Right groin pain, or Left groin pain or both - yes Femoral Hernia - NO OBVIOUS LUMP

When I went to see the surgeon about what my doctor thought to be a femoral hernia she said it was a

Saphenos Varix ( kind of varicose vein) not a hernia. However, these type of veins do present as a hernia in feature and location. I am due to see a vascular surgeon next week. I am quite veiny (if there is such a word). Almost 21 years ago I had a DVT so may be due to nerve damage. Anyway, some weeks ago I remember reaching up to get something and suddenly felt a sharp pull. Anyway I didn't think anything of it. Two weeks from this I discovered the lump in my groin area.

Also prior to this I had a couple of days when my abdomen felt inflamed then eased off again, until last week when I felt inflamed again. Intrestingly I think my bladder was inflamed also as my urine was cloudy, but is

Now back to normal. I didn't think it was an infection as I have had cystitis and know the symtoms.

All this time I have put my symtoms down to my menstrual cycle like the times of dizziness nausea, but my

Doctor thinks my thinking that my cycle is to be blame is a "Red Herring"

Anyway I am currently on antacid tablets as I have had a lot of acid, which has caused nausea and belching(not very lady like I know).

I have to say the anxiety of it all has got to me.

What are the symtoms of a bladder infection?

Best wishes

My periods are a problem, they are much more painful and I now take two nurophen plus to keep the pain at bay. I am regular and they are not heavy, they are just painful.

And now the bowels are back to normal ie. constipated. So the blowing me up with air hasnt done the trick.

Like you not knowing what is the catalist is, what is the cause is extremely frustrating, and yes it does cause anxiety because you think you may have to live with all these problems for the rest of your life. Some I suppose are worse than others but personally I am fed up with constantly having to think about myself and how to make sure I dont let anything get too bad, keep it under control.

My friends daughter has coeliac, but it has never been completely confirmed because the test she would have to do (so my friend tells me) will require her to eat wheat products for some time and that would make her ill. My friends daughter has a very strict diet and doesnt eat any wheat products at all. But she has also been given acid tablets and they have worked but she constantly gets a runny tummy and doesnt feel well. It wasnt a gp who told her to avoid wheat it was her next door neighbour. So thats how her daughter keeps it under control, when her daughter is stressed, sitting exams it all gets much much worse even though she is till cutting out all wheat, so stress to a certain extent is a small cause.

My thrush has come back so I shall have to continue with the caneston, so all in all it just appears to be the stinging in my groin area that has disappeared.

Are you seeing these consultants privately? I am still burping, bottom and top, like you say not ladylike but it has to be released.

Its funny but we have similar symptoms but not identical.

Have you had any MRI or CT scans and if so have they shown anything. I have had an MRI of my pelvis and lumbar spine, plus a CT of my kidney and groin area. Only thing came up was a normal cyst on my left side oh and mild prolapsed disc.

Good talking to you.

Best wishes

I went to docs august last year with a reuccuring groin lump (comes and goes, not particularly painful, a touch uncomfortable), doc looked at it THROUGH MY JEANS, didn't touch it and sent me away with the diagnosis of an inflamed gland. Back to docs in December with it again and other things....he looked, poked and sent me to hospital with a femoral hernia, 48 hours after a hospital stay and one scan(still no pain, just uncomfortable), I could go home with my hernia. 2 months later, called for a consultation in another hospital and that doc said that he wasn't sure, so needed another scan.

Got letter from first hospital saying I had hernia, so phoned insurance so that I could book a hols to china for a month. All fine.

Now, I've got a new letter saying that it's not a hernia, and I need a CT scan....will my insurance be voided if it's undiagnosed? Damnit!

Has anyone else been misdiagnosed twice with a hernia? What could it be?

Please Help....all confused and frustrated with the NHS! (anyone able to help about insurances too?)

I went to docs august last year with a reuccuring groin lump (comes and goes, not particularly painful, a touch uncomfortable), doc looked at it THROUGH MY JEANS, didn't touch it and sent me away with the diagnosis of an inflamed gland. Back to docs in December with it again and other things....he looked, poked and sent me to hospital with a femoral hernia, 48 hours after a hospital stay and one scan(still no pain, just uncomfortable), I could go home with my hernia. 2 months later, called for a consultation in another hospital and that doc said that he wasn't sure, so needed another scan.

Got letter from first hospital saying I had hernia, so phoned insurance so that I could book a hols to china for a month. All fine.

Now, I've got a new letter saying that it's not a hernia, and I need a CT scan....will my insurance be voided if it's undiagnosed? Damnit!

Has anyone else been misdiagnosed twice with a hernia? What could it be?

Please Help....all confused and frustrated with the NHS! (anyone able to help about insurances too?)

I went to docs august last year with a reuccuring groin lump (comes and goes, not particularly painful, a touch uncomfortable), doc looked at it THROUGH MY JEANS, didn't touch it and sent me away with the diagnosis of an inflamed gland. Back to docs in December with it again and other things....he looked, poked and sent me to hospital with a femoral hernia, 48 hours after a hospital stay and one scan(still no pain, just uncomfortable), I could go home with my hernia. 2 months later, called for a consultation in another hospital and that doc said that he wasn't sure, so needed another scan.

Got letter from first hospital saying I had hernia, so phoned insurance so that I could book a hols to china for a month. All fine.

Now, I've got a new letter saying that it's not a hernia, and I need a CT scan....will my insurance be voided if it's undiagnosed? Damnit!

Has anyone else been misdiagnosed twice with a hernia? What could it be?

Please Help....all confused and frustrated with the NHS! (anyone able to help about insurances too?)

As you have probably read I have had a laparascopy and they didnt find anything. This is a minor operation and I feel absolutely fine now 5 days later. If they had found a hernia I would have had to have another operation so maybe not an ideal situation.

Can you push your lump back in. Do you have any other symptoms.Quite often women have female problems with their hernia and that can cause the GP to send them to a gynea.

As you will also see Sanga has had a similar problem.

What is the name of the hernia they say you had in your original diagnosis

To speed things up you could pay for the MRI or CT scan yourself, then you would be able to know within a week.

Personally I would have thought an MRI scan was the better option as it doesnt cause radiation but its not for me to say.

I have discovered that most doctors (privately) will always push you have to MRI or CT or US to back up the diagnosis. It is also useful as they will give you a copy of your MRI on DVD which you can look at on your computer, and anyone else can also look at it for diagnosis.

It is much better to have an MRI or CT scan for your benefit - if your lump is always poking out????

Liz, getting an MRI or CT scan especially of the whole pelvic area is a good idea as it will bring up any other problems in that area. As you will see from the literature I found if you have a femoral hernia which pops in and out then it will not show on the tests you have done if it hasnt popped out. The vein that the consultants are talking about is the same one that Sanga mentions and also my consultants have brought it up saying there is a thrill (when they do a test). If you put the name of the vein on google "saphenous varix" it says it is easily mixed up with a femoral hernia. You could get it done privately and that would take a week.

Since my laparascopy I have been thinking that the "prolapsed disc" discovered on my MRI may very well be causing me my problems. A prolapsed disc can cause groin pain, bowel and bladder problems. When the jelly is ruptured it can send nerve signals to the bladder bowel and groin. I had no nerve entrapment on my MRI but since this has been found, and it is the only problem that they have discovered I have decided to try and cure it. I thought I had a hernia and a prolapsed disc is also called a herniated disc.

Firstly I am drinking mountains of water, at least 7 pints of water a day, this I started on Friday, I am cutting all caffine down to 3 cups of tea a day. What I have noticed is that my bladder and bowel are nearly working perfectly. My back has never caused me problems even when lifting heavy weights but now and then I have noticed a slight pain in my lower back, nothing serious, and it does appear to travel up the spine sometimes as well. It wouldnt normally be anything I would go to a GP about.

So I shall try and keep to drinking this amount of water and lying on the floor with my hands under my chin, belly down when watching the TV to help my prolapsed disc. As I said I have no obvious nerve entrapment but by drinking a large quantity of water it appears to help????

Thank you so much for posting all this fantastic information - I am so grateful!

I am however going slightly mental as I now seem to convince myself - and seem to have every symptom of every ailment going - but your discussion has rung so true to me - here is my story - I hope that it can help others as yours has me:

I havent felt 'right since having my second child in 2001 as for my build (petite) was rather large a large baby for me. I had a fantastic water birth, despite going 15 days over due I had her in 1 hour 25 mins. I felt winded for 2 weeks after and couldnt stand straight. I had campalabacta (food poisioning) in 2002 and took a downwards spiral from there. I started to have bad constipation, (contraction like sheering pain when a stool passed through my bowel (arounf half an hour before I need the loo) trapped wind, weight loss, excruisiating tummy pain and felt like I hadn't had a complete bowel movement even though I had. My bowel felt swollen all the time. My periods were horrendous (lumpy and heavy) and sex was really really painful - to the point where my relationship broke down.

I was back and fourth to the doctors every week (being told it was IBS all the time) I was given so many meds and fibre tablets that didn't work. They then gave me lactulose - which I was practically drinking! I was left with an annoying sharp pain over the area where my right ovary would be - it would sting and fel like a deep cut - sometimes it would feel like I had a very small water ballon wobbling around which would vibrate whenever I walked, moved in bed, changed position, put my foot on the brake or changed gear in the car. When my partner returned we decided to seek help gyne wise and was referred for a lapaoscopy in 2005. They discovered that my tubes were swollen and blocked - however they left both my tubes in - but couldnt locate the pain. I was told it was a hormonal pain where my bowels would inflate and cause this problem. I was advised to take the mini pill Cerezett. The pain did go, and I felt well, although my bowels were still tender and sex was impossible. On the upside I didn't have a period for 5 years! :-) I was also taking 300mg of magnesium which did help with the constipation!

I had constant urinary infection symptoms (but no infection) like a squashed bladder feeling. I had an operation to take a biopsy of the urethra is 2010 - but this was negative!

I came off the pill 2010 as my partner and I decided we would like another child, and although we knew that my tubes were damaged and we would need help, possibly help unblocking the tubes. After just 2 weeks after coming off the mini pill the dreaded right hand side groing pain returned - with avengance - but I started keeping a pain diary and it seemed to only occur when I was ovulating - but would last 2 weeks! I had low back pain and a funny pain under my ribs (like being heavily pregnant and baby's feet sitting there) Constant wind (top and bottom) and my right hip ached and radiated into my right leg and I have a numb big toe! I had to give up jogging and swimming :-(

I went to see a herbalist who said I had cadida - most of my symptoms matched so I started an awful sugar free diet - which was impossible - I lasted 3 months (it changed nothing) I then started a complete elimination diet of brown rice and water - only introducing one thing each week - this came to nothing either (apart from tomatoes and chocolate) Just my luck!

After seeing my Gp numerous times and waiting for a referral to the fertility clinic in 2011 I was given a scan on my ovaries and had a Hysterosalpingham where they put dye through your tubes to see how damaged they were. Both were still blocked - but - they did say if we had the tubes removed it would increase our IVF chance to 40% - and that my right hand tube was 2 x bigger than it should be and near rupture and was the cause of all my symptoms and back pain, but most of all my right hand groin pain would go!

I couldnt get my tubes out quick enough - I wanted release from the horrid stinging pain, the bowel fullness, trapped wind, bloating, leg, hip and back pain. At last I would be pain free!!!

After the op (bilateral salpingectomy) I felt pain free for 10 days (this must have been the pain killer supositry they give u) I was over the moon and booked an appointment with the IVF clinic (we would have to pay privately) However the pain returned just 2 weeks after the op - I was so deflated.

Back to the doctors i go to be told its IBS and to try this that and the other. How could IBS cause my numb toe and heavy leg? How could I pin point in my diary in 2 months time exactly when I would be getting the pain and how long it would last? That is not IBS! My period pain has become bad again where I am in bed for nearly 3 days unable to move - pins and needles in my right leg and heavy feeling - I feel like there is an elastic band around the top of my right leg. My periods are really heavy and my bowels are inflamed.

I can feel every single bowel movememt and every bubble of air that passes through - I watch my diet and do not eat tomato's, chocolate and I limit my sugar religiously. I do not eat meat now either as it makes my stools too painful.

So with my 2 weeks of right groing pain, heavy numb leg, and a week of period pain ith my right groing pain and heavy numb leg - i only have 1 week of the month where I actually feel okayish.

After begging my GP, so we can get started on the IVF, I asked to see a gastroenterologist. He examined me and my right hand side pain - I did the cough test (Hernia) - NOTHING THERE! But wondered why he did a hernia test because a hernia has never crossed my mind before! So he referred me for a colonoscopy.

I had my colonoscopy 2 weeks ago - I had a bad reaction to the sedative and pain killer which made me really sick - and I had to have double to pain killer just so he could insert the camera - he only got as far as the sigmoid colon (about 6 inches up from the anus) where he discovered bowel loops. But this is on the left - my worse pain is on the right. He mentioned Chrones? - I have googled that too - but i do not have bleeding from the bowel.

I was then referred for a Barium meal X-ray) which i had yesterday - the lady that came to look at me after my x-ray had been done said she was going to do a live moving x-ray - she pushed my right hand side exactly where the pain is and said there is nothing there! But to wait until my consultant has seen the resuts - but all looks normal to her (the witch)

I know I have loop in my bowel as when the stool passes through the sigmoid colon i am on the floor doing my contractions breathing as if I am about to give birth - however she could not see this loop!

I know I am jumping to conclusions and diagnosing myself - and i should probably wait until I hear from the consultant again, but I did wonder if my right hand side pain is a hernia (only becuase he did the cough test) and like everyone else I assumed it wasnt because I do not have a lump there. I was moving a bed the other day and felt it pop out and I had to sit down and hold my side until the pain eased!

I have a bowel movement every day now due to diet and I do take Threelac probiotic which had really helped with the wind etc - but I just wish this bloody right hand groin pain would go! I feel so tired all the time because it drags me down. I know I have 6 days left until my next painful episode!

Reading about all your symptoms today I wonder whether this is what I should get my consultant to look into?

Sorry for the novel x

And thank you for sharing x

Please post your story on the other site as well (if you want to).

the fact that you lifted something and you then got a lump is something you must tell your consultant, did you feel the lump, could you push the lump back in. Quite often intestine comes out and then it either goes back on its own or the person can push it back in. Can you locate this lump very specifically. I always thought while I had problems that a black marker pen ringing the area would be a good idea because quite often when you are sitting in front of the consultant you can remember exactly.

The other idea is to invest in an MRI of your whole pelvic area, this way any other problems would come up. The bowels I dont think show on the pelvic MRI but if my intestines had been popping out then at the time of the MRI it would have shown it.

There is also a vein that runs near the femoral canal and if you read the other women and some comments that I have made the vein can be a red herring and it can seem lumpy and be confused with a femoral hernia on a cough impulse.

Another girl who also added her story has been told yes she has a femoral hernia, no she hasnt, so the consultant has now decided to get a CT scan to see. The problem will be if your lump is not there when you have the tests.

The only lady I knew who had sciatica down both legs and two femoral hernias took 2 years to be diagnosed because they would only operate once she had "PROVED" she had these lumps by doing something to bring them out when she had an ultrasound. She worked very closely with the radiologist and must have lifted something heavy while having the Ultrasound.

I am beginning to think more and more that my problem is my "prolapsed disc" or "herniated disc", it happened suddenly the pain in my right side and the more I look up the information the more I find that it can cause bladder, bowel and groin pain, plus I have a numb thigh on my right side. This herniated disc was only found because the Hernia consultant did a "Toe curling reflex test" on my feet and my right toes didnt do what they should have done. Reluctantly I had an MRI and reluctantly I went to a back surgeon and he said that the symptoms for a femoral hernia and a prolapsed disc were identical. It is more common to have a prolapsed disc or back problems that can affect the nerves to the bowel and bladder.

For some reason I am now definitely having low back pain, I have stopped exercising as much and have completely cut out caffine and am drinking at least 7 pints of water a day, I just knock them back, no sipping. My bladder is working much better and my bowels are working much better. I think the bladder in some way irritates the uterus because my thrush has now improved. It just depends how long I can go on drinking 7 pints of water a day, it is not something I enjoy doing. But I still have this nagging sensation in my groin which must be caused by the nerves in my back or a domino effect from the bladder.

The bladder, bowel, vagina are all next to each other so maybe if one plays up, they all play up or the nerves coming from my lower back pain are affecting all these bits.

I would suggest you have tests done, MRI or CT scan of the pelvic area. It should help eliminate more common problems with right groin pain.

Tell me what you think, and have a look at the other discussion forum which for some reason also exists under right groin, left groin........ maybe under Hernia, its definitely there and you can read other womens comments on Femoral hernia. Sorry a bit confusing I know.

If other people want to comment on my advice please do, I am not always thinking correctly.

But please keep us uptodate on what happens and even if it doesnt end up being a femoral hernia it is interesting to know.

It is meant to help us women.

As I have gone down the "pay by cash" route. I thought I would give you an idea of the prices. I realise that some of you would never consider paying or even have the money to pay but if I give you an idea then at least you know. If you can get it on the NHS then thats fantastic.

My MRI for my pelvis/one part with a radiologists report was £480.00. This was done near Harrow with a hospital named after a fruit. I was given a DVD of the MRI so I can use it on my computer and see for myself, not that I am in any qualified to read it. My hernia consultant referred me to the MRI radiologist that he trusts, I presume this particular radiologist was looking for a hernia but he did comment on a cyst (gynea) that showed on my left side, so maybe this radiologist was trained in all the pelvic area.

My MRI for my lumbar spine was £480.00 with report and DVD. I organised this purely from the referral letter from the Consultant. You dont always need your doctor to refer you privately. I called the hospital said I needed an MRI on my lumbar spine, I had a letter from the consultant I had just seen. I then asked the hospital to choose the lumbar spine radiologist to report on my MRI. The report on my spine was sent directly to my Consultant and I asked my consultant's secretary to send me a copy by email.

Consultant fees ranged from £150.00 to £250.00. The more expensive consultants are the ones that have the longest experience, and possibly where you see them. The fancy consulting places in London can be more expensive.

An ultrasound cost £300.00 with report, and xrays no dvd.

Something I have learnt through going down the private route is that there are good ones and not so good. Recommendation is key, the longer experience the better but the back surgeon I saw was very pushy and didnt even examine me. He was the only consultant I saw that didnt offer to refer me on the NHS, it wouldn't mean I go up the waiting list it would mean that I would be at the bottom of the waiting list like everyone else but I wouldnt have to pay when I had the operation. He had a lot of experience.

The surgeon that did the laparascopy was recommended by my GPs practice, but I asked for a recommendation from the most senior GP in the practice. Not the GP that diagnosed me. The most senior GP would be the most experienced and would have a good knowledge of consultants his patients had seen and whether they had done a good job or not over the longest period.

I was told by a consultants secretary that you can ask to see a particular consultant on the NHS, there is some policy that your GP may not be aware of but means you can say I would like to see this particular consultant on the NHS and they would have to refer you to that particular person, If anyone can help with more information it would help. I would imagine you would have to wait a lot longer to see them so that would be the downside.

The only advantage with paying privately for MRI or CT or US is that it is done very quickly, within the week you would have the results.

One slight problem I came across was the US I had done initially was not recognised by the consultant I was seeing afterwards. The consultant said he would only trust an US from his own radiologist so it would have been better to see the Consultant first and then he would recommend me to his radiologist. This doesnt always apply, it depends on the consultant.

The other idea is to take out health insurance, even part payment just for tests.

I have been on the NHS for other routine problems 15 years ago and I dont remember having the nightmares I have had this time. When you are ill and you are not getting anywhere and each stage of the process takes 5 - 8 weeks it drives you bonkers - which is why I paid and why I set up this chat.

All the consultants I saw work in the NHS as well (I think) so it is just about time. And if you or your consultant suspect its a femoral hernia (without the lump out all the time) it just adds to the problems, ie you are going to find it difficult to get diagnosed.