Do you experience pain in your inner thigh? It could occur when sitting, walking, running or during pregnancy. It could also indicate sign of labor. The pain can be felt in upper inner thigh and spread near the groin. What are the causes of pain in your inner thigh? Discover the causes, treatment and relief in the post below.
Inner thigh pain near groin
Inner thigh pain near groin is in most cases likely to be a sign of a groin strain. A grain strain is simply an injury or a trauma that occurs in the groin area. Your groin is the area of the body where the abdomen meet the legs. It is also the area where your inner thighs muscles attach to the pubic bone.
According to the American physical therapy association, a groin strain typically occurs in the muscles of the upper inner thigh near the pubic bone, or in front of the hip.
Groin strain causing inner thigh pain are common in athletes, it can also occur in non-athletes. The common trigger includes jumping, running or sudden change of direction while walking.
For inner thigh pain near the groin, physical therapists may treat the groin strain by reducing pain and help those affected to improve muscle strengthen and leg motion. This is need to increase the speed of recovery of the strain.
Other possible signs and symptoms of a groin strain can include the following:
- Muscles spasm in the groin area
- Swelling
- Bruising near and around the groin
- Tightness and weakness in the groin area
- Limping in severe cases
Inner thigh pain during pregnancy
Stiffness in the pelvic joint, caused by weight and position of the baby is a major cause of inner thigh pain during pregnancy. Such pains can make it difficult to get around or perform simple activities like walking, lifting things or simply sitting or standing comfortably.
According to the national health services, inner thigh pain caused by pelvic stiffens radiating to the thighs may be worse when walking upstairs, standing or sitting for long or even moving over the bed.
Regardless of what is causing the inner thigh pain during pregnancy, there are some exercise that can help strengthen the pelvic floor and abdomen area. This will help relieve the pain and making ease to move about with your daily activities during your pregnancy. To do this, doctor and physical therapist recommends:
- Kegel exercises, here the levator muscles are squeezed and held for 5 seconds, then released for 5 seconds repeatedly for some minutes. This exercise is used to treat urinary incontinence and to recover or prepare for childbirth.
- Pelvic support belts, this is prescribed to improve your movement control.
Upper inner thigh pain during pregnancy
Upper inner thigh pain during pregnancy can also be caused a groin strain. As mentioned, a groin strain is an injury to the groin area. During pregnancy, a groin strain can be caused by overstretching or tearing injury to the muscles of the inner thigh.
A lot of changes takes place during pregnancy, as the baby continues to grow, more pressure is exerted on your thighs and legs. An upper inner thigh pain caused by a groin strain can make walking or mothing your leg very painful. The strain can also be as a result of muscles over use or sudden contraction of the muscles.
Inner thigh pain pregnancy third trimester
The third trimester is the stage between the 28th week and 40 weeks of pregnancy. The duration of the pregnancy may vary for different women, so the third trimester lasts until you give birth.
A lot of changes have by now taken place. During this period of your pregnancy, inner thigh pain and groin pain are likely to be a symptom of Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD). Sometimes called pregnancy related pelvic girdle pain (PPGP), it refers to a collection of uncomfortable symptoms caused by a stiffness o your pelvic joint
This condition is not harmful to your baby but causes severe pain around your pelvic area making it difficult to get around. According to the NHS, different women will have different symptoms, the symptoms can also be worse in some than inn others.
Inner thigh pain labor
Labor is the period from the start of the uterine contractions to delivery. Not every woman displays the same signs of oncoming labor. The process can, however, be painful and full of discomforts.
An inner thigh pain during this period can also be caused by an entrapment of your inguinal nerves. This can cause groin or hip pain. A common cause of the entrapment will include muscles tightness, tumor or a hip or back surgery. The condition can be difficult to diagnose but typically occurs with an injury to your hip, lower back or groin.
Inner thigh pain labor sign
Apart from the inner thigh pain, other labor signs will include the following:
- Contractions occur at regular intervals
- The time between contraction become shorter
- Your vagina may discharge blood
- Discomfort increases, causing difficulties in walking, talking or even just sitting
- Increase rectal pressure and urge to have a bowel movement
- Contraction become stronger when walking and do not subside
What causes inner thigh pain?
Inner thigh pain is not only a common symptom during pregnancy, it can occur to anyone at any time. I most cases such pains are caused by minor tissue injury or a compression of nerve around your groin or inner thighs.
Some of the common cause of thigh pain will include:
1. Groin strain
A groin strain or pull is a common cause of pain in your groin. This is the area where the inner, upper thigh and lower abdomen meet. It is common in both males and females. A groin strain is often used to describe a tear or rupture to any one of the adductor muscles resulting to pain in the inner thigh. The strain can be on a muscle, tendon or ligament.
Groin pain is common in athletes and occur immediately after an injury. In some athletes, the pain may come gradually over a period of weeks or even months depending on how fit the athlete is. A RICE therapy is recommended in cause of an injury causing a groin strain, the pan may worsened by continued use of the injured area.
2. Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is said to be the most common form of arthritis. This condition occur when the protective cartilage on the end of your bones wears down. It is a type of joint disease that result from breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone.
Though the condition can affect any joint in the body, it commonly affects joints in your knee, hips, hands, and spine. According to mayo clinic, the symptoms of this condition can be managed but the underlying process cannot be reversed.
To slow the progression of the disease, doctors recommend:
- Treatment to slow the progression and manage the pain
- Staying active
- Maintaining a healthy weight
3. Inguinal hernia
Inner thigh pain can also be symptoms of an inguinal hernia. This condition occurs when tissues such as part of the intestine protrude through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles. This can make it very painful to cough, bend or lift heavy objects.
The condition is not harmful, in most cases it will improve without treatment whereas in other cases, it can lead to life threatening complication. During pregnancy, your doctor is like to suggest a surgical procedure to correct painful, enlarged inguinal hernia.
4. Kidney stones
In some cases, kidney stones can be the underlying cause of the pain in thighs. Kidney stones are hard, pebble like that form in one or both of your kidneys. The stones are formed when high level of certain minerals are in your urine.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, kidney stones rarely causes any permanent damage if treated properly at early stage. The condition also causes no symptoms until the stones moves around your kidney or pass into your ureter. In such cases, symptoms will include:
- Pain that radiate to the lower abdomen and groin
- Pain in side and back
- Pain on urinating
- Cloudy, foul smelling urine
- Persistent need to urinate
- Urinating small amounts
Treatment for this condition will include resting the affected area, using anti-inflammatory and pain medication or modifying your activities to avoid moving the joint.
5. Hip impingement
Hip impingement is said to be a common cause of Osteoarthritis in people below 40 years. You hip is the point where your thigh bone meets your pelvis. This point form what we call a ball and socket joint. Hip impingement occur when a problem interferes with the smooth motion of this joint.
The condition I not painful in early stage, for that reason, you may have the condition and not know about. At later stage symptoms may include:
- Stiffness in the groin
- Stiffness in front of the thigh
- Loss of hip full range of motion
- Pain when walking or when flat on ground
Inner thigh pain after running
Inner thigh pain after running can be caused by poor flexibility and failing to warm up before a physical activity like running. Such pain can also be felt after using a treadmill. According to the sports injury clinic, a tear in the adductor longus muscle, (also called the groin pull) can cause pain in the upper thighs after using a treadmill.
If you develop a muscle tear while running which causes the inner thigh pain, you can relieve the pain by performing a RICE therapy. If the running caused a severe to moderate muscles tear or strain, a physical therapist may recommend a massage therapy, physical therapy or a surgical procedure to repair the muscles.
Inner thigh pain when walking
Muscles cramps and pain are common post excise injury that can after anyone. In most cases, inner thigh pain when walking either on and or on a treadmill required no medical attention. Most of such pains can be treated with simple remedies such as RICE therapy.
Muscles cramps when walking will often result from prolonged workouts, dehydration, and fatigue. The inner thigh pain can also be a sign of underlying conditions such as compressed nerve, diabetes or arteriosclerosis.
If you suddenly develop inner thigh pain when walking, gently stretch the muscles of the groin area to reduce the inner thigh pain. If the pain intensifies with walking, sports injury clinic recommends walking with crutches until the pain clears.
Sharp pain in inner thigh when sitting
Sharp pain in inner thigh when sitting can be a symptoms of hip osteoarthritis. This condition refers to the wearing or degeneration of the cartilage in your hip. The degeneration can cause pain to your hip, groin and other symptoms such as:
- Hip joint stiffness
- Cracking or popping
- Atrophy or muscle loss
The inner thigh pain may intensify with activities such as walking. If not treated, this condition could lead to complication such as bony projection, or bone spur which could make the pain unbearable.
Inner thigh pain blood clot
A blood clot causing in thigh pain is a sign of deep vein thrombosis. DVT occur when a blood clot forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body. This abnormal clotting of blood is common on legs but can occur on any part of the body.
In some people, no symptoms are shown, in others symptoms may include leg pain and swelling. The condition is common in people with medical conditions that affect the way blood clots. The condition is very serious as the clot may break loose, travel through your bloodstream and lodge in your lung. Urgent treatment is required is this is the cause of the inner thigh pain.
Inner thigh joint pain
Hip impingement is the most likely cause of inner thigh joint pain. A hip impingent syndrome or femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) affect the hip joint of both young and old adults. It occurs when the ball shaped femoral head rubs abnormally or hinders a normal range of motion in the acetabular socket.
Your hip joins, a point when the thigh bone joins the pelvis forms what is called a ball and socket joint. Any problem that interferes with the normal motion of this joint can cause hip impingement which can cause pain in thigh and limit your range of motion.
Inner thigh pain relief
Inner thigh pain relief will often vary depending on what the cause of the pain is. If you’re upper or lower inner thigh pain is caused by a groin strain or pulled muscles, you can use the RICE therapy to offer relief for the pain.
This is what the therapy entails:
- REST, for groin strain and muscles tear, you will need to rest the affect leg or thigh, this will help prevent swelling and further damage to the tissue. if you have to walk, you can use crutches to keep your weight off the injured thigh
- ICE, a simple ice or cold compress immediately after a muscle tear or damage can help stop internal bleeding and swelling. This can also help accelerate the healing of inner thigh pain.
- COMPRESSION to the affected thigh can help prevent swelling and also reduce the pain. use an elastic bag to cover the affect thigh
- ELEVATION, keeping the affected leg can help prevent swelling and further damage to the muscles.
Inner thigh pain treatment
Inner thigh pain can make it hard to perform daily activities such as walking. Proper treatment may be required to try and easy the pain. There are some remedies and exercises you can do to relieve the pain and make it easier for you to carry out your activities.
To treat inner thigh pain, you need to do the following:
- Rest the area, avoid walking or doing activities that might increase the pain
- Applying a cold compress can also help soothe inner thigh pains especially during pregnancy
- A medical therapist can perform other treatment procedures such as taping, massage, or an ultrasound to relive the pain
- When treating the pain, you therapist will often teach you appropriate exercises to steadily restore your strength and agility.
- In most case, the therapist will often recommend simple home exercise that can help strengthen and stretch the muscles around your hip, upper leg, and abdomen. When the exercises are done properly, they can help prevent future reinjury of your groin especially in cases of a groin strain.
- In severe case of groin strain, a surgical procedure may be required to especially when the muscles have fully teared.
References:
- Physical therapist guide to groin strain: http://www.moveforwardpt.com/SymptomsConditionsDetail.aspx?cid=a718efd4-8b6c-4b7b-af9c-adeb8a5e7745
- Causes and treatment of inner thigh pain: http://www.healthyandnaturalworld.com/inner-thigh-pain/
- Upper thigh pain after walking on a treadmill: http://www.livestrong.com/article/394413-pain-in-the-upper-inner-thigh-after-walking-on-a-treadmill/
- What causes groin pain: http://www.healthline.com/symptom/groin-pain
- Groin and hip pain upon standing and walking: http://www.livestrong.com/article/495307-groin-hip-pain-upon-standing-walking/