Injuries are a part of the job description which comes with working as a professional athlete. That’s why they get those big, multi-million dollar contracts (in some cases).

Those injuries are also part of the reason why, according to NFLStats.com, most careers are lucky to go beyond 5 years in the NFL.

Running backs have an even shorter lifespan.

Following his fourth season in the league, Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell had an undisclosed injury which caused him to be removed from the AFC Championship game in the first quarter. It was later discovered that the undisclosed information was a nagging groin injury, one that Bell says he suffered against the Miami Dolphins, and had been nagging him for weeks.

It was impossible to tell he had an issue at all leading up to the game against the Patriots, as Bell complied 167 yards against Miami, and another 170 yards against Kansas City, on 59 total carries.

The injury flared up against New England, and Bell was only able to carry the ball five times, before removing himself from the game, and attempting a sixth carry, before calling it quits early in the second quarter.

The specifics of the injury has not been disclosed, except by Bell himself, during an interview with NFL Network’s Super Bowl media folks. During the interview, Bell says he may have to have surgery this offseason after receiving a second opinion, but will seek a third opinion before taking any action.

Injuries of the groin are the most common among athletes, especially NFL running backs, and basketball guards. Those who participate in strenuous exercises also can be susceptible.

A little clinical knowledge: The groin area is located between the abdomen and legs and is susceptible to injury just as any other muscle. Common causes for groin pain are: overuse of the groin area, pull/strain or an accident such as falling, or lunging forward and being fallen onto; which is what probably happened to Bell in the Miami game.

He gets tackled. It’s his job.

What is unfortunate, is that Le’Veon may not have fully disclosed how severe his injury was, so the team of expert physicians could have managed it better, had he been forthright about his symptoms. It is important to recognize the signs of a groin injury, and to know how to properly treat one.

In either case, an injury to the groin should be addressed immediately. Signs of injury can include but are not limited to:

• Sudden sharp pain in the groin
• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Weakness
• Limited Mobility

If any of the symptoms listed above present themselves during or after physical activity, the athlete should start the recovery process as soon as possible. If left untreated it can not only get worse, but it can tear at the the muscle. Typically, a groin injury, and the pain associated with it, can be treated at home.

It is important to remember that if symptoms do not improve or get worse, medical attention should be sought after.

We have to assume that Bell may not have notified his trainers of the injury, as it was not disclosed on any injury reports leading up to the Patriots game. Unsettling is that the Steelers running back missed a practice for an undisclosed reason, which was rumored to involve a childbirth. (Bell denied the rumors shortly after.)

One of the reasons Bell may have not been forthcoming, is that he was still able to compete at a high level despite the injury. He broke the Steelers postseason franchise rushing record against the Dolphins, and then topped it again a week later against Kansas City. Due to his performance, he may have not known the severity of his injury; or was reluctant to rest from physical activity for one to two weeks after (maybe more depending on the extent of the injury).

Intense activity is not suggested to heal, and that is hard to do in the midst of the playoffs; and a winning streak run where the Steelers utilized Bell in heavy doses.

Pain should have been a warning sign that something was wrong, and it should not have been ignored. Luckily, Bell may now be taking the proper precautions and limiting activity that may cause further damage.

However, it is difficult to “manage” a groin injury when the person is still involved in the same level of activity as when they were injured. Activity can only continue once pain has subsided. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen or Aleve can be taken for pain management and to help reduce inflammation, which can make the injury seem incidental.

It’s not. If you have ever had a groin injury, you know it feels like nothing is working. This may be why Bell is seeking additional opinions. Ice will relieve pain and reduce swelling, but even after a short application, the relief is temporary.

At this point if Bell is seeing specialists, and deciding between surgery or conservative treatment, there could be a slight tear to a muscle bulge. If that is the case, surgery, and recovery can be up to 10-12 weeks. Depending on when Bell decides on what path to take, that could see him resting through the beginning of May, before rehab begins.

Over the next month or so, we’ll see what the team doctors plan for Bell. If he wants to be healthy for the start of the 2017 season, one in which he will receive a large contract (either directly or via a franchise tag), Bell will need to make a decision on surgery sooner, rather than later.