Hernias in the elderly do not heal on their own and should be treated conservatively or surgically on the advice of a doctor.
1. Conservative treatment: If an elderly person is too weak to tolerate surgery or has other serious illnesses that prevent surgery, conservative treatment is recommended. For example, use a medical hernia belt to prevent the hernia from protruding. At the same time, it is also important to pay attention to the diet of light and easy to digest, so as to avoid constipation, resulting in increased abdominal pressure, thereby aggravating the hernia.
2. Surgery: If the elderly are in good health, clinical examination to rule out contraindications to surgery, then surgical treatment can be considered. Commonly used surgery has open and laparoscopic means, and laparoscopic hernia repair is less traumatic, suitable for the elderly.
Hernias do not recover on their own, and if left untreated, they can gradually worsen and cause pain. In severe cases, the hernia may become incarcerated or strangulated, resulting in intestinal obstruction, which can be life-threatening.