What causes hernias?
Hernias occur where the abdominal wall is weaker and from increased intraabdominal pressure. It is somewhat speculative but most incisional hernias probably occur with straining and coughing while the patient is waking up from anesthesia. Patients waking from anesthesia are pain free so when they strain their effort is not restrained. Sudden severe straining after surgery which happens more quickly than can be modified by reaction to discomfort is another likely cause for hernias. Examples include straining from falling, coughing, or vomiting. A sudden response to an unexpected weight (child jumps into your lap) can also cause hernias. A smaller contribution to the development of hernias can come from ordinary efforts that rely on abdominal musculature such as lifting and other forms of exercise. Standard advice is that following open surgical procedures with abdominal incisions, one should not lift a weight greater than 10 lbs for the first month and not greater than 30 lbs for the se