Question: is there a way to diagnose, at home, whether I have a cyst or an inguinal hernia? Ive read that a non-emergency hernia can be pushed back in, and that if it cannot be pushed in, that it's a strangulated or incarcerated (stuck and losing bloodflow) hernia which requires emergency surgery. However, if it's a cyst, then obviously there's nothing to push in, and pushing on it will just aggravate it more. Ive tried laying on my back, and gently pushing on it, but it does not appear to go back in. And of course pushing on it aggravates the size and makes the color darker. I do not have health insurance at the moment and I'd rather not go to the insanely expensive emergency room, although obviously I may have to because this could be life threatening. Also, I first noticed it after jogging, and assumed it was a pimple. Jogging may not be the sort of stress normally associated with a hernia, but I suppose it's possible. To be clear on the question- is there a way to determine what this is without going to the emergency room, and if not, do you know of clinics in central new XXXXXXX that could look at this?