Pain Symptom
Lower Abdominal and Groin Pain
By Dr. Anthony J. Gordon, Doctor of Acupuncture | Last reviewed September 2026
The pain is low in your belly and down into your groin. It may be sharp, aching or burning, and it can hurt to sit up, cough or twist. Scans of your abdomen and pelvis came back normal. The abdominal wall itself, its muscles and the nerves running through it, is a very common and often missed source of this pain.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (516) 597-5400. Most new patients are seen within one to two weeks.
Overview
Understanding Lower Abdominal and Groin Pain
Lower abdominal and groin pain has many possible causes, including hernias, bowel, bladder, gynecologic and urologic conditions, which your physician should evaluate. When those are ruled out, the abdominal wall is often the source.
The lower abdominal wall is made of layered muscles: the rectus abdominis and the oblique and transverse muscles. Trigger points in these muscles cause pain that feels internal. The ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric and genitofemoral nerves run through these layers, and they can become trapped, especially after surgery, pregnancy or intense core training. A simple test, tensing the abdominal muscles while the painful spot is pressed, can suggest abdominal wall pain.
Dr. Gordon assesses the abdominal wall muscles and nerves and treats them directly, coordinating with your physician.
Lower Abdominal and Groin Pain at a Glance
Also called
Abdominal wall pain, inguinal pain
Where it is felt
Lower abdomen, groin, sometimes into the inner thigh or genitals
Causes to rule out
Hernia, bowel, bladder, gynecologic and urologic conditions
Common sources when scans are normal
Abdominal wall trigger points, trapped abdominal wall nerves
Common history
Abdominal surgery, C-section, pregnancy, core training, athletics
The Gap in Care
What Tests Check, and What They Can Miss
Abdominal and groin pain is usually investigated as an organ problem. When scans are normal, the abdominal wall is often overlooked.
What routine testing is looking for
- Hernia
- Appendicitis and bowel disease
- Ovarian, uterine or testicular conditions
- Kidney or bladder stones
What often keeps symptoms going
- Rectus abdominis and oblique trigger points
- Trapped ilioinguinal or iliohypogastric nerves
- Scar tissue from abdominal surgery
- Hip flexor and adductor tension
- Core training overload
These are found with a hands-on abdominal wall exam, which is part of Dr. Gordon's evaluation.
Signs & Symptoms
Does This Sound Like You?
Symptoms vary from person to person. These are the patterns Dr. Gordon sees most often.
Low abdominal pain
Aching or sharp pain low in the belly.
Groin pain
Pain in the groin crease.
Pain sitting up
Pain doing a sit-up or getting out of bed.
Pain with coughing or twisting
Pain with coughing, sneezing or rotating.
A tender spot
A spot that is very tender to touch.
Burning
Burning or sensitivity of the skin.
Root Causes
The Four Drivers Dr. Gordon Looks For
Most people have more than one of these in play. Finding which one leads makes treatment more efficient.
Abdominal wall trigger points
Trigger points in the abdominal muscles cause pain that feels internal.
Trapped abdominal wall nerves
Nerves passing through the muscle layers can be pinched.
Scar tissue
Surgical scars can tether nerves and muscle.
Hip and pelvic tension
Hip flexors and adductors add groin pain.
Your First Visit
How Dr. Gordon Evaluates Lower Abdominal and Groin Pain
The initial evaluation runs 60 to 75 minutes. You leave with a clear picture of what is driving your symptoms, a written plan, a realistic timeline, and in most cases your first treatment.
Records and history review
Dr. Gordon reviews your imaging, physician or physical therapy notes, medications and past treatments so he knows what has been ruled out and what has already been tried.
Abdominal wall testing
Palpation and muscle tensing tests to identify abdominal wall pain.
Nerve tracing
Dr. Gordon traces the ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric and genitofemoral nerves.
Hip and groin assessment
Assessment of the hip flexors, adductors and hip joint.
Plan and coordination
A clear plan, plus communication with your physician, orthopedist or physical therapist when that helps your care.
When to see a physician first
- A painful bulge in the groin that will not go back in
- Groin pain with nausea, vomiting or fever
- Sudden, severe testicular pain
- Hip or groin pain with inability to bear weight
- Visible blood in the urine
- Unexplained weight loss
If you have any of these, contact your doctor or go to the nearest emergency department.
Bring to your first visit
Records
Recent lab results, imaging reports and specialist notes. These can also be faxed ahead.
Treatment history
A short list of what you have tried and what did or did not help.
Clothing
Something comfortable and loose fitting.
Treatment
How Dr. Gordon Treats It
These are the tools Dr. Gordon uses most often for lower abdominal and groin pain, chosen from your exam findings.
Primary approach
Orthopedic Dry Needling
Dr. Gordon has used dry needling for more than 18 years. Treatment releases trigger points in the abdominal wall, hip flexors and adductors, and works carefully around scars.
See all servicesNerve focus
Neuro-Functional Acupuncture
Electro-acupuncture along the groin nerve pathways to calm irritation.
See all servicesBetween visits
Activity Plan & Team Coordination
Core training and activity guidance, coordinated with your physician.
Referring provider? Contact the clinicWhat to Expect
A Typical Recovery Arc
Visits 1 to 3
Find the main driver
Dr. Gordon confirms which muscles and nerves are behind your symptoms and starts calming the most reactive areas. Many people notice early changes between visits.
Visits 4 to 8
Lower the baseline
Day-to-day symptoms ease, flares become shorter and less frequent, and normal routines start to feel more manageable.
Visits 9 to 12 and beyond
Build resilience
Visits are spaced out as improvement holds. You leave with a maintenance and early-flare plan.
Most patients are seen weekly or every other week during active care. Individual results vary with how long symptoms have been present and how reactive they are. Progress is reassessed at every visit.
Not sure how to describe it? Put your pain or discomfort into words before your visit
"Of all the doctors I have met with Doctor G.has been the most kind, caring, empathetic and patient. I feel like most doctors don't listen but Dr. G took the time to make sure I was heard."
DRIGO music, Google Review
Lower Abdominal and Groin Pain Questions
Answers About Lower Abdominal and Groin Pain
Still unsure whether this is the right fit? Reach out before you book and Dr. Gordon will talk through your history with you.
Abdominal wall trigger points refer pain inward, which is why it is often mistaken for organ pain.
Yes, when performed by a trained provider using careful technique and angles.
Yes. Scar tissue and nerve entrapment are common after abdominal surgery.
Your physician should check if there is a bulge.
Many people improve within six to ten sessions.
Yes. Intense core work can overload the abdominal wall.
Before You Book
General Questions
The clinic is an out-of-network practice. The initial evaluation is $300 and follow-up visits are $250. After each visit you receive a detailed superbill to submit to your PPO plan for possible reimbursement. FSA and HSA cards are accepted, and the clinic can run a complimentary benefits check before your first appointment. The check is a courtesy, so please confirm your coverage with your plan. See Insurance & Fees for details.
The first evaluation is 60 to 75 minutes and usually includes treatment. Follow-up visits run 45 to 60 minutes.
Yes. Call (516) 597-5400 or send a message through the contact page. This is especially helpful if your case is complex and you want to understand the approach before committing to a full evaluation.
1508 Union Turnpike, Suite 133, North New Hyde Park, NY 11040, with free parking on site. The clinic is an easy drive from Manhasset, Great Neck, Garden City, Lake Success, Floral Park and Mineola. Early morning, evening and weekend hours are available.
Most people feel a quick muscle twitch or a deep ache that lasts a few seconds. That twitch is a normal sign the trigger point is releasing. Mild soreness for 24 to 48 hours afterward, similar to a hard workout, is common. Depth, angle and stimulation are adjusted to your comfort.
Both use the same fine, sterile, single-use needles. Dry needling targets specific trigger points and tight bands in muscle based on your exam. Neuro-functional acupuncture targets nerve pathways, often with gentle electrical stimulation, to calm nerve sensitivity. For lower abdominal and groin pain, Dr. Gordon commonly uses both.
When performed by a trained, licensed provider with detailed knowledge of anatomy, it has a strong safety record. Tell Dr. Gordon if you take blood thinners, have a bleeding disorder, are pregnant or have a weakened immune system so he can plan accordingly.
About Dr. Anthony J. Gordon
Dr. Anthony J. Gordon is a Doctor of Acupuncture licensed in New York and board certified. He holds ASE certification in intrapelvic and extrapelvic dry needling, along with advanced certifications in Functional Dry Needling and Neuro-Functional Acupuncture. With more than 18 years of clinical experience and over 3,000 complex cases treated, he focuses on pelvic, spinal and orthopedic conditions that have not responded to standard care, and works closely with each patient's physicians and physical therapists.
Read Dr. Gordon's full bioBook an Evaluation for Lower Abdominal and Groin Pain
Book a full evaluation with Dr. Gordon and find out whether your abdominal wall is behind your pain.
Early morning, evening and weekend appointments available. Free on-site parking.
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