Medical Questions » Hernia Questions » Question No. 509
| Question: | I have a hernia and have had conflicting advice on whether to have the operation in view of my age (65 years), and also due to the fact that I have had this condition for two years, and do not experience any pain or discomfort. Your opinion would be very much appreciated. |
| Answer: | A hernia in the groin may remain pain free, and give no trouble for many years —but it is not going to get any smaller, and will probably steadily enlarge until it does become very uncomfortable, and much more difficult to repair.
At 65, you can reasonably look forward to another 20 years of life, most of which will be relatively active, but your general health in this time will slowly deteriorate, increasing the risks of any anaesthetic or operation.
The hernia can be uncomfortable, but the main reason to repair a hernia by an operation is to prevent the bowel inside it from becoming pinched, twisted and gangrenous. Strangely, the larger the hernia, the less chance there is of this strangulation of the gut occurring, but obviously the larger it is, the more uncomfortable it becomes.
The only people who should not have their inguinal hernia repaired are those who are too old, inactive or ill to reasonably withstand the operation.
For these reasons, I would urge you to put your fears behind you, and place your trust in a surgeon, who will repair your hernia in a relatively minor and simple operation.
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