Groin pain with no diagnosis

[mbrbetsy]

Help!  I am a 54 year old female in reasonably good health.  I have had inguinal groin pain for the last 5 years...was diagnosed with small inguinal hernia (both sides) which was repaired laproscopically-sypmtoms abaited slighty in 4 months following surgery but returned and have gotten steadliy worse.  

The pain is worsened by activity including walking and standing for long periods.  The feeling is one of having a painful lump in the inguinal area that feels very heavy and painful with pain radiating down the outer front of my thigh.  I have had numerous MRI's, pelvic ultrasound (hernias have not returned) and still no diagnosis or resolution to the groin pain.  I am not longer able to exercise as I would like.  Walking is my main form of exercise and I have too much pain to walk very far.

I have been diagnosed with spinal stenosis is the lumbar region, have not yet had treatment for this but have been told by my neurosurgeon (recently deceased) that it is doubtful the groin pain is caused by the stenosis.  I am at my wit's end with this...I started the full court press in March of 2007 to find out what is causing this pain and still have no answer.  Meanwhile back at the ranch, by fitness level has hit an all time low due to pain level and challenges with finding exercise that doesn't exacerbate the problem.  Pain meds do not help.  Where do I go from here?

[puglovernkellogg]

Hello,
I have severe pain in my left groin area and leg. It hurts so bad, it hurts to walk and standing for longer than a few minutes kills me. Nobody can figure out why.  I have had 9 abdominal/pelvic surgeries and I think it could be an adhesion pressing against a nerve or something....whatever it is it hurts!  And then it swells and feels like there is a lump. I also have degenerative disc disease and herniated discs in my lower back but doctors say that that can not be causing the groin pain then I have spinal stenosis in my neck dont know if that could cause it?  Good luck please let me know if you find anything out!!

Puglovernkellogg

[Zak_Han]

"you have been diagnosed with spinal stenosis is the lumbar region, that it is doubtful the groin pain is caused by the stenosis........"

I agree with your doc,it's due to back problem,but ,It is a common misconception that Groin pain  stems always from the pressure of a slipped disc or a stenosis.  This is misleading, the cause of groin pain is also inflammation of lower back tissue stimulating your groin nerves, causing the pain signal.in short,it's conduct pain.

So,understand your condition,then acupuncture or deep massage for lower back area can help.can acupuncture really work? it dependent on where the inflammation is acupuncture can help with back pain.  Acupuncture works well when the inflammation is outside of the spinal column.  Acupuncture does not work when the inflammation is in the spinal column itself.
Good luck!

[Kevin Pho, MD]

I agree with the workups thus far, and it has been comprehensive.  

Imaging the areas with an MRI and ultrasound have already been done, and I am unable to come up with a test that hasn't already been thought of.

A referral to a rehabilitation MD (physiatrist) can be done to help localize the source.  Otherwise, going to a pain management specialist can be done to manage the chronic discomfort.  

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patients education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
www.kevinmd.com