Pain in Upper Thigh

Pain in upper thigh causes a lot of discomfort and make simple movements like walking and running difficult. To know more about upper thigh pain, read this article.

The upper thigh region consists of bones, muscles, tendons and other soft tissues. When there is inflammation in these tissues, then one can get pain in upper thigh. Then there are so many nerves in the area including the sensory nerve lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. In case, the inflamed tissues get pressed against these nerves in the region then also similar kind of pain can be experienced.

Pain in Upper Thigh Causes

Thigh pain is mostly triggered by repeated use of the thigh muscles during rigorous physical activities. Besides, underlying health problems as well as age related degeneration of the structural components can be responsible for this problem. Here are a few commonly found causes of pain in upper part of the thigh:

Hamstring Injury: One of the major causes behind upper thigh pain is hamstring injury and the resultant muscle pain is felt at the back side of the thigh. The hamstring muscle is a vital thigh muscle which starts from buttock and ends at the back of the knee. It is highly susceptible to various forms of injury. Even a minor deviation from normal rhythm of running can result in a pulled hamstring. It can be due to over stretching of running steps or running at high speed with small steps. Sometimes, running on a slope surface can trigger this kind of pull. As a result, stretching the legs becomes difficult. One can get severe pain in upper thigh when walking in this condition.

Groin Muscle Injury: This causes pain in upper thigh and groin area. The abductor muscle located in the inner thigh helps us to maintain the natural movements of the toes during running activities. In case, there is a foot imbalance, then the muscle tend to become taut resulting in a groin muscle pull.

Quadriceps Injury: Quadriceps is referred to a group of thigh muscles present at the front side of the thigh. They facilitate straightening of the knees. When these muscles suffered a pull, then obviously the leg movements get affected. Along with a sharp thigh pain at the upper side, a sense of numbness is often felt. In cases of severe injury, the muscle fibers may get torn causing bruisings and swelling in the area and resulting in sharp pain in the upper thigh area.

Other Causes: Apart from injury to the muscles, the nerves present in the area may also suffer damage for various reasons. Meralgia paraesthetica is one such condition involving the nerves. Here the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve which is a sensory nerve get pressed against the groin ligament. It gives a burning pain in the frontal side of the upper thigh that makes the area tender to touch. The sciatica nerve root in the spine may get compressed due to herniated disk and the pain get radiated to the buttock and upper thigh. Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis that occurs due to degeneration of cartilage caused by aging and causes chronic pain in the upper thigh joint. Deterioration of bones caused by osteoporosis can give similar kind of pain.

Pain in Upper Thigh Treatment

When you are suffering from upper thigh pain, you are being advised to keep yourself off the feet for some time to keep the thigh muscle pain in check. It should be accompanied by application of ice pack that can reduce the pain and inflammation. Ice should be applied on the injury site 4-5 times daily. Once the inflammation is brought down then heat can be given for faster healing. However, if these treatments do not show any improvement in the condition, then you must see a doctor. They conduct physical examination and laboratory tests like X-ray and CT scan and carry out the treatment accordingly. They prescribe anti-inflammatory medicines for pain relief. In severe pain in thigh region, these medicines may not work. In that case steroids and muscle relaxants are administered for pain management. As the pain subsides, gentle stretching exercises help to restore the movements of the muscles. In worst cases of upper thigh pain, surgical option may have to be availed.

Most of the causes of pain in upper thigh area can be prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It includes eating healthy foods that can keep the bone and muscles strong. You should also maintain a proper body weight to avoid any additional strain on the thigh. Regular practice of thigh exercises can help in adding strength and flexibility in the muscles and tissues in the nearby area and thus reducing the chances of any injury.