Pain in the inner thigh region can range from general ache or excruciating pain. It is quite common for many people to stay awake since the inner thigh pain largely hits during night. Several factors like over-stretching of muscles, hernia, osteoArthritis or Kidney Stones can cause inner thigh pain. Doing rigorous exercise suddenly can trigger intense thigh pain.
Inner thigh pain can sometime affect the groin area also. Groin is the region where the abdomen joins with the thigh. Several muscles and tissues are involved in this region and any muscle injury or tear in the adductor muscles can cause severe pain in the inner thigh and groin. Groin area contains 3 sets of adductor muscles which start in the groin and runs through the inner thigh and ending with the knee portion. Any strain or stretching of muscles in the inner thigh region can cause groin pain.
Ligament strain or tendon injury is common in sports persons whose daily activity involves playing hockey or soccer. Pain can occur immediately after it is injured or sometimes it develops gradually after few days. Testicle pain and problem and swollen testicles can also cause inner thigh pain in men.
Symptoms :
- Pain can range from mild to severe in the inner thigh region.
- For some people, excruciating pain can be felt in the inner thigh due to pulling of adductor muscles.
Causes Of Inner Thigh Pain :
1. Stretching – Muscles in our body are adaptable to certain extent of stretching and compressing. It causes a tear or injury when the muscles are overly stretched. Severe strain is caused to the adductor muscles of the groin by doing vigorous exercise suddenly. It is good to practice warm-ups before starting major workouts like running or cycling to prepare the muscles.
2. Fall – Accidental fall from a bike can cause serious injury on the inner thigh muscles. Sometimes, the entire weight of the motorbike rests on the thigh region leading to intense pressure and inflammation of the muscles. Muscle fibers get torn badly and it might take several weeks or months to get repaired fully.
3. Muscle Strain – Inner thigh pain can be caused when the adductor muscles are strained badly. Such kind of pain can restrict your mobility largely and is common in sports personalities. Stopping suddenly while running can trigger muscle strain. Muscle strain can occur due to over-exercising. The rate of injury and strain can range from mild to severe. Muscles that connect the pubic bone with the thigh bone get strained while doing workouts and until the person gets used to it this can cause significant pain. Individual who have recently joined gym can experience inner thigh pain.
4. Groin Hernia – Inguinal Hernia is a kind of common hernia that occurs in the groin region which can cause significant pain in the inner thigh. Developing a bulge in the groin region is a clear symptom of groin hernia. Abnormal bulging of inner thigh region can be due to hernia. Hernia can be caused by many factors including substantial lifting of weight, Obesity and excessive coughing.
5. Kidney Stones – Inner thigh pain can occur if there are stones in the Kidneys. Not all the inner thigh pain is due to kidney stones. Often the pain is localized or restricted to particular area of the thigh or groin. Hard crystals get accumulate in the urine forming a stone which restricts the path of urine. Such kind of pain would occur as spasms at regular intervals. Other signs of kidney stones are pain while urinating and pink/brown colored urine. Pain strikes in waves fluctuating in intensity. Urine analysis can help you to detect kidney stones.
6. Osteoarthritis – Due to aging and continuous usage cartilage of the joints degenerate causing osteoarthritis or swelling of joints. For some people autoimmune disorder can damage the joints and this condition can cause inner thigh pain. In most of the cases knee joints are affected.
7. Pregnancy – In the final trimester of pregnancy the pelvic region prepares itself for delivering the baby causing expansion of pelvic bone. The ligaments in the pelvic bone become relaxed and unstable causing pain in this region which can gradually spread to inner thigh region.
Inner thigh pain can occur due to other causes like sarcoma, Lipoma and other types of Cancer.
Treatment :
Treatment is based on the root cause of the pain. Unless there is any medical condition causing the pain, you can manage the pain by resting and other gentle exercises. Pain arising due to overstretching of muscles can be avoided. Resting is ideal for any road to recovery. Do not involve in any physical activity that intensifies the pain in the inner thigh.
- Resting – Inner thigh pain caused by accidental fall or trauma can be managed at home for mild cases. Restrict any kind of activity for few days which allows the torn tissues to heal automatically. Keep the legs in elevated position.
- Warm or Cold Compression – Applying hot water bag or ice cubes can help in reducing inflammation. People who have arthritis related pain can wear compression bandage to facilitate normal blood flow and to reduce swelling.
- Stretching Exercise – Consult your GP before starting any exercise on your own. Check with your therapist about the ways in which you can move your legs to heal the stretched muscles. Always perform these exercises slowly and carefully.
- Gentle Massaging – You can apply olive oil or mustard oil on the thigh region and gently massage it. You can do this 2-3 times a day to quicken the healing process and get relief from pain.
- Vitamin Supplements – Take vitamin supplements like calcium or magnesium daily which would help in reducing the pain. Sports persons should do warm-up exercises before starting any rigorous exercise.
Medical Treatment :
For managing moderate pain on inner thigh region, OTC medications like Ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be effective. Wearing supportive bandages can help in reducing swelling. For inguinal hernia surgery is the best option. Follow the instructions of your doctor until and after surgery.
For inner thigh pain caused by kidney stones several options are available. Shock wave therapy is given to break the kidney stones which will eventually pass through urine. Oral pills are given to control inner thigh pain.
Osteoarthritis or arthritis of any type has no treatment. Alternative treatments like Ayurveda can bring some relief. Mild exercises like yoga or walking can be practiced daily after consulting your GP. In severe cases of joint swelling steroid injection is directly given on the joints regularly.
