Severe pain in the left groin area
May 11, 2012 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Kathrin Hamann
Hello, I hope you can help me. About 2 weeks ago, I had a strong cough while lying on the couch. I experienced a sharp, tearing pain in the left groin area. I felt nauseous because the pain was unbearable. After 15 minutes, it got better. Since then, the pain has gotten worse, feeling intense and burning. My GP diagnosed a hernia. On Sunday, I couldn't bear the pain anymore and went to the hospital. The CT scan was normal, no fracture, intestines okay, no herniated disc, no inflammation. I was treated with strong pain medication. On Wednesday, I requested to be discharged. The doctor mentioned that a nerve could be pinched from the hernia in 2003 (mesh was inserted). They attempted to numb the nerve, but the pain intensified. On Thursday, I saw a pain therapist who prescribed opioids for the pain. It's not getting better, rather worse. The pain is now radiating to my left leg. What's wrong with me?
Hello,
I understand your situation very well and would like to try to help from a distance.
If the nerve block with highly effective opioids did not help, it is very likely not the pinched nerve.
Rather, the coughing may have "torn" the previously inserted and sutured mesh at the seam. This is a very strong and persistent visceral pain and not easy to locate. Radiating pain into the thigh is also possible.
In this case, a pain injection or infiltration with painkillers may not necessarily be helpful, but rather rest and protection. Additionally, healing can be promoted by warmth. Gentle massage with arnica oil and Voltaren gel can also help.
Please avoid lifting heavy objects or straining during bowel movements, as this could further provoke the pain.
In a CT scan, a bleeding into the muscles would have surely been seen, and hip joint inflammation would have been noticeable as well, but this does not cause these sudden symptoms after coughing.
All the best
Kind regards,
Dr. K. Hamann
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