Upper Thigh Pain

The intensity of an upper thigh pain can vary from mild to severe. Usually, when the muscles, tendons, joints or the bones present in the area around pelvis get affected, then pain is experienced in the upper part of the thigh. It may get triggered after some rigorous physical activities or because of some diseases that leads to degeneration of the bones and muscles with the increase in age.

Causes for Pain in Upper Thigh

There are several forms of upper thigh pain. In this section of the article, we have discussed all those conditions that can give pain in the upper part of the thigh and its main characteristics.

Muscle Pull in Groin
This groin pain is experienced in the inner part of the thigh. It happens when a particular muscle of the inner thigh becomes taut. This group of muscles is known as abductor muscle and it helps us in maintaining the natural motion of the toes while running. If you are running on a slippery surface, then the abductors tend to get strained in order to keep the body balanced. Any kind of foot imbalance is another reason for getting a groin pull.

Hamstring Pull
The pain due to a hamstring pull is felt at the back side of the thigh. The hamstring muscles run from the buttocks to the back of the knee joint. A hamstring pull often makes it difficult to extend the leg. In some cases, if you touch the back of the thigh, you may find that a lump has formed. Running on a sloping surface can cause pull in the hamstring muscles. Moreover, while running, if the steps are extended beyond the normal range or short strides are taken at a quicker pace, then also the hamstring muscles get injured. In short, any change in the usual rhythm of running lead to pulled hamstring.

Meralgia Paresthetica
This condition gives a burning pain in upper thigh and is not because of any muscle injury but due to some injury in the nerves. The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve that causes this problem lies in between the thigh and spinal column. Its main function is to provide senses to the thigh skin. The painful condition arises when this nerve is pressed due to any kind of swelling or injury in the thigh muscles or ligaments.

Quadriceps Pull
The quadriceps is a group of muscles located at the frontal part of the thigh. They help in extending the legs when the knees are straightened. A pull in these muscles means a sharp pain in upper thigh accompanied by numbness. This kind of pain usually affect only on one side of the thigh. When the pull is severe or tears have developed in the muscle fibers, you may notice signs of bruising or swelling in the thigh.

Other Causes
Apart from the injuries, other thigh pain causes include some health problems that occur due to aging. As we grow old, the bones, the spine, the vertebrae disks, cartilage, ligaments wear out and the body joints become weak. This leads to an inflammatory condition known as arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that affect the thighs. Sciatica is a problem that arises due to degeneration of the vertebrae disk in the lower back region. The roots of the sciatic nerves lies in the spine. If any of the damaged part of the vertebrae disk puts some extra pressure upon the sensitive sciatic nerve, then it suffers strain and a sharp pain is produced.

How to Stop Upper Thigh Pain

People with upper thigh pain are mostly advised to take complete rest for some time for the purpose of pain management. In this way, aggravation of the pain can be controlled. Application of ice is also proved to be beneficial as it brings down both pain as well as inflammation. Ice should be applied at least 5-6 times every day. Similarly, heat can also be applied on the painful thighs to get a soothing relief from the pain provided there is no swelling in them. If all these measures do not make much of a difference to the symptoms, then doctors need to be consulted. They prescribe anti-inflammatory medicines to relieve pain. In case the pain is severe, steroids and muscle relaxants are administered and they give excellent results.

Once the upper thigh pain subsides, you must do some stretching exercises involving the thigh muscles. These exercises improve blood flow in the region and ensure faster healing of the damaged tissues. Regular exercising will add strength and flexibility to the thigh muscles and the joints and thus protect them from any further injury.