Groin pain: symptoms, causes, to treatment

Definition

What is groin pain?

Groin pain or pain occurs when the inner thighs and groin are subjected to a strong pressure that causes the surrounding muscles to become tense or even tear. Groin pain can cause pain and affect your ability to walk.

You will usually notice pain in the groin when the tension occurs. You may feel a popping sensation with pain that lasts for days, even weeks.

Sudden kicking, jumping, or turning your legs while running can usually trigger the muscles in the groin, groin, and around the inner thighs to tighten.

How common is groin pain?

Groin pain is more common in soccer, basketball, or athletic athletes. You can prevent this condition by avoiding the existing risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of groin pain?

The most common signs and symptoms of groin pain include:

Pain and tenderness in the thigh or groin area
It hurts when you close or open your leg
Groin pain when walking or running
Stiffness or bruising in the thigh or groin

Pain in the groin and groin can range from dull aches to sharp pains. The pain will often be worse when walking or moving your legs. You may also experience spasms in the inner thigh muscles.

Groin pain stages

The muscles that move parts of the body, such as the legs or arms, are known as adductor muscles. Groin pain affects the adductor muscles in the inner thigh.

Groin pain is usually a muscle tear caused by sudden or awkward movements. This often occurs in people who engage in physically active and competitive sports.

Groin pain has three stages, depending on how serious the injury is. Quoted from Medical News Today, the stages of groin pain are:

Stage 1 causes aches and pains, but small stretching or tearing of the muscles.
Stage 2 results in aches, pains, weakness, and sometimes bruising.
Stage 3 is a severe muscle tear, causing excruciating bruising and pain.

There may be other symptoms and signs of groin pain not listed above. If you have concerns about the symptoms of this disease, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

You should contact your doctor if you experience swelling, pain or pain in your thigh, groin or any of the symptoms listed above. Everyone's body is different. Always consult a doctor to find the best solution for your situation.

Cause

What causes groin pain?

The cause of pain in the groin is the muscles in the groin that are too tense, which can cause the muscle to tear. Groin pain is usually caused by exercising which involves fast leg movements such as kicking, jumping, skating, running, and so on.

Although exercise is the most common cause, pain in the groin can also occur due to:

Fall down
Hit by a hard object around the thigh or groin
Lifting heavy objects
Supporting the load by using the inner thigh muscles is too long

Risk factors

What increases my risk of developing groin pain?

There are many risk factors that can cause pain in the groin, including:

Experiencing an injury in the groin area
Too much running, jumping or playing
Wrong movement when doing certain sports

If you don't have the risk factors above, it doesn't mean you won't experience groin pain. These factors are for reference only. You should discuss with your doctor for more details.

Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the treatment options for groin pain?

Treatment will depend on the level of pain. Usually, groin pain will resolve with simple medication.

You can apply a cold compress on the affected area for 15-20 minutes 4 times a day or until the pain or swelling subsides. You can also reduce swelling by using elastic bands for fitness in the upper thighs.

If the pain persists, you can take pain relievers such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen to reduce pain. In addition, you can also stretch your legs while sleeping to make it more comfortable.

After recovering, stretching and strengthening muscles is important. These exercises include stretching the hamstrings and legs. You also need to limit strenuous activities to avoid recurring pain.

What are the usual tests for groin pain?

The doctor will diagnose groin pain based on a clinical examination and medical history. Your doctor can order an x-ray to check if any bones are injured. In addition, MRI can also be done to get a more accurate diagnosis.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat groin pain?

Some of the lifestyle changes and home remedies that can help you deal with groin pain include:

Apply an ice pack or lift your leg to reduce inflammation
Do muscle training to get stronger. But always make sure to warm up before training
Take medication according to a doctor's prescription
Learn to use exercise equipment properly

Moderate exercise to treat groin pain

You shouldn't move your leg too much in the 48 hours after the injury. After this, simple exercise can help restore the leg's ability to its original condition.

1. Stretch on the floor

The first simple movement is to stretch on the floor. Here are the steps:

Lie on the floor with your head facing up
Legs are supine and straight
Move your right leg to your side slowly
Return the leg to the central position
Repeat the same steps for the left leg.

2. Raise your legs while sitting

This movement can be done with a chair. Here are the steps:

Sit on the chair
Make sure that your knees are bent, then lift your right leg so that it is parallel under your hips, holding for a few seconds
Return your feet to the floor
Repeat with left leg.

3. Raise your legs while lying down

Here are simple exercise steps to reduce groin pain: