Should I Go to the ER for a Hernia?
Going to the ER for a hernia is appropriate when warning signs of incarceration or strangulation appear, such as a stuck, painful bulge, nausea, vomiting, fever, or inability to pass stool or gas. For a long-standing, reducible hernia with only mild discomfort, an outpatient primary care or surgical visit is usually more suitable. The decision depends on symptom severity, how quickly symptoms developed, and whether the bulge can be gently pushed back.