what is this lump by my dick?
December 30, 2011 3:44 PM Subscribe
YANMD. But what might this lump in my groin be?
So a few weeks or a month ago I noticed a swelling on the right side of my groin. I'd say it's just above and to the right of the base of my penis, the bikini line as it were. It protrodes out maybe 1/8 or 1/4 of an inch. There's no bruising or pain though if I obsess on it it seems I "notice" it if I sneeze or blow my nose.
It's a bit firm, sorta like a balloon maybe? Anyway I will see my PCP after the new year when my HRA refreshes but I'd like to have some sort of idea of what's going on because I'm freaking out. Hernia? Cancer?
So a few weeks or a month ago I noticed a swelling on the right side of my groin. I'd say it's just above and to the right of the base of my penis, the bikini line as it were. It protrodes out maybe 1/8 or 1/4 of an inch. There's no bruising or pain though if I obsess on it it seems I "notice" it if I sneeze or blow my nose.
It's a bit firm, sorta like a balloon maybe? Anyway I will see my PCP after the new year when my HRA refreshes but I'd like to have some sort of idea of what's going on because I'm freaking out. Hernia? Cancer?
Lymph node would be my first guess. Probably not worth freaking out about, but worth seeing a doctor.
posted by empath at 3:56 PM on December 30, 2011
posted by empath at 3:56 PM on December 30, 2011
Hernia would be my first guess, but that's just a WAG. Like empath said, probably not worth freaking out about but worth seeing a doctor. If it were me, I'd make an appointment for early next week.
posted by mosk at 4:00 PM on December 30, 2011
posted by mosk at 4:00 PM on December 30, 2011
Could be a hernia. Could be a swollen lymph node, which could indicate anything from an ingrown hair on your leg to cancer. There's really no way for the internet to guess. Do get it checked out soon, as even something as simple-to-fix as a hernia can become a major problem if it's not dealt with in a timely manner (like, days to weeks to months, not hours). If it becomes majorly painful or grows noticeably, it might be worth an urgent care trip. Maybe skip any heavy lifting (due to possible hernia) until you get it checked out.
posted by vytae at 4:01 PM on December 30, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by vytae at 4:01 PM on December 30, 2011 [2 favorites]
I found a lump similar to what you described about 2 years ago. It turned out to be an inguinal hernia and I had to have surgery to fix it. It wasn't an urgent thing - prob 2 months between dr visit and getting it fixed.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 4:20 PM on December 30, 2011
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 4:20 PM on December 30, 2011
Inguinal hernia? Femoral hernia? A doctor might well be able to diagnose instantly.
posted by resiny at 4:20 PM on December 30, 2011
posted by resiny at 4:20 PM on December 30, 2011
I had an ingrown hair near the crease of my leg that I was convinced was a cyst or tumor for weeks before I picked at it enough to pull the long coiled up hair out. (Not that I reccomend picking at it.) The bump was probably as big as you described, and showed no signs that it was a hair. It felt just like a hard, not really painful, flesh-colored bump. So that may be it. Otherwise I'd suspect some sort of boil/inflamed lymph node.
posted by catatethebird at 4:54 PM on December 30, 2011
posted by catatethebird at 4:54 PM on December 30, 2011
Best answer: IAAD but IANYD - that being said, what you're describing sounds like an inguinal hernia. They're very common and become more prominent after an increase in intraabdominal pressure - like sneezes, coughs, bowel movements, lifting something heavy, etc. If it becomes very painful and/or the swelling gets stuck (you can't push it back in), it may be incarcerated. That's bad. That means a trip to the ER. Otherwise it's not an urgent repair.
posted by jhs at 5:10 PM on December 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by jhs at 5:10 PM on December 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
Could be ingrown hair. I had that once. In that case the lump will be full of pus. Gross, but not really dangerous.
posted by LogicalDash at 5:29 PM on December 30, 2011
posted by LogicalDash at 5:29 PM on December 30, 2011
What's the diameter of the protuberance? It could be anything: an ingrown hair, a cyst, a hernia, a swollen lymph node, bubonic plague. Don't panic, just see your doc as soon as you can.
posted by deborah at 5:48 PM on December 30, 2011
posted by deborah at 5:48 PM on December 30, 2011
Response by poster: ZOMG PLAGUE?!?
Seriously, thanks all. I'll get it looked at, though I dread the idea of surgery. jhs, would I need surgery to resume weight training?
posted by tr33hggr at 6:56 PM on December 30, 2011
Seriously, thanks all. I'll get it looked at, though I dread the idea of surgery. jhs, would I need surgery to resume weight training?
posted by tr33hggr at 6:56 PM on December 30, 2011
Staph infection?
posted by desjardins at 8:04 PM on December 30, 2011
posted by desjardins at 8:04 PM on December 30, 2011
Yeah, I would hold off on weight training, esp. squats or leg lifts of any kind, until you can get it checked out, 'cause those can make hernias worse.
posted by limeonaire at 12:19 AM on December 31, 2011
posted by limeonaire at 12:19 AM on December 31, 2011
Best answer: My husband's family all had hernias (including his sister), although in different places (but including inguinal). His was in a very similar place to yours and on reading your description he immediately thought it sounded familiar.
The problems started for him not long after we got together (not my fault, honest) and on one particularly memorable occasion worsened quite dramatically during a practice session with his band - he's a singer and (for realz) went for a particularly high note and ended up in casualty in much pain and suffering, having exacerbated the hernia through straining (poor vocal technique, singing peeps) - he had been dragging his feet somewhat beforehand, thinking because it didn't really hurt it would be OK, but ended up with a triple hernia repair with impressive scars on both sides of his lower abdomen (yes, along the "bikini line ...). Yay for hereditary weaknesses!
The advice he wanted to offer you was to get it sorted as soon as possible and don't try to do what you would normally do until it's sorted - he wishes to this day that he'd paid more attention and not tried to carry on as normal.
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 5:28 AM on December 31, 2011
The problems started for him not long after we got together (not my fault, honest) and on one particularly memorable occasion worsened quite dramatically during a practice session with his band - he's a singer and (for realz) went for a particularly high note and ended up in casualty in much pain and suffering, having exacerbated the hernia through straining (poor vocal technique, singing peeps) - he had been dragging his feet somewhat beforehand, thinking because it didn't really hurt it would be OK, but ended up with a triple hernia repair with impressive scars on both sides of his lower abdomen (yes, along the "bikini line ...). Yay for hereditary weaknesses!
The advice he wanted to offer you was to get it sorted as soon as possible and don't try to do what you would normally do until it's sorted - he wishes to this day that he'd paid more attention and not tried to carry on as normal.
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 5:28 AM on December 31, 2011
Response by poster: Inguinal hernia it is. Surgery scheduled for Feb. 16, which may result in another AskMe as I am very nervous about the recovery! But thanks all.
posted by tr33hggr at 7:05 AM on January 31, 2012
posted by tr33hggr at 7:05 AM on January 31, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by tr33hggr at 3:45 PM on December 30, 2011