You know you've likely pulled a pelvic muscle (groin) if you feel sudden pain, tenderness, tightness, or a sharp twinge in your groin or inner thigh, especially when moving your legs together or lifting your knee, often with some swelling or bruising, though a popping sound at injury might signal a tear. It's a dull ache or soreness after activity; it's a pull, but sharp pain with severe swelling points to a tear, requiring a doctor's visit for proper diagnosis.
It can feel like burning, cramping, aching, stabbing, stinging, or a combination of these things. It is often mistaken for pain in an organ such as the ovary, the uterus, the bladder, the vagina, or the rectum. The pain often coincides with the specific muscle or group of muscles that are affected.
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.
Your child should stop, change, or take a break from any activity that may be causing pain or soreness. Do not let your child do intense activities while your child still has pain. Put ice or a cold pack on your child's groin area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time.
Understanding Pregnancy-Related Groin Discomfort
Groin area pain pregnancy is an extremely common experience, affecting up to 80% of expectant mothers at some point during their journey to motherhood. This discomfort typically manifests as pain in the lower abdomen, inner thighs, or pubic area.
What are the symptoms related to pelvic pain?
Uterine Growth
The uterus doesn't just grow in size; it also changes position as your pregnancy progresses. This shift causes the round ligaments to work harder to maintain stability. The added strain can sometimes lead to sharp pain or a pulling sensation in the lower abdomen, hips, or groin.
Groin pain from a pulled muscle and from a hernia can feel very similar. It can be dull or sharp or a burning discomfort.
Sportsmen's groin, also called sports hernia and Gilmore groin, is one of the most frequent sports injuries in athletes and may place an athletic career at risk. It presents with acute or chronic groin pain exacerbated with physical activity.
Schedule a doctor's visit if you have:
Groin pain that doesn't get better with home treatment within a few days. Mild testicle pain lasting longer than a few days. A lump or swelling in or around a testicle. Occasional pain along the lower side of the abdomen that may spread along the groin and into the testicle.
A groin pull, which is scientifically referred to as a groin strain, occurs when the affected groin muscle or muscles become overstretched. Mild to moderate strains result in slight muscle extensions and minor injuries. A more serious groin pull will often cause muscle features known as fibers to tear.
While both involve pain and discomfort, a groin tear typically causes more severe pain and may come with visible swelling or bruising. If you hear a "pop" or feel a sharp, sudden pain during activity, this may indicate a tear rather than a strain.
Groin pain can sometimes happen due to medical emergencies like appendicitis, testicular torsion, ovarian torsion or a strangulated hernia (a hernia that's lost its blood supply). Seek emergency care if you have groin pain along with any of these symptoms: Nausea or vomiting. Fever.
Strain symptoms
Overview. Chronic pelvic pain is pain in the area below the bellybutton and between the hips that lasts six months or longer. Chronic pelvic pain can have more than one cause. It may be a symptom of another disease, or it can be a condition in its own right.
The three main red flags for abdominal pain needing urgent care are severe, unrelenting pain (especially with fever/rigidity), vomiting blood or black material, and blood in the stool (bright red or tarry black), all signaling potential serious issues like appendicitis, obstruction, or bleeding that require immediate medical evaluation. Other major flags include inability to pass gas/stool, jaundice, significant weight loss, or pain radiating to the back.
Inguinal hernia symptoms include:
Is it OK to walk with a groin strain? Most people can walk with a groin strain. But you shouldn't run, work out or do intense exercise while you're recovering from a groin strain. If you start working out or playing sports again before your muscles have healed, there's an increased chance you'll re-injure them.
What is a sports hernia (athletic pubalgia)? A sports hernia (also called athletic pubalgia, sportsman's hernia and Gilmore's groin) is an injury (usually a tear) in the muscles and/or tendons in your lower abdomen or groin that causes chronic pain.
These can include cutting, kicking, performing sit-ups, or sprinting/running. Higher-grade strains can cause the muscles to feel tight or weak. Simple movements that involve lifting the leg or knee or bringing the knees together can provoke pain. This can even cause the groin muscles to spasm.
Place your fingers straight into your stomach just below the left rib cage, about one inch from the center of your ribs or xiphoid process. If at least two of these tests are positive, you most likely have a hiatal hernia. You can then confirm a sliding type 1 hiatal hernia by getting an endoscopy.
Symptoms: Torn muscles often present with sudden, intense pain, swelling, and bruising, and may include a 'popping' sensation at the site of injury. Strained muscles, on the other hand, usually result in localized pain, tenderness, and stiffness, with symptoms generally being less severe.
Round ligament pain is a sharp, jabbing sensation on one or both sides of your lower abdomen (tummy). It's usually on your right side. This pain is not harmful to you or your baby. The round ligament connects your womb to your pelvis.
Signs & Symptoms of Ligament Injury
Pain. A “popping” sound when the injury first occurred. Swelling and bruising. Inability to bear weight down on the joint.
Round ligament varicosity (RLV).
RLV can cause pain and swelling in your groin area. It's common to mistake the condition for a hernia. Your healthcare provider should monitor RLV throughout your pregnancy. It generally resolves on its own after delivery.