Groin Strain: How to Get Rid of Pain in the Inner Thigh

A groin strain is an injury or tear to any of the thigh's adductor muscles located on the inside of the hip.

Sudden motions, such as kicking, twisting to change direction while jogging, or jumping, frequently result in an acute groin strain.

The recovery time for a strained groin muscle depends on the degree of the injury and the type of treatment required.

Athletes are more prone to this sports injury than others. Though groin strains are normally not harmful, a severe strain can be difficult to recover l from.

Symptoms
Depending on the nature of the injury, groin strain symptoms might range from minor to severe.

They may include:
- pain in the inner thigh, located anywhere from the hip to the knee
- difficulty walking or running without pain
- bruising
- swelling
- decreased strength in the upper leg
- snapping sound at the moment of injury

Diagnosis
Your doctor will want to know how the injury happened and whether the facts point to a groin strain before determining whether you have one. They'll inquire about the activities you were engaged in at the time of the injury, your symptoms, and whether you've had a similar injury in the past.

Your doctor will then perform a physical examination. This could include stretching your adductor muscles to see if stretching is painful and checking the range of motion in your leg. Any discomfort you feel during the exam will aid your doctor in determining the location of your injury.

Could it be something else?
A groin strain can be confused with other conditions, like:
- a stress fracture (a hairline break in your pubic or femoral bone).
- hip bursitis (inflammation of the fluid sac in the hip joint).
- a hip strain (inflammation or damage to the hip tendons or muscles).

To confirm the diagnosis and rule out other injuries, your doctor usually starts with an X-ray and then moves on to an MRI.

Treatment
The goal of pain management NYC for a groin strain immediately after injury is to minimize discomfort and swelling. The first few days of treatment are the same as for any muscle injury: rest, ice, compression, elevation, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines.

Depending on the severity of your strain, you may require extra treatments to accelerate recovery. Physical therapy, massage therapy, heat and stretching, and electrotherapy are all possibilities.

If you have a grade 3 strain, surgery may be required to repair the damaged fibers, particularly if the tendon is implicated.

Recovery time
The length of recovery for a groin strain injury is determined by the severity of the injury.
In general, your level of pain can indicate the extent of your healing. Avoid activities that cause pain while your adductor muscle heals.

Activities should be resumed gradually. This will allow your muscle to heal properly and prevent you from recurring groin strain injuries. The amount of time you need to recuperate will also be determined by your level of fitness prior to the incident. There is no set time frame because everyone is different.

However, as a general rule, you should anticipate resting for many weeks before returning to full activity following a groin strain. The predicted recovery period ranges from 2 weeks to 4 months or more, depending on the severity of the strain.

Exercises
It's critical to quit doing the activity or exercise that caused the groin strain right away, but other activities can help it heal. It's preferable to execute these exercises once the pain has subsided.

The hip adductor stretch, hamstring wall stretch, straight leg lift, and resisted hip flexion are four exercises that can help heal and strengthen your groin.

Conclusion
Groin strains are rarely severe, but depending on the severity of the injury, they might take a long time to heal. Your symptoms will improve with time if you receive the proper care and therapy. Consult your doctor about groin strain treatment options. Seek emergency medical care if you are in severe or chronic pain.