Hernia/Groin Injury/Gilmore groin

oceanbreez

Hi I'm new to the boards and while I was searching another issue I came across this one about hernia’s and had to say something, hoping it may help just 1 person.

My story:
In July 2001 while playing tennis I felt an internal tear, I had no pain...nothing, so I continued to play. Days later I began to feel pressure and strain in my left leg, near the superficial inguinal ring. I went to see my Dr and he did an x-ray on my hip area...he said everything looked fine. I really didn’t know what was the problem so I went home thinking it was all in my mind. Days and weeks went by it got worst. I went back to the Dr's complaining about the same issue, he sent me to a specialist, which he ran a bunch of tests, and checked me for a hernia. He told me I didn’t have a hernia and sent me to PT (physical therapy). I went to PT and it got worst! Well weeks became months and then eventually years. I had given up and had no hope. I gained 40lbs due to my inactivity.
The problems I was having were with twisting and turning, and when I stood up it felt like someone jabbed a knife into my leg and I wanted to scream...and I did!
I was at the point I could hardly walk without pain, just everyday activities were a huge bother. After 8 years I decided to see another Dr (he was an orthopedic surgeon-a specialist) lets put it this way, some of his clients are professional athletes.
I was hoping this visit was different. I did a lot of research and found Dr Gilmore and studied his finding on hernias. I emailed his office and told him about my symptoms and all the tests the Dr's did on me and their results...I told him I was still the same. They emailed me back and told me that it sounded like a hernia and to have the Dr test me in the way they tested their patients. I printed up their paper and off I went to the specialist. Well it was a sad day for me because the Dr put the paper aside and began to examine me, he didn’t even read it. Frustrated, I said politely please do not disregard my findings and please take note of what this Dr is saying. I don’t mean any disrespect to you or your experience as a Dr But I've been in pain for 8 years and I seem to have all of these symptoms. Well he didn’t listen. He did order a MRI with contrast....it showed nothing. He did nothing for me....but suggests I go to PT, which I didn’t go.
I left very, very depressed because I knew I had "Gilmore’s Groin" but no one would listen...Well long story short while at a Dr's appt for my husband (August 2010) he asked his Dr an Orthopedic Surgeon, who specializes in shoulders and knee’s about my condition...I didn’t even want my husband to say anything. Well, the Dr directed us to an old colleague of his; he said "he's the kind of Dr that thinks outside the box"
Because we have so much respect for this Dr we were off to see another Dr.
Again I brought “the paper" and I was gonna cancel the appointment because I told my husband I feel this Dr wont listen either, but this visit WAS different.
I showed him the paper he glanced over it, had me stand, and asked me where it hurt.
He placed his finger over the area said cough, and then he said "I believe you have a hernia, by what you’ve been telling me, I feel you do have a hernia." I said do I have Gilmore’s Groin…he chuckled and said Gilmore Groin is a fancy way of saying sports hernia! I'm going to schedule exploratory surgery and see what I find and fix it. You have been dealing with this for too long and its enough!”
I actually held my face a cried...I'm not really an emotional person but someone listened to me and I had a possible answer!

I said I had an MRI and it showed nothing he said, "It wouldn’t" ...I said WHY?? Well when you take an MRI you’re lying down and you'll never see a hernia!!!

First I heard of that in 9 ½ years...he said, “when you stand, you put pressure on the leg and it causes the hernia to "pop"!
I was scheduled for surgery in Oct 2010, he went in found the hernia (the one I didn’t have) and repaired it....DONE!
No pain, no stabbing feeling, nothing! I’m on my road to recovery. Surgery was very easy, he did it by laparoscopic. I only had 3 small incisions and they healed in no time...After 9 1/2 years it took no more than 1 hour to correct...the hard part is losing the weight I gained Lol
So don’t give up, don’t always believe what some Drs say…do your own home work!
Hope this helps one person!


If you have Gilmore's groin there are often no obvious external symptoms or signs.
Symptoms
The symptoms are pain in the groin increased by running, sprinting, twisting and turning, and kicking. After sport, the patient is stiff and sore. The day after a game, turning or getting out of bed or a car often causes pain, as may coughing, sneezing and sit-ups.

There is a history of specific injury in only 30% of patients – usually overstretching, abduction and eversion injuries. Symptoms usually indicate it is an overuse (wear and tear) injury.