The Difference Between Gilmore’s Groin and a Sports Hernia
A sports hernia diagnosis is often the final step in a journey through multiple doctors’ offices, web searches and almost endless frustration. Determining that your injury is a sports hernia is not an easy feat. Sports hernias are one of the most commonly misdiagnosed injuries, not only in sports practices, but also in medicine overall. And that’s for a good reason. Sports hernias are internal injuries, produce few specific symptoms and resemble many other conditions. Combined, these traits make it difficult to distinguish between a sports hernia and another similar type of injury.
One of the conditions most commonly confused with a sports hernia is what is known as a Gilmore’s groin injury. While the symptoms can be incredibly similar, a sports hernia is a much more specific condition and therefore treatments vary.
Gilmore’s groin is a wide-ranging term that is used to describe injuries from minimal groin disruption to stress fractures in the lower abdominal area. It encompasses many different diagnoses, one of which is a sports hernia. However, it is important to remember that with each diagnosis comes a specifically tailored repair and recovery process.
On the other hand, sports hernia is a more precise term that is used to narrow down the injury. Rather than just a general injury to the groin area, a sports hernia is a tear to the oblique abdominal muscles that can cause chronic pain if left untreated. It is often hard to distinguish from other conditions under Gilmore’s groin, as its symptoms are not specific and can indicate many possible diagnoses.
A sports hernia injury does not present as a visible bulge, a hallmark of Gilmore’s groin. However, the pain cycle is consistent with that of other injuries. Often athletes rest for a short period while the pain fades, but it comes back much worse as soon as activity is resumed. Unfortunately, the longer that this cycle continues, the more aggravated and painful the sports hernia is likely to become. Due to this risk, it’s important to receive a specific diagnosis that exactly pinpoints your injury.
A high level of expertise can ensure that you receive the proper diagnosis of your injury be it a sports hernia or another form of Gilmore’s groin. Dr. Brown has years of experience working with professional athletes, and he and his team will work with you to reach the correct diagnosis and then start the path to recovery.