Chronic groin pain is a very tricky problem to treat. In sport it is the 3rd most common reason after ACL and fracture for keeping players off the field. Because of the extremely complicated anatomy of the groin, pain in this area can come from quite a few different structures within the groin or passing through it. These can be muscle groups include abdominal muscles, hip flexors, gluteals, adductors, quads, and lateral hip stabilisers. Tightness or swelling over the groin can cause nerve entrapments as well. Some nerves that can be affected are the genitofemoral nerve, medial femoral cutaneous nerve, lateral femoral cutaneous, obturator nerve and iliohypogastric nerve. And we haven’t mentioned the connective tissues yet. You can get a picture of how groin pain can cause such a headache for a health practitioner or physician.
I believe the first person you should see for groin pain should probably be a physiotherapist as they have a deep understanding of the anatomy and usually can solve straight forward groin cases. Usually correct muscle releases and gentle daily stretching will solve the problem.
If groin pain becomes untreated, it can lead to neurosensitisation eventuating in ‘chronic pelvic pain’ – a much misunderstood and poorly treated condition. Acupuncture done well is able to release the deep muscles, increase blood flow and regulate the nerves of the groin.
I wish to highlight two different cases I’ve treated. One is a 52 year old lady who had radiotherapy over the right groin for cancer treatment. Her cancer was in remission but 2 years later, she had persistent post radiotherapy groin pain which no one could figure out. I believe this was due to nerve damage post radiotherapy so application of (laser) acupuncture to stimuate healing quickly resulted in complete disappearance of the pain.
Another is a young gentleman in his early 30’s with right scrotal pain which turns out to be referred from the groin. Due to the delayed diagnosis, by the time that we understood it was from the groin, the area had become neurosensitised and the pain was radiating further around – physiotherapy was actually making it worse. (Laser) Acupuncture was able to regulate the nerves so that the physio could successfully release the tight muscles without causing a flare up. Now his pain is virtually gone with the occasional flare up when he leaves it too long without stretching. He comes for the occasional acupuncture to release the deep groin muscles.
I hope you can appreciate how complicated groin pain can get and how each groin pain must have it’s own individual approach. I believe acupuncture has an important role to play – especially in the tricky cases.
