Questions Your Doctor May Ask - and Why!
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in his assesment of the symptom: Groin pain.
These may include a physical examination or other medical tests.
Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing
your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information
you can share with your doctor may help them with their diagnosis.
Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:
- How long have you had the groin pain?
Why: to determine if acute or chronic.
- Is it unilateral or bilateral?
- Is it intermittent or constant?
Why: if intermittent this may suggest the groin lump is reducible and thus should consider a femoral or inguinal hernia.
- History of trauma or injury to the area?
Why: e.g. athletic groin injury including muscle and tendon strains and overuse injuries such as tendonitis.
- Risk factors for hernia?
Why: e.g. heavy lifting work, chronic bronchitis with persistent coughing, constipation, difficulty passing urine.
- Occupational history?
Why: e.g. heavy work, especially lifting may predispose to hernias.
Questions your doctor may ask about related symptoms:
Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse
your condition. These may include:
- Fever?
Why: may suggest psoas abscess, pyelonephritis, septic arthritis of the hip.
- Vomiting?
Why: may suggest strangulated hernia or obstructed hernia.
- Hip, back or Pelvis pain?
Why: pain from the lumbosacral spine, hip or pelvis may be referred to the groin.
- Symptoms of inguinal hernia?
Why: e.g. dragging, aching sensation in the groin that gets worse as the day passes. Sometimes there is nil discomfort. The groin lump may get smaller when laying down and you may be able to push the lump away.
- Symptoms of a strangulated hernia (when the blood supply to the contents of the hernia is cut off)?
Why: e.g. the groin lump becomes very painful and tender. The overlying skin becomes red, tense and warm.
- Symptoms of an obstructed hernia (a loop of bowel in the hernia is blocked)?
Why: e.g. abdominal pain, omitting, abdominal distention, absolute constipation).
- Symptoms of psoas abscess?
Why: e.g. feeling unwell for some months, night sweats, loss of weight.
- Symptoms of kidney stones?
Why: e.g. intense pain in the loin which radiates to the groin, thigh, testicle or labia. May be associated with vomiting and pale cold clammy skin.
» Next page: Types of Groin pain
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