Sports hernias are injuries that result from extreme thrusting and turning movements, typically while a person is playing a sport. It is likely to only appear on a professional competition level and can occur during tennis, football and hockey matches. Sufferers of a sports hernia will likely feel pain in the groin area, but you will not see a bulge like other types of hernias. You'll have several treatment options under the direction of a doctor for sports hernias.
Ice Packs
Ice therapy may be recommended if you are diagnosed by a physician as having a sports hernia. To treat with ice, wrap an ice pack in a towel and place on the injury site. Leave on for ten to fifteen minute intervals. Repeat this approximately every four hours throughout the day. It is important to carefully monitor your symptoms while using ice to treat a sports hernia. If you feel your symptoms worsen, stop using the ice and contact your doctor about alternative treatment.
Rest
Getting plenty of rest is said to be one of the best treatment options for a sports hernia. Not using the muscles affected by the injury, the abdominal muscles, you are allowing them to heal. The amount of rest you need to get can vary from patient to patient. Depending on your symptoms, you may only need a couple of weeks of inactivity to treat the injury. However, more serious cases could require as long as several months. A doctor will need to evaluate your condition before you are permitted to return to athletics.
Surgery
If the sports hernia does not heal with rest and ice, then more extreme measures may be taken. Surgery may be recommended in order to repair the tear. New technologies allow the hernia repair surgery to be performed laparscopically. This means that smaller incisions are made and it is a minimally invasive procedure. The recovery time is about four weeks and less pain is experienced in the post-operative phase. In the past, open surgery was usually performed for a sports hernia and involved using a scalpel to make a much larger incision.
