I recently was constipated and I strained on the toilet and felt a sudden pain in my lower abdomen near my hip. I wondered if I gave myself a hernia. I felt the area to see if I could feel any protrusion down there and I couldn't feel any. I also tried to hold my testicles and lightly cough, because I have seen doctors dooing this to check for hernia. I couldn't tell if what I was feeling was normal or what because I am not trained to know. The spot where I felt the pain was very lightly sore for the rest of the evening. I am planning to get a phyisical in about 3 or 4 months, but I am wondering if I should go to the doctor sooner because of this.