The groin is the area where the leg meets the torso. Common causes of groin and leg pain may include hip joint problems, athletic injuries, or muscular or neurological conditions. In children under 10 years old, groin and leg pain may be due to Legg-Calve-Perthes disease or an infected joint. Treatment generally involves resting, applying hot or cold packs, and over-the-counter medications.
When a person complains of this type of pain, the problem may actually be stemming from the hip rather directly from the groin or the leg. Tight tendons may cause painful iliotibial band syndrome. Pain caused by this syndrome is usually felt on the outside of the hip and thigh. It worsens when walking or when pressure is applied. Stretching exercises, massage, hot packs, ice, and rest are often recommended. Corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, or surgical intervention may be suggested.
The bursae are liquid-filled sacs near the joints that act as padding for the bones, muscles, and ligaments. Trochanteric bursitis, or inflammation of the bursae over the hip, may be the cause of groin and leg pain. The discomfort is usually localized on the outside of the hip and may increase when walking up stairs or getting out of a low chair. Doctors typically recommend rest, heat, compression and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories to patients with bursitis.
Athletic injuries may result in groin and leg pain. In various sports, an injured muscle may develop myositis ossificans, or become calcified. Sports hernias, i.e., groin strain, are another type of athletic injury that may result a painful groin and leg. Avulsion fractures in which the tendons are pulled from the bones are sometimes seen in soccer players, sprinters, and hurdlers. Sprinters may also suffer from adductor tendinitis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, application of hot or cold packs, and rest are most often among the treatments.
Neurological conditions sometimes cause pain in the groin and leg. When the sciatic nerve is pinched by vertebrae, pain may be felt in the lower back, and running into the groin, hip, and down the leg. Piriformis syndrome may occur when the piriformis muscle in the lower back is injured. Swelling may develop, thereby causing the muscle to press on the sciatic nerve. Treatment centers around reducing inflammation with muscle relaxants or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, heat and/or ice, and rest.
Young children with Legg-Calve-Perthes disease may experience groin and leg pain. In this disease, the blood supply to the hip is limited. Without enough blood, the bone becomes prone to breaking and does not heal correctly. Treatment is focused on preventing as much damage to the joint as possible. This may be helped by limiting the pressure on the joint until the disease runs its course.
Children may also experience a septic hip joint or toxic synovitis. Groin and leg pain, as well as fever, are symptoms of a septic, or infected, joint capsule. In addition, when children have infected joints, they will be unable to stand without help. Toxic synovitis is similar to a septic joint. Symptoms may include groin and leg pain, fever, and a visibly inflamed hip. Rest, pain relievers, antibiotics, or surgical intervention may be a part of the treatment for these conditions.
