Can it be painful to walk with a hiatal hernia? or can you feel a pulling, like when you pull a muscle in the upper center abdominal area?

No: Walking will not cause epigastric pain if you have a hiatal hernia. In hiatal hernia, part of the stomach pushes into the chest cavity. It enters via an opening where the food tube (esophagus) passes on its way to the stomach. Hiatal hernias can have no symptoms. In some cases, they may be associated with heartburn and abdominal discomfort.