Diagnostics

When patients experience pain in the groin, they often ask themselves which doctor they should consult. If the groin pain is not acute and therefore no emergency clinic needs to be visited, the family doctor can be consulted first of all. If this doctor is then unable to make an adequate diagnosis, he or she will refer the patient to an appropriate specialist.

The diagnosis is made by taking a detailed medical history, examining the general state of health and examining the groin region in particular. In this process, touch, hearing, vision and measurement will already be able to exclude some of the causes. If the individual cause cannot be determined by this basic examination, further diagnostic methods are used. These include:

The ultrasound examination
Endoscopic examinations
X-ray pictures
Tissue samples
Laboratory analyses of blood and urine

Where does the pain of the groin occur?

Although the possible causes of pain in the left groin can usually be treated relatively easily, such pain symptoms should not be underestimated. Depending on the underlying cause, the pain on the left side of the groin may have different localizations. In addition, the fact whether the pain is acute or chronic provides a first indication of the underlying cause.

In particular, sharp, stabbing pain that occurs on the left side of the groin and radiates into the thigh area can indicate a hip joint problem. Dull pain, which increases in intensity especially in stressful situations, indicates cartilage damage in the hip joint. In addition, inguinal or femoral hernia, muscle and tendon injuries and inflammatory processes in the rectum are among the most common causes of pain on the left side of the groin.

Also lymph node swelling, which develops in the course of an infection, can lead to pronounced pain on the left side of the groin. In women who suffer from such pain symptoms, various gynecological underlying diseases must also be urgently excluded. Particularly in pregnant women, a pronounced loosening of the pelvic ring often triggers pain that occurs on the left or right side of the groin.

In addition, an ectopic pregnancy in the left fallopian tube can make itself felt by severe pain in the left groin. In particular, suddenly occurring complaints in the groin region should definitely be examined by a doctor as soon as possible. There can be a variety of causes for the development of pain in the right groin.

While inguinal pain that only occurs on the left side is usually caused by a so-called inguinal hernia, other diseases must be considered, especially if pain occurs on the right side of the groin. In addition, it should be clarified whether the pain felt by the patient concerned comes directly from the groin or rather radiates from the abdomen into the groin. In most cases, pain on the right side of the groin is a pain that radiates from the abdomen.

Due to its location in the right lower abdomen, inflammatory processes in the appendix area (appendicitis) can lead to pain on the right side of the groin. Typical for this disease is the onset of symptoms in the region of the navel. Only after the progression of the inflammatory processes do the pain typical of appendicitis “migrate” to the right lower abdomen.

In addition, diseases of the gall bladder, the urinary bladder and inflamed bulges of the colon mucosa (diverticulitis) are among the most frequent causes of pain on the right side of the groin. Chronic intestinal diseases or tumor diseases of the intestine can also lead to corresponding pain symptoms. Especially in women who suffer from pain on the right side of the groin, gynecological causes must also be excluded.Typical causes of the occurrence of pain right in the woman’s groin include inflammation of the ovaries, endometriosis, cystic changes and ulcers in the uterus.

In addition, pain on the right side of the groin can be caused by a so-called ectopic pregnancy. Since some of the possible causes of pain on the right side of the groin can be life-threatening, patients should consult a specialist as soon as possible. This is especially true for pain on the right side of the groin, which occurs suddenly and in full health.

Only comprehensive diagnostics can help to identify the causative disease quickly and specifically. Depending on the cause of the pain on the right side of the groin, either conservative or surgical treatment should be initiated. Most diseases of the hip first manifest themselves through pain in the region of the groin, in the transition between the thigh and the lower abdomen.

Depending on the underlying disease, the pain can also radiate from the hip to the legs and/or lumbar spine. In particular, people in whom a muscular imbalance in the hip region can be demonstrated often suffer from groin pain. High loads during standing, walking or running can lead to muscle problems at the muscle attachments or to a shortening of the muscles themselves.

The so-called “adductors” on the inner side of the thigh seem to be particularly frequently affected. (see: Adductor strain)In addition, pain in the groin can be caused by arthritis of the hip. In the early stages of this disease, affected patients notice severe pain, especially in the morning hours, which decreases in intensity over the course of the day.

In this context, this is referred to as “start-up pain”. In addition, pain in the groin, which occurs mainly when the leg is turned on its own axis, is one of the typical symptoms of osteoarthritis of the hip. Another cause of pain in the groin is the so-called “osteonecrosis of the hip” (synonym: femoral head necrosis).

The pain in the groin felt by the affected patient typically has a stabbing character. For this reason, especially at the beginning of the disease, the symptoms are often more likely to be associated with inflammatory processes or a hip trauma. Persons suffering from sudden or long-lasting pain in the groin and hip should urgently consult a specialist. Only after a comprehensive diagnosis can appropriate treatment be initiated and the pain effectively relieved.