “elective”.
A 1999 study by the American Family Physician warned of the consequences of not covering hernia surgery for cost reasons. “In the managed care environment, elective herniorrhaphy is under increasing pressure. Some government health plans do not reimburse elective hernia repairs. The long-term effects of complications from an untreated hernia are not fully understood. A decrease in surgical repairs can lead to an increase in hospitalization related to detention or strangulation. “(Source: T. Bax, B. Sheppard, R. Crass. Surgical options in the treatment of inguinal hernias. American general practitioner. January 1999.)
As a rule, hernias make the news when athletes catch them. In August 2006, the Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced that defender Jordan Leopold was due for hernia surgery and would take him out of the game for several months. After further medical tests and assessments, it was determined that rehabilitation alone would not solve the problem, Avalanche head coach Matt Sokolowski told reporters. We expect it to be in full swing again in 10 to 12 weeks.
In fact, the only real cure for an inguinal hernia is surgery, and sometimes one time is not enough. Arkansas starting quarterback Robert Johnson, a fourth year junior, has had two hernia operations in two consecutive seasons, according to the ARSN Sports Network.
Unfortunately, the symptoms of a hernia are not always obvious. In 2003, Oakland Raiders recipient Jerry Porter had to undergo hernia surgery. Initially, the disease was diagnosed by doctors as a tight stomach muscle.
Signs of a hernia can range from a painless lump to a protrusion that cannot be pushed back into the abdomen. A lump in the groin or abdominal wall that increases in size when coughing is a possible sign of a hernia. Pain, followed by tenderness and symptoms of intestinal obstruction, could be a sign of a strangled hernia, an emergency that requires hernia surgery. The main symptoms to look out for are tenderness and pain. While not all hernias are an immediate surgical emergency, every hernia can become one. So if you notice the symptoms, you should see your doctor immediately.
Although hernias have often been associated with exercise and weightlifting, they can actually occur without strenuous exercise. A patient with a hernia is likely to be born with an area of weakness in the abdominal wall. The pressure of intense physical activity, obesity or even coughing can cause part of an internal organ to “bulge” through a body wall. Other conditions that can contribute to the formation or worsening of a hernia include chronic lung disease and fluid in the abdominal cavity. But a family history of hernias also helps.
With strangulation, the condition can become a life and death emergency that requires hernia surgery if the blood supply is interrupted by the bulge. Without insurance, a patient could be faced with a choice: risk serious medical complications or face a financial crisis. Some uninsured patients actually delayed the operation in hopes of collecting donations, only to find that the hernia worsened over time and treatment became more expensive.
Fortunately, hernia surgery is often an outpatient procedure, sometimes under local anesthesia. Patients cannot drive home, but usually do not have to stay in the hospital.
Unfortunately, hernias can suddenly appear. Even someone who thinks they are too healthy to be insured can suffer from a hernia. Expensive operations are the only cure.