Hernia or Pulled Muscle in 7 Year Old

Pulled muscles, do NOT bulge. Hernias, do.
My daughter had a hernia and had to have surgery.
Because, it was causing problems/complications/pain.
She was 7 at the time.
A Pediatric Surgeon who specializes in Hernias in children, assessed/diagnosed my daughter's condition.

IF your son's "bulge" is getting worse and/or has pain, you need to take him to the ER.
A Specialist, has to be seen, to correctly assess the hernia.
The regular Pediatrician, should be referring you to one.

There are many types of Hernias.

And yes, DO NOT let him carry anything heavy... or do any physical things.

Hernias can also "strangulate." Look it up.
A hernia is a "hole" in the abdominal wall, in which an organ or tissue can be sticking out of it. ie: like an intestine. And this is what causes the "bulge."
In my daughter's case, her's was a congenital hernia. She had always had it, but it did not become apparent with symptoms/complications, until she was 7.

If a Hernia strangulates, then this then becomes a serious, situation. It means, the organ may be strangulating, which means, its circulation may be cut off and it may mean that gangrene etc, can affect that portion of the organ that is sticking out of that hernia. And in this case, emergency surgery has to be performed.
It cannot be predicted, if a Hernia will strangulate an organ or if it will shrink or get worse.

My daughter's Surgeon, his own son had a Hernia. One day he got an emergency call. It was his son, that was being flown to the hospital because his hernia became strangulated. The Dad, had to do surgery on his own son. Per the Surgeon, if/when this happens, there is a window of time in which the surgery has to be performed. Because, the organ, is strangulated and gangrene can set in etc. He said, that that window of time, is typically within 2 hours, that surgery has to be done. Due to the complications of gangrene etc. and the hernia.

It really sounds like a hernia. I've had two and one of them was a bit like this.

I'm so sorry. Please don't let it go.

Sounds just like the hernias that both my daughter and I have. Some can be lived with, some need repair. Have your son tell you right away if the bulge becomes bigger, which, as other posters mention, could be strangling a section of intestine. This can usually be pushed back easily, but may keep recurring.

Does sound like a hernia. Go to his regular doc soon or sooner if increase in pain or fever.

Sounds like a hernia to me too. I would think if it was a pulled muscle,it would be a general swelling, instead of an obvious bulge.

I would call his doctor, explain what is going on, and see if there is any way you can get in faster.