VERIFIED CONTENTAuthor: Katarzyna Wieczorek-Szukała, MD, PhD, medical biotechnologist, Medical University of Lodz

Groin pain may be associated with a sports injury and sometimes its appearance may be related to too intense physical activity. However, sometimes the feeling of discomfort appears spontaneously and persists for a long time, despite no apparent cause. What might be causing your groin pain and should you be concerned?

Determining the aetiology of groin pain can be quite a difficult task, as it is an area close to many vital organs, as well as lymph nodes, many muscle groups, and of course, nerve endings.

If the pain "spills over" around, it is difficult to clearly define whether it concerns the groin, abdominal cavity, lower abdomen or maybe the lumbar spine (such symptoms are often reported by people with pain in the groin area!).

Most often, all disease entities have one common point - their symptoms worsen during movement, when individual body systems and tissues are subjected to pressure and loads.

Where is groin pain located?

Many people start their self-diagnosis by looking for an answer to the question on which side the pain appears - left or right. Unfortunately, this is not the right way, because some organs (e.g. kidneys, but also ovaries and fallopian tubes, as well as testes and vas deferens) are arranged symmetrically.

As a result, pain may occur on one side or the other, but also on both sides simultaneously (and with varying intensity).

What ailments are most often manifested in the groin area?

Renal colic

Pain in the groin area may occur in the case of the so-called kidney colic. These are ailments that accompany the accumulation, enlargement and displacement of kidney stones. The excruciating pain is caused by an increase in pressure in the urinary tract, which is blocked by kidney stones.

Additionally, the sharp edges of the crystallized oxalate compounds injure the delicate and highly innervated tissue of the upper urinary tract (renal pelvis and ureters).

In the case of seizures, the pain is often described as "paralyzing" and one that does not even subsideafter the administration of painkillers. Apart from the groin area, severe discomfort also occurs in the lower abdomen and the lumbar spine.

Reproductive system problems

Another cause of pain in the area of ​​the left groin (and sometimes also the right one) may be related to the reproductive system. In men, these may be:

  • varicose veins,
  • injuries to the testicles or epididymides.

In order to diagnose these problems, it is most often necessary to make a diagnosis made by a urologist based on the results of an ultrasound examination. Unfortunately, especially in the case of more serious injuries, it turns out that surgery is needed. The so-called the torsion of the testicle (or more precisely the stalk of the testicle responsible for supplying it with blood and nutrients).

At first glance, such an injury seems harmless - most often it occurs as a result of a sudden jump or twist during sports, if the spermatic cord is too long and can simply become tangled around the testicle. As a result, however, it can even lead to parenchymal ischemia, necrosis and testicular atrophy.

In women, the cause of pain in the groin is also potentially inflammation of the ovaries or fallopian tubes. It can be caused by bacteria (e.g. Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Escherichia coli), but also by recurrent cysts that are not self-absorbing.

Ovarian cysts should generally be of no concern, unless they appear extremely frequently and do not resolve on their own or with medication. Then it is worth carrying out a series of tests, as a result of which it will be determined whether the cyst is an indication for further oncological tests. As a last resort, it will be necessary to perform a surgical intervention during which the cyst will be removed.

Colitis

Discomfort around the right groin may be related to inflammation of the large intestine and will usually worsen with walking. They are relatively easy to recognize by strong symptoms such as:

  • pains in the lower abdomen and in the area of ​​the right groin,
  • constipation or diarrhea,
  • bleeding from the lower digestive tract.

Colitis is often accompanied by a high fever and, in the long term, weight loss.

Medicine distinguishes between several types of colitis (including ulcerative, ischemic, microscopic, infectious and Leśniewski-Crohn's disease). Each of them requires a separate diagnosis and a specific therapy.

If soreness proves inflammation of the colonit is worth making sure that it is not associated with the development of colorectal cancer. Recurrent inflammation often heralds increased cancer risk.

Inguinal hernia

An inguinal hernia may also develop when moving or carrying heavy objects.

This especially applies to elderly and overweight people, in whom the groin is so-called a site of reduced resistance, especially prone to hernia formation. Inguinal hernia can also occur in powerlifters, strongmen and representatives of other strength disciplines.

Although at first the hernia does not seem to be problematic, over time, the bulge in the form of a soft lump will increase in size, become swollen, and it will be accompanied by increasing pain when touching it.

Ultimately, the inguinal hernia is removed only by surgical intervention. If you suspect a hernia, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible, who will order appropriate imaging tests.

The surgical procedure consists in cutting the abdominal wall, placing a fragment of the intestine in the right place and placing a special hernia mesh in a sensitive place. Nets are usually made of two types of material - absorbable, e.g. polygalactin thread, and non-absorbable - polypropylene thread.

Groin pain in athletes

In physically active people, pain in the groin area usually appears suddenly (during or immediately after exercise).

In the case of acute, burning pain located in one place, the connective tissue is most often damaged, e.g. a muscle tear, damage to the joint capsule.

The discomfort that occurs after the end of activity is usually associated with tissue overload (not to be confused with DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness), i.e. delayed local soreness that relates to local inflammation arising in an overtrained muscle group ). Symptoms of overload most often disappear on their own after cessation of activity for a short time.

Athletes in many disciplines are exposed to injuries around the hip joint. We include:

  • footballers,
  • runners,
  • athletes,
  • martial arts athletes.

In the case of minor injuries, the pain most often disappears as the inflammation subsides. However, if the soreness persists, there may be tissue damage. You will then need to consult a doctor who will most likely order youimaging tests.

In order to avoid sports injuries, it is worth taking care of proper warm-up, self-massage, use of the sauna and regular stretching. All these treatments make the tissues more flexible and therefore less prone to injury.

The symptoms of PGP are especially aggravated with activity. Starting with the usual walking, climbing stairs and physical activity, ending with rolling from side to side on the bed. The cause of the appearance of PGP is excessive strain on the pelvis.

How to prevent it? Try to strengthen the surrounding muscles before you become pregnant. If soreness does occur, you can:

  • increase the amount of rest lying down,
  • use elevators, escalators and driveways,
  • avoid sudden turns, bends and squats with the knees disconnected - this puts additional strain on the pelvis,
  • implement a personalized training plan (always consult it with your doctor!).

Remember that PGP results from overloading your body, it is not dangerous for the child!

Another cause of groin pain during pregnancy can be:

  • pressure of the uterus on the surrounding nerves,
  • increased sensitivity of certain areas of the body,
  • a series of hormonal changes in the female body.

Of course, the intensity of the pain may fluctuate, but you will certainly notice that the discomfort increases as you move. If rest doesn't help, consider using a qualified physical therapist who specializes in helping pregnant women.

What tests should be done before visiting a doctor?

Remember not to risk self-diagnosis and try to treat yourself with painkillers that do not solve the problem in case of persistent pain! Go to your GP who will order the most important tests for you. Most likely they will be:

  • MRI (magnetic resonance imaging),
  • ultrasound,
  • X-ray (X-ray),
  • CT (computed tomography,
  • vascular angiography
  • blood test to determine if inflammation has developed.

Can physiotherapy help you?

If a tissue injury is confirmed by your doctor's consultation, physical therapy may help. Such a visit usually begins with a general interview followed by functional tests (they are designed to determine the range of mobility of individual joints and identify the moment of pain).

After the tests, the physiotherapist implements the appropriate techniques. They can be, for example :

  • manual therapy,
  • joint mobilization,
  • soft tissue therapy.

Remember to never ignore groin pain. It can be quite harmless, but it can also herald very serious diseases, the neglect of which can even result in death.

The pelvic area is an area where many key organs, nerve endings and muscles are located, so correct diagnosis requires a great deal of knowledge and experience. Don't be afraid to consult your doubts with a specialist.

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