Hernia!!

This post is summarized for your quick reference:

A hernia is a weakness in the muscles of the abdominal wall, resulting in a hole that is only covered by the skin.

There many places on the abdominal wall where this weakness can occur, these places are:

1.         The navel area                                                     (umbilical hernia)
2.         The junction between abdomen and the legs         (Inguinal and Femoral hernia)
3.         Along the center of the abdomen                          (Epigastric hernia)
4.         Anywhere after abdomen surgery                         (Incision Hernia)
5. Along the side of the abdomen                            (Spigellian hernia)

What causes the hole?

In some people, the muscles have not developed well enough to join together by the time of birth, and therefore these hernias (hole) occur in childhood.  They are called congenital hernias and they are especially

1.      Umbilical hernias or

2.      Inguinal hernias

To other people, the muscle weakness (hernia) occurs due to increase in pressures inside the abdomen (for example: Body builders, causal laborers, those which chronic cough) or due to old age the resulting hernias are especially

1.      Umbilical hernias

2.      Inguinal hernias

3.      Epigastric hernias

4.   Spigellian hernia

In-growing toe nail!

This is a disease where by the toe nail grows into the side of the skin leading to pain and infections. This disease mostly affects the big toes, and it can affect either both sides of the toe, or only one side.

The most common symptoms are:

Pain:
The pain is due to the nail constantly irritating the surrounding skin. This irritating pain can be compared to having a stone inside the shoe.

It gradually becomes worse as the nail grows hence affected persons stop putting on closed shoes.

Infection:

When infection sets in, then the affected place produces pus and sometimes a foul smell. The infection further worsens the pain in that, the pain now occurs all the time with or without closed shoes.