Men – pay attention to groin pain and swelling

For a man, groin pain and swelling is usually a red flag warning him that something is not right.  Any sort of pain a man is feeling in the area between the abdomen and thigh, could be attributed to a wide variety of causes.  Depending on the extent of the pain and symptoms and to prevent undue worry putting a man’s mind at ease, it would be advisable for any man experiencing groin pain or swelling to see his doctor. 

Causes of groin pain

Here are some of the more common causes of groin pain that are the usual contributors which include:

·      A muscle, tendon, or ligament strain in the leg.  Men who are athletes or participate in sports such as hockey, soccer, and football are more prone to experiencing this.  The pain may be noticed right away after an injury or it may develop gradually over the next few days or weeks.  Sometimes this condition is called a “sports hernia” even though it is not an actual hernia.

·      A hernia is when there is a weak spot in the wall of the abdominal muscle allowing part of the small intestine to bulge.  If it is a inguinal hernia it can cause a noticeable bulging in the groin area that may be confused with swelling.  A hernia can cause intermittent pain that comes and goes or they can be quite painful all the time.  All men should have this checked out as soon as possible as hernia’s left untreated can become strangulated when blood flow to the intestine is cut off.  This complication can lead to bowel tissue death that can be life-threatening and requires immediate surgery.

·      Disease or injury to the hip joint.

Other less common causes of groin pain include:

·      Inflammation of the testicles

·      Twisting of the spermatic cord that attaches to the testicle

·      Tumor of the testicle

·      Kidney stone

·      Inflammation of the small or large intestine

·      Skin infection

·      Enlarged lymph nodes

·      Urinary tract infection

·      Infection from a sexually transmitted disease

·      Cancers that may cause inflammation of swelling in the groin area. These might include testicular or penile cancers

Self-care for groin pain

If the pain or swelling is mild and has been caused by a sports related injury or sprain, a man can try self-care tips that may help:

·      Use an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin IB) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

·      Place an ice bag or frozen peas on the area that is sore for 20 to 30 minutes two to four times a day. 

When to seek medical help

Consulting with a doctor will be the best solution of discovering the cause of groin pain.  The more detailed a man is in describing the pain, location, and symptoms will help a doctor make a more accurate diagnosis.  Every man for sure should go see a doctor if they have:

·      Severe groin pain

·      Groin pain that doesn’t improve 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

·      Intermittent intense pain along the lower side of the abdomen radiating along the groin and into the testicle

·      Blood in the urine

·      Groin pain associated with back, abdomen, or chest pain

·      Sudden, severe testicle pain

·      Testicle pain accompanied by nausea, fever, chills or blood in the urine