You must have experienced inner thigh pain while walking or even while sleeping at night. Inner or outer thigh pain can occur due to various reasons. Read on to know important facts about pain in the inner side of the thigh which may eventually radiate towards the knee or the groin....

Thigh pain is common after exercise or excessive physical exertion. Sometimes, even without any physical exertion, one may experience pain in thighs. It can be due to compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, one of the largest sensory nerves running through legs. The function of the nerves running throughout the body is to establish good communication between the organs and the brain. Nerves pass through all joints, bones, muscles, tissues etc. In certain situations, a nerve gets squeezed, leading to pain and discomfort. Certain diseases, injuries or muscle strains can result in thigh pain, which in turn might affect the nervous system and circulatory system inside the leg.

Causes of Inner Thigh Pain

• Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis weakens the hip and leg joints.
• Surgery: Hip replacement or knee replacement surgery may create excessive stress on thigh muscles.
• Swelling: Swelling across thighs due to extra stress (excessive running, standing, etc.) can result in inner and/or outer thigh pain.
• Pubis Dysfunction: Pubis dysfunction is one of the important causes of pain in thighs, often experienced towards inner side.
• Groin Pain: Groin pain can spread towards inner portion of the thighs.
• Osteosarcoma: Osteosarcoma is the cancer which affects pelvis, femur and tibia, bones of the legs, resulting in pain.
• Septic Arthritis: Septic or infectious arthritis can be the cause of thigh pain.
• Sciatica: The irritation of sciatic nerve can lead to sharp pain in your thigh.
• Lipoma: Lipomas, which are very small in size, occur in upper thighs and can lead to pain.
• Hernia: Sports hernia can be the cause of inner and/or outer thigh pain.
• Pregnancy: Pregnant women often experience leg pain (thighs, calves, feet) due to the increasing pressure of the growing uterus. Like structural changes, hormonal changes are also responsible for frequent thigh pain experienced during pregnancy.
• Edema: Swelling due to excessive accumulation of watery fluid in cells, tissues, or serous cavities in the inner thigh region can lead to pain.
• Groin Pull: Thigh pain can be experienced due to groin pain from a groin pull. An injury to the muscles of the inner thigh can result in torn muscle fibers, leading to pain.
• Hamstring Strain: If the hamstring tendons, located at the back of the knee get pulled, torn or injured and if over-stretching of these tendons occurs, then it can be a cause of sharp thigh pain, experienced towards inner side.
• Muscle Pull: The fan-like muscles in the upper thigh, that pull the legs together as they contract, are called adductors. They are responsible for stabilizing the hip-joint. A muscle pull in the thigh region may lead to muscle pain.

Symptoms

Pain and swelling in the inner thigh region are the common symptoms of thigh pain. One may experience stiffness of thigh muscles and may suffer from restricted movement of the leg. Some may experience pain as the burning sensation in the particular region of the thigh. The pain may get transferred to the nearby areas (groin, knee) or even to the entire leg. The pain can be intermittent or constant.

Treatment

Proper warm up exercises, thigh and butt exercises and regular inner thigh exercises can help relieve the thigh pain. Lack of exercise (sedentary lifestyle) results in weak muscles. Swimming, walking, fat burning workouts, lunges, squeezing of exercise balls using pressure of the inner thighs, etc. are some of the best exercises for inner thighs. Running, cycling and jogging are common but good exercises for thighs. Wearing of proper shoes while running or exercising is necessary to avoid thigh or leg pain. Doctors can prescribe pain killers according to the situation, but if the cause and symptoms of thigh pain are not serious, then hamstring strengthening exercises might provide the required relief to the inner portion of the thighs. Steam bath helps relieve the pain to some extent. Massage with oils like mustard or olive oil work great for inner thigh pain. You can apply an ointment on the inner region of the thigh. Try to keep the thigh covered with warm clothes; if you are experiencing thigh pain constantly. This will help prevent worsening of the situation. And if there is constant pain in spite of proper precautions or remedies, then you should consult your physician.

Yoga exercises can help you enjoy perfect fitness. They can help strengthen the muscles. After detecting the exact cause of inner thigh pain, the doctor can design the correct treatment.