Common symptoms include a swelling beneath the skin of the groin or abdomen that may be tender and disappear when you lie down, discomfort when bending or lifting, and a heavy feeling in the abdomen. Common types include:

• Inguinal hernia: an organ such as the intestine or bladder protrudes through the abdominal wall into the groin.
• Femoral hernia: intestine or other tissue pushes through a weak spot in the groin.
• Epigastric hernia: fatty tissue protrudes through the abdominal wall between the sternum and navel.
• Hiatal hernia: the upper stomach pushes through the diaphragm into the chest cavity, often with upper abdominal pain and heartburn.

Straining while lifting and carrying heavy objects can cause tissue to bulge, and prior surgical incisions can leave weakness in the abdominal wall. Health care workers, cleaners, landscapers, laborers, and other manual workers face elevated risk.

Missouri law, Section 287.195 RSMo, sets a specific proof standard for hernia claims. It must be definitely proved that there was an accident or unusual strain resulting in the hernia, and that the hernia did not exist before that accident or strain.

That standard is why the first days matter so much. Report the incident immediately and specifically, describe the lift or strain that caused it, and get examined promptly. A vague report or a delay gives the insurer room to argue the hernia was pre-existing, and the claim becomes a fight over history instead of medicine.

A compensable hernia claim generally covers the surgical repair, related medical care, and lost wages during recovery, and repair failures or recurrences can require additional surgery later. Whether future medical care stays open matters if mesh complications or a recurrence show up after the file closes.

The treating opinion comes from a doctor chosen by the insurer. If you are pushed back to full duty while still in pain, or offered a settlement before recovery is complete, a second opinion before you settle is worth far more than it costs, which is nothing.

In 2025 alone, our firm spent over $700,000 on expert witnesses. Hernia cases are proven the same way they are won: physicians who connect the work incident to the injury, and preparation that treats every disputed claim as one that may need a judge.

Our firm handled roughly 1 in 4 of recent workers’ compensation trials at the St. Louis Division of Workers’ Compensation, out of hundreds of attorneys representing Missouri workers. Insurers know which firms will actually try a case, and it changes how they negotiate.

When the claims administrator knows a trial firm is on the file, refusals of care get reconsidered.

Is a hernia covered by workers’ comp in Missouri?

Yes, when the proof standard is met. Missouri requires definite proof of an accident or unusual strain resulting in the hernia, and that the hernia did not exist before it. Prompt, specific reporting and an early exam are what satisfy that standard.

What if I had a hernia repaired years ago?

A prior hernia does not automatically bar a new claim, but it raises the stakes on proof. A new hernia at a different site, or an aggravation tied to a specific work strain, can still be compensable, and prior disabilities can bring the Second Injury Fund into play.

What benefits does a hernia claim pay?

A compensable claim generally covers the repair surgery and related care, temporary disability while you recover, and permanent partial disability if lasting effects remain. What the whole claim is worth follows the same factors as any Missouri workers’ comp case.

Can I be sent back to heavy lifting after surgery?

Only within your restrictions. If the release ignores how the repair actually healed, that is a rating and restrictions dispute, not something to push through. Get the disagreement documented before you settle. Every case is different; results depend on the facts.