What Is the Difference Between an Inguinal Hernia and a Groin Strain?

Pain in the groin does not automatically mean you have a hernia.

Muscle strains are another common cause of groin discomfort, particularly following sport, exercise or sudden physical movement.

Understanding some of the differences can help explain why proper medical diagnosis is important.

What Is a Groin Strain?

A groin strain usually involves injury to muscles or tendons around the inner thigh and groin.

Symptoms often begin following physical activity and may include pain when moving the leg, tenderness or muscle weakness.

What Is an Inguinal Hernia?

An inguinal hernia is different.

Rather than an injury to a muscle, it occurs when abdominal contents push through an area of weakness in the lower abdominal wall.

A characteristic sign can be a visible or palpable bulge in the groin.

The bulge may become more prominent when standing, coughing or straining. Read More

Can a Hernia Cause Pain Without a Lump?

Symptoms are not identical in every patient, which makes self-diagnosis difficult.

Groin discomfort can have numerous causes and not every hernia will present in exactly the same way.

If symptoms persist, a medical assessment is therefore important.

Why Correct Diagnosis Matters

Treatment for a muscle injury and treatment for an inguinal hernia are very different.

A muscle strain can often improve through appropriate rest and rehabilitation.

An inguinal hernia represents a physical defect in the abdominal wall and does not normally disappear by itself.

When Should You See a Doctor?

Persistent pain, an unexplained groin lump or symptoms that worsen when coughing or straining should be medically assessed.

Severe or rapidly worsening pain, vomiting, fever or discolouration around a hernia requires urgent medical attention.

Identifying the cause of groin pain is the first step towards receiving the appropriate treatment.