Abdominal muscles, sometimes called stomach muscles, run down the front and across the sides of the abdomen. They work together with your back to support lifting and are involved in twisting motions. When you injure a stomach muscle, the pain can be intense, and you might wonder if you have an umbilical hernia.
Anatomy
Several muscles make up the "abs". The rectus abdominis runs down the front of the abdomen from the ribs to the pelvis; this is the "six-pack" muscle. The external and internal obliques wrap around the sides of your abdomen; the transversus abdominis runs deep under the other layers. An umbilical hernia involves the rectus abdominis, as do most pulled abdominal muscles, according to Medical Disability Guidelines.
Definitions
First degree (mild) abdominal pulls, or strains, result from over-stretching the abdominal muscles. They cause some discomfort but do not limit your activities. Second degree (moderate) strains involve a partial tear of the abdominal wall. They cause frank discomfort when using the abdominal muscle and limit your ability to do abdominal-intensive work, such as crunches or twisting motions. With third degree (severe) strains, the muscle is completely torn, according to the Medical Disability Guidelines, causing pain and possibly muscle spasms, swelling and bruising. Normal activities, such as sitting up from a prone position, become problematic. An umbilical hernia occurs with third degree strain when a piece of the intestines protrudes through the gap in the abdominal wall.
Causes
Abdominal strains and umbilical hernias occur after stress to the abdominal muscles, such as lifting heavy objects, sudden twisting motions, over-exercising or even after long periods of forceful coughing or sneezing, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Symptoms
A strained abdominal muscle can cause pain and, in severe cases, swelling or bruising at the site of the tear. The pain intensifies when you engage your stomach muscles and ebbs when you relax. Your abdominal muscles might feel weaker, so that you cannot do exercises that normally present no difficulty.
An umbilical hernia creates a soft bulge near the navel, where the intestines protrude, whereas the site of an abdominal strain usually does not feel any different to the touch. (Sometimes a complete tear can leave a gap in the muscle that your doctor can feel.) The bulge from an umbilical hernia can range from less than ½ inch to 2 inches in diameter, according to the Mayo Clinic. Coughing, sneezing or exercising can make the bulge more prominent, and it can temporarily disappear when you relax.
Treatments
For abdominal strains, ice the site within the first 24 hours and refrain from doing abdominal exercises until the strain is completely healed.
For an umbilical hernia, consult your doctor. She might suggest surgery to remove the risk that the intestinal tissue will become trapped and cut off from its blood supply.
