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Depends,
There are a number of different types of hernias. The most common is an inguinal hernia, where the bowel pushes through the abdominal wall near the groin.
Can you push the hernia back in? If you can, do that and make an appointment with your primary care doctor in the next week or so.
What can be bad is if the intestine that pushes through and has it's blood supply cut off. Dead bowel inside your body is not good- you can get infections easily and quickly.
Bottom line: You probably don't need to go to the ER.
Call your doctor, you can even page them if you want. Being able to push the hernia back in is good- I know some patients who live with hernias for quite some time that way (months or years). Most people tend to get them repaired -- it's not a bad surgery. Remember, when picking a surgeon, make sure you get someone who does a lot of your kind of surgery. Practice makes perfect with motor skills.
-M
Keck School of Medicine, class of 2009
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