What does it mean when your groin hurts?
The groin is the area where the lower abdomen meets the inner part of the thigh. What can cause groin pain? There are many possible causes of groin pain. The most likely ones are muscle strains, hernias, kidney stones, and arthritis. When should I worry about groin pain? Severe and persistent groin pain is cause for concern.
What should I do if I have a groin strain?
For example, if you have a groin strain, your doctor may recommend the following to help decrease pain and swelling: For hip osteoarthritis, treatment may include limiting activities that make the pain worse. For testicular sources of groin pain, your doctor may recommend elevating and icing the area.
What are the treatment options for hip and groin pain?
This may have several elements. For some types of groin pain, you can recover at home with simple self-care. For example, if you have a groin strain, your doctor may recommend the following to help decrease pain and swelling: For hip osteoarthritis, treatment may include limiting activities that make the pain worse.
Do I need surgery for my groin pain?
Less urgent, but necessary surgeries for other types of groin pain include: Treatment varies depending on the cause of your pain. For injuries, rest and ice can be helpful. You can also take over-the-counter pain medication. Most hip-related causes of groin pain require physical therapy.
What is best treatment for groin pain?
The bottom line If your groin pain is caused by muscle strain, rest and ice therapy can help the injury to heal. If your groin pain is more severe or is accompanied by other symptoms, be sure to follow up with your doctor.
What is the fastest way to cure groin pain?
To speed the healing, you can:Ice the inside of your thigh to reduce pain and swelling. Experts recommend doing it for 20 to 30 minutes every 3 to 4 hours for 2 to 3 days, or until the pain is gone.Compress your thigh using an elastic bandage or tape.Take anti-inflammatory painkillers.
Why does my groin hurt when I straighten my leg?
A groin strain is an overstretch or tearing injury to the muscles of the inner thigh or front of the hip. Groin strains make walking, lifting the knee, or moving the leg away from or toward the body difficult and painful. Groin strains can occur from overuse of the muscles, or from a sudden contraction of the muscles.
How long does groin strain take to heal?
There may be swelling or bruising in the groin area or inner thigh. If you have a bad strain, you may walk with a limp while it heals. Rest and other home care can help the muscle heal. Healing can take up to 3 weeks or more.
Should I stretch my groin if it hurts?
You can begin stretching your groin muscles right away. Stretch gently and avoid any pain. If you have pain while doing these exercises, you should not do them.
Is walking good for groin strain?
Immediately following your consultation, your physical therapist may advise you to: Rest the area by avoiding walking or any activity that causes pain. Crutches may be recommended to reduce further strain on the muscles when walking. Apply ice packs to the area for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 hours.
What is the fastest way to heal a hip flexor strain?
0:022:24What's The Fastest Way to Heal a Hip Flexor Strain? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI said I've seen people do three four times a day and throwing bags of peas and carrots that areMoreI said I've seen people do three four times a day and throwing bags of peas and carrots that are frozen on their hip flexor right in the front leg row in here.
Why won't my groin pain go away?
See a doctor if you have significant pain in your groin that's not getting better with at-home treatment, which includes taking a break from activity. Your doctor or physical therapist will ask about your symptoms and the possible cause of your injury.
How do I know if my groin pain is serious?
Seek immediate medical attention if you have:Groin pain associated with back, abdomen or chest pain.Sudden, severe testicle pain.Testicle pain and swelling accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fever, chills or blood in the urine.
Should you massage a pulled groin muscle?
During the rehab of both acute and chronic groin strain, physical therapy is integral to optimal recovery. Remedial massage releases tension in the muscle, reduces swelling, relaxes muscle spasms, stimulates blood circulation and realigns the muscle fibres to promote healing.
What does a pulled groin feel like?
Tenderness and pain on the inside of the thigh and groin area. Pain when bringing your legs together. Pain when raising your knee. A snapping or popping feeling at the time of injury that results in severe pain.
How do you test for groin strain?
The injured athlete should first be examined by inspection in a standing position to evaluate the alignment of extremities. The patient should then be asked to lie in a supine position to be able to check the motion of the hip joint and the flexibility of the groin and hip muscles.
How to prevent groin strain?
The best way to prevent groin strain is to avoid using the adductor muscle without proper training and preparation. Especially if you play a sport that’s likely to cause groin strain, regularly stretch and strengthen your adductor muscles.
How to tell if groin is strained?
They can include: pain (usually felt in the inner thigh, but located anywhere from the hip to the knee) decreased strength in the upper leg. swelling.
What is a groin strain?
Overview. A groin strain is an injury or tear to any of the adductor muscles of the thigh. These are the muscles on the inner side of the thigh. Sudden movements usually trigger an acute groin strain, such as kicking, twisting to change direction while running, or jumping. Athletes are most at risk for this injury.
What is grade 1 groin strain?
A grade 1 groin strain occurs when the muscle is overstretched or torn, damaging up to 5 percent of the muscle fibers. You may be able to walk without pain, but running, jumping, kicking, or stretching may be painful.
How to heal adductor muscle?
As your adductor muscle is recovering, avoid activities that involve pain. Resume activities gradually. This will enable your muscle to heal fully and prevent you from developing a recurrent groin strain injury. The length of time you need to recover will also depend on your level of fitness before the injury.
What is the risk factor for groin strain?
The primary risk factor for groin strain is playing a sport that involves kicking, turning suddenly while running, and jumping. Needing to change direction frequently is also a risk factor.
How long does it take to recover from a groin strain?
Depending on the grade of your strain, here’s estimated recovery times: Grade 1: two to three weeks. Grade 2: two to three months. Grade 3: four months or more.
What causes pain in the groin?
Groin strain happens when any of the muscles in your groin that connect your pelvis to your femur get injured by being stretched or torn. This causes inflammation and pain.
What causes a constant pain in the hip joint and groin?
Osteoarthritis symptoms. This causes a constant pain and stiffness in your hip joint and groin. You may feel or hear grinding or clicking in your hip. The pain improves with rest and worsens with movement and standing. Osteoarthritis pain treatment.
Why does my hip hurt?
Most of the time, pain in your hip and groin is caused by a problem with the hip bones or other structures in or around the hip joint. Muscle strain is another common cause. Occasionally it’s caused by pain radiating from something near the hip and groin.
What causes a throbbing sensation in the hip and groin?
Avascular necrosis symptoms. This causes a throbbing or ache in your hip and groin. The pain is severe and constant, but it gets worse with standing or movement. When avascular necrosis affects the hip, it’s usually treated with hip replacement surgery.
How does femoroacetabular impingement feel?
Femoroacetabular impingement symptoms. The pain gets worse after sitting for a long time, standing for a long time and with movements such as getting out of a car. The pain may limit how much you can move your hip.
Where does endometriosis pain start?
The pain starts where the endometriosis is located and can radiate to your hip and groin. The intensity often cycles along with your period. Other symptoms include heavy menstrual bleeding and abdominal cramping.
How to heal a swollen shin?
over-the-counter NSAIDs, such as naproxen or ibuprofen, to decrease pain and inflammation. applying ice packs or heat to the injured area for short periods of time can reduce the swelling, inflammation, and pain. resting the injured or painful area for several weeks, allowing it to heal.
Why does my groin hurt?
1. Pregnancy-related pain. Pain in the groin and down the leg may occur during pregnancy or from a medical condition, including fibromyalgia. Pregnancy can put pressure on the muscles.
What causes pain in the pelvis?
Soft tissue injuries. Damage to the ligaments, tendons, or muscles surrounding the pelvis in females can cause pain at the site of the injury, and pain that radiates elsewhere. An example is when a person with a hip strain experiences pain in the hip or groin, and pain radiating down the leg.
What to do if sciatica doesn't get better?
When sciatica does not get better after a few weeks, a person may need physical therapy, injections, or surgery in more severe cases. 5. Myofascial pain. Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic pain condition that causes pain that originates at trigger points.
Where does sciatica pain originate?
Sciatic pain originates in the sciatic nerve, which begins in the lower back and branches down the legs. Sciatica can happen for many reasons, including a herniated disc, damage to structures surrounding the nerve, or diabetic nerve pain.
Can groin pain go away?
Mild pain in the leg and groin areas in females can go away on its own, and many soft tissue injuries heal without special intervention. Aches and pains related to pregnancy usually ease after the birth, but a number of interventions during pregnancy may help.
Is groin pain a sign of a serious health problem?
Pain in the groin can be alarming. In most cases, the pain is an inconvenience, not a sign of a serious health problem. That does not mean a person has to live with the discomfort.
Can pelvic floor pain cause groin pain?
Many females with pelvic floor issues experience no pain but have trouble holding in urine, especially when jumping or running. Some. Trusted Source. people, however, experience lower back pain that can radiate to the thighs and groin. There are different types of pelvic floor dysfunction, and symptoms can vary.
What to do for groin pain?
Antibiotics: While not commonly used for groin pain, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if a bacterial infection is suspected. Surgery: Surgery can address more severe muscle tears and bone breaks or other problems like a hernia that may be the source of your discomfort.
Why does my groin hurt at night?
Groin pain that is worse at night may be caused by osteoarthritis or tendonitis of the hip joints. If you are noticing it more when you are laying down to sleep, you may have an uncomfortable mattress or you may be sleeping in an unusual position.
What is the term for the inflammation of the bursa of the greater trochanter?
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome, also called trochanteric bursitis or GTPS, is an inflammation of the bursa of the greater trochanter. Bursae are the small "cushions" between tendons, bones, and muscles. The greater trochanter is th..
What are the symptoms of iliopsoas bursitis?
Top Symptoms: thigh pain, groin pain, limping, snapping or clicking sensation of the hip, pain in the front of the hip. Symptoms that never occur with iliopsoas bursitis: fever, back pain, butt pain from an injury, pain in both hips, unmovable hip lump, hard hip lump, back pain that shoots down the leg.
What causes a groin infection?
The infection is typically caused by a bacteria, which your body reacts to by creating a ball of inflammation around the bacteria. Rarity: Common. Top Symptoms: groin pain, constant groin lump, lump on one side of the groin, painful lump in one side of the groin, hard groin lump.
What is the groin?
Your groin is a complex area where your abdomen ends and your legs begin. The large network of muscles, bones, nerves and blood vessels can make diagnosing the cause of groin pain a particularly difficult task, though muscular pain is a common problem.
Why does my groin feel numb?
There are several nerves supplying the groin, inner thigh and genital region. Entrapment or irritation of one of these nerves can result in pain or numbness in this area. This is often caused by surgery in this area but can happen without a specific cause as well.
Question
I have a stabbing pain near my groin area of right leg that radiates down the front of my thigh to my knee when I walk. It literally takes my breath away. I’ve been stretching it & rolling on a foam roller but it’s relentless.
Answer
Thanks for reaching out. Without doing a detailed physical exam it is difficult to provide a specific answer. The symptoms you described can often come from from the hip, back, or muscles and nerves that run through your leg. Through an examination, a physical therapist will be able to determine from which region your pain is stemming.
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Why does my groin hurt?
In some cases, the pain in your groin could be caused by a condition called a sports hernia . This issue, which is also known as athletic pubalgia, is a broad term referring to any strain or sprain of a ligament, muscle, or tendon in the lower stomach or groin region.
What causes pain in the groin and thigh?
People who were injured by a seatbelt in a car accident. Occasionally, wearing tight-fitting clothes or belts may also be to blame. Meralgia paresthetica usually causes pain in the outer thigh that extends from the hip to the knee, though groin pain may also occur.
What is round ligament?
The round ligament is a supportive structure that spans from a woman’s uterus to their groin region. As your uterus expands during pregnancy, this ligament stretches and becomes thicker to support the excess weight. This ligament expansion can cause sharp, stabbing sensations in the groin or lower abdominal region.
How long does it take for a groin strain to heal?
Groin Strain Recovery. Most strains heal on their own, however, this can take up to 8 weeks for more severe injuries. To help with recovery, your primary doctor may suggest: 1 . Using the RICE principle (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) Prescribing anti-inflammatory medication to help reduce pain or swelling.
Where is the pubis pain located?
Osteitis pubis pain is typically located in the groin, lower abdomen, or just above your vaginal area. Normally this soreness comes on gradually and initially bothers you only with strenuous activity.
Can pubalgia cause groin pain?
The groin pain associated with athletic pubalgia is usually severe while playing sports or exercising, but better with rest. Unlike a traditional hernia, there is not a palpable bulge in the area of injury (though sports hernias may eventually lead to a traditional hernia if left untreated).
Can groin pain be debilitating?
Dealing with groin pain can be both frustrating and debilitating, but for most conditions, there are many different steps you can take to alleviate your discomfort . The key is getting a definitive diagnosis.
Change of Swelling in the Knee
One of the most common causes of pain and stiffness with knee extension that we see is due to swelling after an acute injury.
Meniscus Tear
Another common cause of pain with straightening the knee is a meniscus tear. There are two crescent-shaped discs called Menisci in between the Femur and Tibia (thigh bone and lower leg) on each leg.
Knee Osteoarthritis
Pain from Osteoarthritis is common with knee extension. Osteoarthritis is the wear and tear of the joint over time. Once you have arthritis it can limit your ability to straighten and bend the knee.
Chondromalacia
Chondromalacia is wear and tear underneath the kneecap that results in a loss of articular cartilage. There may be pain with knee extension as the kneecap moves up and down within the groove on the Femur and with activities such as stairs or squatting.
Patella Bursitis
Bursitis is an inflammation of the bursa sacs in and around the knee. Many different pain patterns can occur with this problem including pain behind or under the kneecap but often the pain will get worse as you try to straighten your leg out. This can also be aggravated by kneeling on the knee or with forceful muscle use such as squats or lunges.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is pain over the front of the knee cap. It can be aggravated by activities such as stairs or squatting and usually produces pain that’s worse with activity, especially when going upstairs. It’s the result of too much force over a certain period of time on the patella.
Patella Tendonitis
Patella Tendonitis presents as pain at the Patellar Tendon where it attaches to the Tibia. It’s often aggravated by activities such as stairs, squatting, and jumping. It may feel like a sharp pain below your knee cap.
What causes knee pain when straightening?
And part of the torn meniscus sometimes catches between the bones, causing locking of the knee. 2. ACL Tear. Tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are another traumatic knee injury that may be the source of pain while straightening the knee, according to Nightingale.
What is the cure method for knee pain?
The severity of the pain determines the best treatment method for either injury, but it is typically advised to begin knee pain treatment with the RICE method, according to the AAOS. RICE stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation.
What is the pain in the patellar tendon?
Pain in the patellar tendon (patellofemoral pain syndrome) — which attaches the bottom of the kneecap to the top of the shinbone — can occur from repetitive knee movements, especially jumping and climbing stairs, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). A common form of this syndrome is runner's knee, ...
Why does my knee feel like it's popping?
Meniscus tears are common injuries that typically result from exercise or other physical activity. Sometimes this injury can feel like a "pop" in the knee and cause stiffness when straightening. Knee swelling may occur, especially with tears caused by an acute injury.
When to see a doctor for knee pain?
If you are experiencing sharp, shooting or throbbing knee pain that prevents you from putting full weight onto your leg, it's best to see your doctor right away, says Nightingale — especially if you sustained the injury traumatically through a fall or collision.
How to restore stability after knee surgery?
Typically, a surgeon must rebuild the ligament and stitch it back together in order to restore stability to the knee. After surgery, patients typically follow a physical therapy program to help regain strength and motion of the knee before returning to any physical activities.
What to do if you ice your knees?
However, if pain persists after you've iced your knee several times a day, rested properly and taken other precautions, it's a good idea to visit your doctor . He or she will most likely recommend physical therapy or orthotics if the pain can be treated non-surgically.
