Muscle strain, injury and certain diseases affecting the nervous and circulatory system in the thighs cause mild to severe thigh pain and numbness. Timely diagnosis and treatments will help in avoiding serious consequences.

Thigh pain with numbness is quite annoying and uncomfortable. There can be a number of causes behind the pain and numbness. Effective medical treatments, ranging from pain management to surgery are readily available. However, there are certain things that, when done on regular basis, can at least minimize the thigh pain, if not completely relieve it.

Causes of Thigh Pain and Numbness
Following are some of the possible causes which may induce pain in thigh with numbness or tingling sensation.

☛ Neuropathy: This condition is caused due to the nerve damage which can be a result of metabolic problems, injuries, exposure to toxins, diabetes, etc. It is better to consult an expert as this may result in severe consequences.

☛ Pinched Nerve: This is caused due to the excess pressure applied to the nerve by surrounding parts or tissues like bones, muscles, cartilage, etc. This may cause sharp pain in that particular part. Normally it can be recovered by some strengthening exercises and proper rest. But in severe cases surgery may be required.

☛ Bulging or Herniated Disc: Disk is a rubbery cushion which is present in between the bones and behaves as a shock absorber. These disk have a very soft jelly like substance in the center. Sometimes due to various reasons this jelly like substance is pushed out of the disk creating a bulge. This may result in severe pain and numbness in the thigh, hand and lower back.

☛ Meralgia Paresthetica: The condition of entrapment or squeezing of the nerve that brings information from the thigh to the brain or vice versa is known as meralgia paresthetica. Many factors can give rise to this disorder. The most common among them are swelling, trauma and an increased pressure in the groin caused by enlarged belly, pregnancy and obesity. The symptoms of meralgia paresthetica include burning sensation, sensitivity to touch, thigh pain at night and numbness.

☛ Myositis Ossificans: Sometimes, a severe injury or a fracture causes the deposition of calcium, which in some cases do not get absorbed and lead to over growth of the bone. This causes a lot of discomfort and can be removed only surgically. Recurrences of myositis ossificans often causes mild to severe thigh pain and numbness.

☛ Deep Vein Thrombosis: The condition of deep vein thrombosis is described as the formation of blood clot, called thrombus, in a deep vein. It may occur in any of the deep veins present in thighs and legs. This leads to thigh pain and is certainly a cause of great concern. Immediate medical attention is often required.

☛ Hamstring Strain: Hamstring is one of the tendons at the back of the knee. It is of three types. These are semitendinosus, semimembranosus and biceps femoris. They are collectively known as hamstring muscle group. A pull, tear, injury and inadequate or over-stretching in one or more of these tendons can produce strain which further results in sharp thigh pain, especially at the back side. With the agreement of an orthopedic, you can take help of hamstring strengthening exercises to relieve such disorders of thighs.

☛ Groin Pull: An injury to the muscle of the inner thigh is called groin pull. In majority of the cases, only a few muscle fibers are torn while bulk of the muscle tissues remain intact. Groin pull can cause mild to very sharp thigh pain. Depending upon the severity of the injury and the intensity of pain felt, it is categorized as Grade I, II and III. This is a common cause of lateral thigh pain.

☛ Sciatica: Sciatica is the result of irritation of sciatic nerve. The common causes of irritation of sciatic nerve include pressing of the nerve by a herniated disc and inflammation of sciatic nerve. The pain is originally felt in the lower back. It further radiates down to the thighs and knees. Medical treatment includes avoiding the movements that can further irritate the nerve, physical therapy, medications and surgery, if required.

☛ Charley Horse: Charley horse is described as a cramp in the leg muscle, most often caused by strain or injury. It lasts for a few seconds. However, there are cases reported of experiencing it for about 30-45 minutes. This is another very common cause of thigh pain.

Treatments
Treatment depends upon the cause behind thigh pain. Restoring the proper blood flow and repairing wear and tear of muscle tissues and nerves, treat the pain in the thighs quite effectively. This can be done with the help of various medications which may either help in the pain management or will help in curing the root cause. Treatments for thigh pain may include ultrasound, lumbar traction, chiropractic treatment, heat or ice therapy, Graston therapy, etc. In severe cases, surgery may be required. Apart from these treatments, physiotherapy and strengthening exercises are also recommended.

Home Remedies
Following are some of the simple home remedies which are safe and very helpful.

• Regular massaging will help a lot in preventing recurrences of thigh pain. Use warm mustard or olive oil for massaging. For best possible results, massage before going to bed.
• Keep the thighs warm by placing hot water bag on your thighs for a period of 10-15 minutes daily. This will provide great comfort from thigh pain over time.
• Follow a healthy diet. Keep your diet low in starch. Increase the intake of vitamins and minerals.
• If you smoke, quit smoking as it restricts proper flow of blood in your body.
• For fast relief, keep the area of pain wrapped with flannel.
• Perform inner thigh and butt exercises to ease the symptoms.

Though, the above mentioned home remedies for thigh pain and numbness are very effective and comforting yet you should seek medical attention for the correct diagnosis and timely treatment. If left untreated or delayed, it may result in permanent damage.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.