Thigh pain can be a symptom of a muscle strain, fracture, or nerve injury.
The pain, swelling, and problems walking or climbing stairs can follow trauma or a joint injury.
Thigh pain also can occur with a chronic condition such asosteoarthritis, or with a muscle infection.
Illustration by Alexandra Gordon for Verywell Health
Surgery may be needed for some causes of thigh pain.
Symptoms can vary depending on the muscles involved.
Swelling and bruising are common.
Tendon and ligament injuries can lead to thigh pain.
Injuries often occur where a muscle and tendon meet.
Joint Health
Joint pain and stiffness can affect the inner thigh.
The nerve compression leads to symptoms in the outer thigh.
Inguinal Hernia
Displaced intestines that bulge through the abdominal wall can lead to thigh pain.
Symptoms can be very similar to those triggered by a muscle strain in the groin area.
Infection
Certain infections can cause thigh pain.
They includepyomyositis, an infection common in tropical regions but occasionally seen elsewhere.
It can cause muscle damage when an abscess forms in the tissue which leads to thigh pain.
Referred Pain
In some cases, pain that you feel in the thigh may be referred pain.
This means it originates somewhere else in the body.
Fracture
If you break a femur or hip bone, thigh pain can occur.
Treatment
How your inner thigh pain is treated will depend on the underlying cause.
For a minor muscle strain from overuse or injury, it may be enough to use the R.I.C.E.
This care involves:
Along with over-the-counter pain relievers like Advil (ibuprofen), exercise may be helpful.
A physical therapist can help determine the best stretches for your thigh pain.
Heat can help relax tense muscles and increase blood flow to promote healing.
Heat can be applied for 10 minutes to 15 minutes at a time.
Pain brought on by nerve compression may require aneurologistto get an accurate diagnosis.
Summary
Any thigh injury can be especially painful and make it difficult to move about your day.
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