A femoral hernia occurs when inside tissues get pushed to the outside through weaknesses in the wall of the femoral canal or groin area. Femoral hernias can form on their own or be caused by coughing, too much tension when trying to pass feces or pass urine, pregnancy, straining to lift heavy items, or from stressing muscles during physical exercise. While some femoral hernias are painful, the majority of them are painless and reducible. In either case it can be difficult to travel when you have one and most require immediate medical attention.

Emergency Travel

If you have developed a painful femoral hernia, you may need to seek immediate medical help if the hernia cannot be pushed back into the abdomen with a gentle pressure or if you experience symptoms such as queasiness, vomiting or relentless pain. You will need to call 911 to travel by ambulance to the hospital as the pain will be too unbearable to drive yourself safely. In an ambulance the emergency medical professionals will be able to assist you and help ease your pain by administering drugs and ensuring that you arrive at the hospital immediately and receive prompt medical care. If you would rather not go by ambulance and have a friend or relative drive you to the hospital, you should bring along an ice pack to ease the pain and position yourself in a reclined seat and loosen your clothing so that it does not put excess pressure on you abdomen.

Leisure Travel

Since femoral hernias have symptoms such as a protruding bulge in the groin area and cause pain or soreness, traveling can be quite difficult. Leisure traveling with femoral hernia pain should be done with great ease. You should only travel if you have already sought medical attention and your doctor has given you the go-ahead to travel. If you experience mild pain with your hernia, you may want to ask your doctor for pain-relieving medication for your journey. When traveling you should avoid lifting, bending, coughing, stooping or over-exerting yourself at all; otherwise you will experience pain and discomfort. Most likely your doctor will prescribe you a girdle that is used to keep the hernia inside the body. During your travels you should avoid wearing tight clothing to prevent unwanted pressure on the abdomen area. If the hernia becomes painful you may want to get an icepack as it can help to relieve pain. If at any time you experience nausea, vomiting or severe hernia pain you need to seek immediate medical care to ensure that the hernia has not become strangulated--causing reduced blood supply--which can cause a life-threatening condition.

Source:

AARP: Femoral hernia

NY Times: Femoral Hernia

Univ. of Maryland Medical Center: Femoral hernia - Overview