Pain low in the belly near the groin
It's sharp or burning with pressure, bending or getting out of bed, and sometimes sits near a scar.
The ilioinguinal nerve travels through the lower abdominal wall into the groin and upper inner thigh. When it’s irritated, you may feel sharp or burning pain near the groin crease, or sensitivity to waistbands. It often starts after abdominal or hernia surgery, a hip flexor strain, or a long stretch of guarding after an injury.
What usually keeps it going doesn’t show on imaging. The lower abdominal wall stays tight, the hip flexors and adductors hold tension, and the pelvic floor guards to protect the area. Together they can press and tug on the nerve and keep it sensitive.
Your surgeon or doctor manages a hernia or any surgical problem. My focus is the pain and its muscle and nerve contributors, using dry needling, a form of acupuncture, and electroacupuncture. The ilioinguinal nerve passes between layers of the lower abdominal wall. I needle a tight transversus abdominis and oblique to ease that squeeze. If the ilioinguinal nerve itself is irritable, I add electroacupuncture, fine needles beside it carrying a gentle current, to help retune its signaling.
Most people have had imaging, medication and sometimes surgery, and these matter for ruling out serious causes. Medication can lower symptoms without changing the muscle tension that keeps the area reactive. Imaging often can’t show nerve irritation, trigger points in the abdominal wall or a guarded pelvic floor. Even after a successful repair, those protective patterns can keep pain going.
I start with when the pain began, which positions and activities bring it on, and whether surgery was involved. Then the exam:
Your general surgeon, primary care doctor, pain specialist and pelvic floor PT stay part of the picture. If my exam turns up something one of them should hear about, I’ll mention it to you and share the details.
No. A hernia is a structural problem your doctor diagnoses and manages. Ilioinguinal neuralgia is nerve irritation that can feel similar. If there’s any question of a hernia, your surgeon or doctor should evaluate it.
Yes. Even after a good repair and normal healing, the abdominal wall, hip flexors and pelvic floor can stay guarded. Changes around the scar and protective movement habits can keep the area sensitive. That doesn’t mean the surgery failed, but it’s worth a focused exam.
I use dry needling on the lower abdominal wall, hip flexors, adductors and related muscles that reproduce your pain. Two approaches are often combined. Relaxing the abdominal layers the ilioinguinal nerve threads through lightens its load, and current near the nerve targets its sensitivity.
It depends on how long you’ve had symptoms, whether surgery was involved, and how sensitive the area is. Plan on about 4 to 6 weeks, with visits tapering as the groin becomes more predictable. I reassess often and adjust the plan.
Safety is central to how I work. I only needle structures that make sense based on anatomy, your exam and your medical history. Some areas I treat indirectly through nearby muscles.
Get urgent care for severe or rapidly worsening pain, fever, or redness or drainage around a surgical site. A new bulge in the groin, significant bowel or bladder changes, spreading numbness or unexplained weight loss also need a doctor. These come before needling.
Adults with pelvic floor, nerve and orthopedic pain, along with neurological conditions. Most of my patients come to me after other care hasn't fully settled things. If you're looking for general wellness acupuncture, I'm not the right fit.
We review your history and what you've already tried. I assess the muscles and nerves involved, and you're treated the same day.
It depends on the condition. Pelvic and orthopedic plans usually run 4 to 6 weeks. Neurological plans are usually 2 visits a week for 6 weeks or 3 a week for 4. After that, visits space out so the changes hold. These are typical timelines, not promises.
Yes. I work alongside doctors, physical therapists and specialists. If something I find needs a closer look from one of them, I'll tell you.
I'm an out-of-network provider. You pay at the time of your visit, and my office submits the claim so any reimbursement comes to you. Free benefit checks are available before your first visit through the verification form, and HSA and FSA cards work. I don't take Medicare or Medicaid, though some Medicare Advantage plans reimburse out-of-network care. Full insurance details
Yes. I treat adults, teens and children, though I don't specialize in infants or toddlers.
Yes. Book a free discovery call to ask your questions and see whether we're a good fit.
Dry needling is a form of acupuncture. Fine needles go into tight bands of muscle and trigger points to lower muscle tension and change how the area is signaling.
You may feel a brief twitch or a deep ache as the needle reaches tight muscle. It passes quickly, and any soreness afterward usually fades within a day or two.
It's generally safe with a properly trained practitioner. Needles are sterile and single-use, and I check your health history first, including blood thinners. In New York, dry needling can only be performed by licensed acupuncturists, MDs and DOs. Physical therapists and chiropractors aren't permitted to perform it.
Eat something light beforehand and wear loose clothing that lets me reach the area being treated.
Usually not. Ultrasound helps in a few specific cases, but it hasn't been shown to improve results for common trigger points. A careful hands-on exam is what guides the needle. More on ultrasound-guided dry needling
Dry needling aimed at the pelvic floor and the hip and abdominal muscles around it, for pain, tension and urinary symptoms driven by those muscles and their nerves. More on pelvic floor dry needling
Sometimes, depending on the muscles involved, and you'll be draped throughout. Treatment always follows your consent and comfort. I don't do internal exams or internal treatment.
No, though it helps if you've already seen a doctor or pelvic floor physical therapist. Bring any notes or imaging you have.
Completely. I've heard it all, and there's no judgment here, just a straightforward conversation so we can treat what's going on.
Yes, I treat adults of every gender and identity. After gender-affirming surgery involving the pelvis, bring your surgical notes and we'll decide together what fits.
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118 W. 72nd St, Rear Lobby, New York, NY 10023
Evidence-based acupuncture and dry needling on the Upper West Side. From chronic pain and headaches to pelvic floor dysfunction, Dr. Jordan Barber pairs the highest level of training with care that actually listens.
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