Pelvic Floor, Groin, Abdominal, and Leg Pain for 5 years
Posted , 9 users are following.
I apologize for the length, but this cannot be explained in short. I've had this since I was 17 when I got a mysterious injury in high school wrestling. I am now 22.
Left groin is very tight and weak. It is painful to stretch out. I can feel a radiation of pain from my groin to my left testicle, in what feels like the vas deferens area and leading upwards behind my pubic bone and bladder.
Pelvic Floor is also very tight and weak. The tighter it seems to be, the more pain that radiates into my testicle. In the past I have had severe pelvic floor and testicular aching after sex and orgasm. This region hurts after lifting and other strenuous activity as well. It may also be worth mentioning that throughout my teen years I’ve had a history of sucking in my stomach, which seems to also tighten my pelvic floor and cause discomfort. I still sometimes find myself doing this and have to consciously try to relax my pelvic floor.
When my pain is at its worst, having a full bladder becomes urgent. It sends a significant amount of pain into my pelvic floor, testicles, and abdomen, and feels as if there is a shocking amount of sudden swelling. I had an incidence where the pain had become suddenly overwhelming with a full bladder that I blacked out while driving, urinated myself, and then felt this trickling warming yet severely painful sensation in my abdomen that made me think I had internal swelling and bleeding. Other times I’ve had to void my bladder and then lay on the floor to try to alleviate the excruciating pain.
I have pain from the tip of my left rib down to my testicle. It is most apparent when I'm sitting down, hunching, lifting, standing in the cold, or anything that could potentially tighten my abdomen or pelvic floor. The abdominal pain is concentrated at the very bottom tip of my left ribcage and has a long “finger” of pain stretching down to my inside left hip/left testicle. If I bend backwards, this section gets sharp pains and very tight.
Finally, my left leg has severe discomfort from my butt down to my toes. The discomfort is very hard to describe; (most noticeable at my foot, butt, calves and inner leg) my leg is very cold, sensitive, and tingles as if it is not getting enough circulation. I sometimes get painful sensations at the tip of my big toe and ball of foot. My leg is also very tight, especially on the inner portion of my knee. The more pain I feel in my groin and pelvic/testicular area, the more discomfort I feel in my leg.
At night, I lie down flat on my back and I can feel every single bit of the pain from my rib, to my testicle, to the tip of my toe. Everything hurts at that moment at the end of the day. I sometimes cannot fall asleep because of it. It hurts no matter what way I lay.
When I bear down, I can feel a lot of pressure in all the previously mentioned areas of pain. Every now and then when I have a bowel movement, if I bear down too hard I will be in severe pain for the next hour or more. When I sing or laugh (abdominal stress), my abdomen, pelvic floor, and left testicle hurt as well.
For a while, the pain started to recede, I repressed the traumatic experiences of pain and life became busy. Recently I strained my left groin muscle at work. Since then, my left leg numbing/discomfort has become very severe and my pelvic floor area feels extremely tight again.
I have had a plethora of tests, treatments, and different doctor visits that will only add to this length. I don't know who to go to anymore or what steps to take. The pain is plummeting my quality of life. Has anyone had anything like this?
I've been working towards getting in to a pelvic floor specialists to see if that is the root of this issue. I also attached an image to show the areas of pain. Red = pain & tightness. Blue = discomfort and numbness
4 likes, 21 replies
ReadingManPhys Moss.Mountain
Posted
Have you seen a physiotherapist who deals with pelvic pain?
paige80048 Moss.Mountain
Posted
Moss.Mountain
Posted
Here's an update: a month ago I pulled my groin at work and did physical therapy. It's like it was all building up to something catastrophic. I had to build it back up with workouts and stretching, something I haven't been doing to that area for years.
My physical therapist did a test on me to see if my transverse abdominal muscles would activate. When feeling a specific range of muscles down in my pelvis, the right side of my pelvis would activate, the left side would not.
He gave me workouts to help stimulate this area and groin area while relaxing my knee with a hot pad afterwards.
Moss.Mountain
Posted
I didn't mean to hit post yet... I will say more soon.
Moss.Mountain
Posted
My physical therapist also told me that my girdle muscle that wraps around my waist and pushing my pelvis inward (an important function), was weak and can cause more tention. With that, clam shell workouts with rubber bands were very useful. Riding my bike have also been a good workout for my groin. I've realized that It's so much better to keep it moving than let it deteriorate.
He told me to go see a specialist in Pittsburgh for pelvic floor issues. Hard to get in there, but I'm still working on it, so no progress has been made there.
I think I'm close to an answer, I just need someone to tie it all together
paige80048 Moss.Mountain
Posted
Thank you so so much
Keep the website or me posted on your progress if you're open to it
And I will do the same with my son's progress
be well (*.*)
Moss.Mountain
Posted
For anyone else who may end up reading this, here's an update:
A massage therapist found that my left iliopsoas muscle is incredibly tight. Tightest she has felt in 20 years. I have gotten 2 psoas releases in 6 months. The pain is excruciating when getting it worked out, but the result is positive.
Meanwhile, I've also been forming much more pain in my left hip over the months. It is pain in my hip flexors, which actually turns out to be psoas muscle. The tightness from this group of muscles has caused a lot of hip snapping, as well as numbness on the top of my thigh and sometimes my shin and big toe.
To complex this tightness, I also found that my left side piriformis muscle is tense, which pinches my sciatic nerve and causes numbness down my entire leg.
I have been doing nightly stretches and trigger point release to attempt resolving this. I'm working on correcting my anterior pelvic tilt and sitting/standing posture, too. A book I've been reading called The Vital Psoas Muscle has been very informative and helpful in this process.
The psoas play a crucial role in our bodies and is often missed as a cause of pelvis, abdominal, and low back pain. There is so much to learn about this muscle, even if you don't have an issue with it. It is your true core. Please message me if you have any questions or think you might be dealing with something similar.
Thanksmuch Moss.Mountain
Posted
Hello! The popping in my hip is what has desperately brought me to your post! Although I'm female, I wonder if my problems could be similar to yours, and thus successful treatment similar to yours? My problems started with a herniated lumbar disc l5 s1 causing sciatic pain, numbness, and partial temporary paralysis following spasms. Went to 3 ers, a spinal doc, chiropractor, and finally to a physical therapist who insists my probs have more to do with pelvic twist, weakness than my disc. Please respond if you're still on this thread I can explain further. Thank u!
Moss.Mountain Thanksmuch
Posted
I believe pelvic weakness can be a heavy factor in issues like this. My entire pelvic girdle is weak and doesn't provide as much stability as it needs to. Instead, my muscles, such as my adductors, psoas, and piriformis are chronially tight. These muscles are tense but not providing any strength. Getting to release has been a battle.
Do you think you are having tight muscle issues? As far as your sciatic issues go, I would really try to stretch out your piriformis!
tutku Thanksmuch
Posted
I also have l5s1 herniation with that symptoms, I feel like that I'm stuck. give us more information please
Moss.Mountain tutku
Posted
Hey tutku, I know it's frustrating, but don't feel stuck. There's always something different out there to try.
I mentioned some stuff that works for my l5s1 in my most recent post on this thread.
maureen_65564 Moss.Mountain
Posted
Did you or do you have internal vaginal rectal massage therapy for any of this?
I've been battling with this for a couple years and I just don't know where to turn!
I'm going to the only pelvic pain specialist there is near me but so far I've not gained much ground at all!
Any suggestions?
(I actually get constipated from the tension)
maureen_65564
Posted
Oh my bad Moss Mountain.
I didn't check to see if you are a boy or a girl!
Vaginal release wouldn't work for you than would it... LOL
Moss.Mountain maureen_65564
Posted
Maureen, regardless of my gender, I think my suggestions could still be relevant. Everyone has different pelvic pain, but I've tried most avenues plus what is included in complications of my gender.
Can you give me some detail of your pain (even things you dont think relate to any of your theories) so I can throw out some ideas less arbitrary? If you feel more comfortable in DM, feel free to do so. I'm not a know it all, but my entire adult life I've been dealing with this and I'm nearing 15 doctors / alternative healing and years of research. I'd be happy to hear you out and discuss.
Thanksmuch Moss.Mountain
Posted
Thank you so much for your reply. I apologize for not responding sooner. I meant to but have been terribly busy plus as I'm sure anyone with these problems has experienced, everything just takes so much more effort and energy to get done from day to day. But after reading your comment I did spend more time rolling on my small ball to real ease different muscle groups and over the past few weeks the popping in my hip has decreased, the pain and numbness changes from place to place switches but has become less severe. I am growing strength slowly. I stretch, just live my normal daily life and am healing up. Lots more I could elaborate on. I do plan to but pressed for time. Just want to say for now that possibly, yes muscles being relaxed or awakened have so much more to do with healing than pills, injections, or rest.
Moss.Mountain Thanksmuch
Posted
I am so happy to hear that awakening your muscles is causing some changes in what you feel. Even if the numbness is switching to different places, I think it's a sign that things are moving around instead of remaining dormant and becoming used to their state of tension. Muscle memory is strong and hard to break.
I completely understand the challenges of reporting back here. But if you can, I'd love to hear more about your routine and how you're gaining strength.
I'd also like to know how your l5s1 is feeling? Does it feel sore at all? When mine feels sore, it actually feels so much better when I get my spine moving. I've been doing weekly hot yoga sessions (and I mean HOT, 105 degrees and gets you sweating out everything while making it easier to stretch) and I found several positions that hit my problem muslces in just the right spots. Also doing cobra poses (google it) it hurts my l5s1 like hell but the day after it feels amazing. Might be of some value to others.