Inguinal sprain: treatment, symptoms, possible causes, diagnostic tests, medical supervision and recovery period

In the article, we will consider the treatment of inguinal sprain.

This pathology is a violation of the integrity of the connective tissue fibers that hold the thigh muscles together with the lower parts of the skeleton. Thanks to this muscle frame, a person can walk, change direction.

In addition, nerve endings and blood vessels are located in this area. Therefore, it is urgent to treat such a pathological condition as groin sprain. If this is not done, and the muscles are injured again, the pain syndrome will develop even with minor loads. The development of dystrophic changes begins in the tissues, lameness appears, which subsequently will be quite difficult to eliminate, and sometimes this phenomenon remains with the person for life. However, this is only possible in extremely rare cases. Inguinal sprain treatment can be treated successfully.

Reasons for the development of this pathology

Sprain of a similar localization most often occurs in athletes. Although this phenomenon is often found in everyday life, especially during the performance of physical work. The risk group includes people who lead a passive lifestyle.

The list of main factors that can lead to the development of an extension of the inguinal ligament (in ICD-10 - T14.3) includes:

• falling from height;
• fast execution of movements (in this case, they overstrain and stretch the inguinal ligaments to the limit);
• sharp turns on one leg;
• lymphadenitis (an inflammatory process in the lymph nodes in the groin area);
• connective tissue diseases that provoke a violation of its physiological integrity;
• excessive physical activity (in this case, there is a strong contraction of the muscles of the peritoneum, stretching the inguinal ligaments);
• weak ligamentous apparatus;
• hip joint pathologies: arthritis, osteoarthrosis, infection or inflammatory process in the joint;
• hereditary tendency to dislocations and sprains.

This is an incomplete list of factors that can trigger a sprain in the groin. However, it is these reasons that are most common. If you do not take appropriate action, then a hernia may develop.

Symptoms of sprained inguinal ligaments in men and women

Stretching of the ligamentous system of the inguinal region cannot go unnoticed. The following symptoms of this pathological condition can be distinguished:

• severe crunch or crack at the time of injury;
• bright pain syndrome, which can have a different nature (pulling, aching, acute pains), however, it is local and does not extend to other parts of the body;
• swelling and swelling at the site of damage to the ligaments;
• as a result of rupture of blood vessels, the appearance of a hematoma can be observed;
• the occurrence of compaction in the groin after a certain time after stretching;
• the phenomenon of local hyperthermia in the affected area, since the development of the inflammatory process takes place here.

Other symptoms of inguinal sprain

Other symptoms may also be observed: large hematomas, increased swelling, limited mobility.

Symptoms of inguinal sprain in women and men are slightly different. In men, pain during stretching of this category of muscles can be given to the genitals, most often to the testes. In women, the pain syndrome is located in the perineum and can radiate to the anus.

The degree of sprain of the groin

Sprain of this localization has several degrees of complexity:

• The first degree, which is characterized by minor damage to the ligaments, mildly expressed discomfort in the affected area, there is no restriction of motor function.
• The second degree, which is characterized by mild soreness and a slight restriction in movement, while slight swelling and blueness of the skin may be observed.
• The third degree, in which there is intense pain during movement and at rest. Muscle cramps, edema, and bruising can also occur.

Symptoms of inguinal sprain in women and men should not go unnoticed.

Diagnostic measures

Before embarking on therapeutic procedures to eliminate such a pathological condition, it is necessary to undergo a diagnostic examination in which specialists will determine the type and degree of damage, its form, and establish the presence of concomitant complications. It is necessary to consult a traumatologist for treatment of an inguinal sprain.

Features of First Aid Stretching

With this pathology of the inguinal ligaments, first aid should be provided:

1. Apply a cold compress to the damaged area - this will reduce the severity of swelling, prevent the occurrence of complications, and reduce pain. In this case, the patient should lie down, and a roller should be placed under the buttocks.
2. Fix the lower limb, immobilize it. To do this, it is recommended to use a tight bandage using an elastic bandage.
3. The use of special orthopedic appliances to reduce the load on the leg is also recommended: a cane or crutch.

Timely medical care for sprain in the inguinal region will reduce the likelihood of complications, as well as speed up the healing process. In the future, it is necessary to carry out the appropriate therapy, which the doctor will prescribe.

Diagnostics involves:

• Radiography, which is only required in case of injuries or fractures.
• MRI or CT are methods that allow you to layer by layer see the structure of damaged tissue and determine the type of therapy, determine the further development of the pathological process.
• Ultrasound, allowing you to see concomitant pathology of damage to muscles or ligaments.

Inguinal Sprain Treatment

After diagnosing, you need to start drug therapy. Sprain of the inguinal ligaments of mild or moderate degree is easily stopped by medical and physiotherapeutic methods. Treatment involves the use of such drugs:

• analgesics that help quickly eliminate pain;
• anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs that eliminate unpleasant symptoms (tablets, ointments with a warming effect);
• anti-inflammatory hormonal drugs that are used in the most difficult situations, when other drugs do not provide the expected effect;

Therapy for sprain of the inguinal ligaments (in ICD-10 - T14.3) should be carried out against the background of absolute rest of the limb. Moreover, the duration of this period is at least a week. Every few hours, ice is placed on the damaged area. At this time, the patient is recommended to wear bandages, orthoses. Athletes need to refrain from training for some time.

Physiotherapeutic treatment can give a very positive result, which contributes to the gradual restoration of damaged inguinal ligaments, not only during sprain, but even if the patient is diagnosed with a rupture or dislocation. In any case, the patient should be constantly under medical supervision, which will reduce the likelihood of negative consequences.

Treatment for sprain of the inguinal region should be comprehensive.

Recovery process

With the normalization of the patient's condition, it is necessary to begin therapeutic rehabilitation physical education, which will accelerate the rehabilitation process and restore the mobility of the hip joint. However, all specialized exercises should be performed with the utmost accuracy, since the commission of any careless movement can lead to the occurrence of pain and complicate the healing process.

You can perform such exercises not only in special institutions, but also at home. If this is done at home, the patient is advised to strictly follow all the recommendations of the doctors. The recovery period lasts for different times, which directly depends on the degree of complexity of the sprain in the groin.

Prevention of this pathology

However, damage to the ligaments of the inguinal region can be prevented. To do this, you must follow some preventive rules:

• Before committing any physical activity, you should definitely do a warm-up;
• you need to live actively - ride a bike, walk more often;
• in most cases, stretching in the area of ​​the inguinal ligaments occurs in men, due to their lower flexibility than women, therefore, men need to be careful when performing exercises;
• observe proper nutrition so that the necessary carbohydrates enter the body.

Sprain in the groin. As a rule, it is accompanied by microfracturing of the fibers. At the same time, a person experiences rather severe pain and sometimes loses the ability to move. It is advisable to prevent the occurrence of such a condition, however, if this was not possible, its treatment should be correct and timely.

We looked at what to do when sprained inguinal ligaments.