Inner Thigh Pain: Causes, Treatments, and Prevention Tips
If you are having inner thigh pain, it can prove to be an extremely uncomfortable time. There are many reasons someone may experience pain in the inner thighs. The pain can range from the upper inner thigh to the knee or the groin area.
Pain in the inner thighs could be a constant ache or a sharp stabbing. The pain can also come from other parts of your body all the way to your thigh.
In some cases, inner thigh pain has an underlying cause, and in other cases sometimes you just need to have enough sleep.
What Causes Inner Thigh Pain
The causes of pain in the inner thigh range from pulled muscles, all the way to pregnancy. Following are the possible reasons why your inner thigh hurts.
1. Pulled Muscle
Often people who are active, athletes, or people who lift a lot of weight on a daily basis, experience this condition.
Pulling your inner thigh muscle, also known as your adductor, can cause upper inner thigh pain especially when walking or running.
Depending on the extent of the tissue injury, you may also have lower inner thigh pain. It is mainly caused by overstretching the muscle and is called a strain. You can also get a strain by stopping or turning suddenly.
The pain ranges from mild to severe. It’s typically mild if the muscle connecting the thigh bone to the pubic bone is strained. You may experience moderate pain if there is tissue damage and bruising. If the muscles are completely ruptured, you will experience severe pain in the affected area.
If you feel mild discomfort in the inner thigh during exercise or any other activity, you will need to stop it. You can start your workout or gym once the condition is completely cured. The recovery can take four to six weeks.
2. Inguinal Hernia
An inguinal hernia develops when a part of the intestine pushes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles. Doctors from Mayo Clinic say that an inguinal hernia can cause a bulge on either side of the pubic bone.
You will experience pain in your groin area when lifting heavy items or coughing. When the bulge in your groin turns purple or red, you may experience sharp pains in the groin. It may also cause difficulty having bowel movements. You should see your doctor immediately if you notice the above symptoms.
3. Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are a buildup of minerals like calcium. Cedars-Sinai Hospital says that kidney stones make a person feel extreme pain in the genital region and the inner thigh.
The inner thigh pain comes and goes as the kidney stone moves through the urinary tract.
4. Hip Impingement
Deformity in the ball socket of the hip bone can also cause pain or stiffness in the inner thigh and groin area. This deformity is known as hip impingement or femoroacetabular (1).
Often times people can have this condition without developing any symptoms. However, the situation can turn critical over the time. It may cause a sharp pain in the inner thighs when sitting, walking, or while moving your hip.
5. Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis causes inflammation of the joints due to cartilage degeneration. It can be due to genetics, aging, accident, or disease. When you develop hip osteoarthritis, your inner thighs will hurt while walking, running, or even resting.
You may feel a sharp pain in the inner thighs by the groin. Osteoarthritis in the hip is a serious condition, and a professional medical help is advised.
6. Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is a cancerous growth that manifests in a person’s bones. It usually affects teenagers and children. Thigh, shin, and upper arm are where the growth often takes place. Bone pain is one of the symptoms, which can eventually turn into inner thigh pain.
7. Pubis Dysfunction
Pregnant women commonly experience Pubis Dysfunction or Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD). It happens when the pelvic ligament becomes too relaxed, and when the pelvic bone becomes unstable.
Intense pain in the pelvis is the main symptom of this condition. The pain can spread to other places, including your inner thighs. It can be agitated by standing, rolling, or walking.
8. Pregnancy
Inner thigh pain during pregnancy can happen due to the weight and position of the baby on the pelvic joints. According to Mayo Clinic, the pelvic pain can travel to your thighs and can be aggravated when turning over in bed or walking upstairs.
Treatment Options to Relieve Inner Thigh Pain
Inner thigh pain can’t normally be cured in a day, but there are some options you have when it comes down to it.
1. Treat Pulled Muscle
If the pain in inner thigh is due to a pulled or strain muscle, apply an ice pack to reduce pain and swelling. Apply the ice pack to the affected area only for 20 to 30 minutes at a time.
After that wrap the area with a bandage or a compression wrap. It will reduce the pain and give you the support you need by applying pressure.
Once the pain is bearable, and the swelling has gone down, you can do groin stretches. Perform them slowly and carefully, so you don’t injure yourself further. If the pain is severe, you should seek medical help.
2. Treat Hernia
Surgery is a common treatment for a hernia. Avoid lifting anything heavy or doing anything strenuous until after your surgery.
There are some natural remedies for a hernia, but their effectiveness is yet to be established. Here’s are some home remedies for a hernia (2):
Castor Seed Oil: Castor oil has been widely used for many stomach issues. Castor oil reduces inflammation and improves digestion by covering the thin linings of your stomach. Applying a castor oil pack on your belly can help lower hernia symptoms.
Aloe Vera Juice: Aloe vera is a natural soothing agent. Its anti-inflammatory properties help alleviate the hernia pain. Drink aloe vera juice every morning to reduce the chances of developing a hernia.
Ginger Root: Ginger root is known to reduce the abdominal pain and inflammation. You can eat raw ginger or drink concentrated ginger juice to reduce bloating and pain caused by a hernia.
Reduce Stress: Stress and anxiety are the leading reasons for a hernia. Excess stress weakens immunity, and metabolism and causes many other health conditions. Reducing stress can help treat a hernia. Do yoga, meditation, acupuncture, and massage, or use essential oils and aromatherapy to reduce stress.
3. Treat Kidney Stones
Kidney stones usually require immediate medical attention. Your doctor will prescribe pain medication and advise you to stay hydrated. Kidney stones typically pass on their own, but sometimes they can be large or in a difficult spot and will need help passing.
4. Treat Osteoarthritis
There isn’t a specific treatment for osteoarthritis, but the symptoms can be managed. One symptom is being overweight, and if this is the case, then it is recommended to lose weight. Low impact exercises such as yoga, swimming and walking.
5. Treat Pubis Dysfunction
The best treatment available for this is a pelvic support belt, which you can buy online. The pain can also be managed with pain medication approved by your physician.
6. Treat Osteosarcoma
Once a bone biopsy is done, and it has been confirmed, osteosarcoma can be treated with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy reduces the size, and then surgery can be performed to take out the rest.
7. Treating Inner Thigh Pain During Pregnancy
Having enough rest is the best treatment option for inner thigh pain caused by pregnancy. The less pressure you put on your pelvis, the better.
8. Treating Hip Impingement
With hip impingement, the best option is to rest and take anti-inflammatory medication prescribed by your doctor. Once you feel well enough, you can start some low impact workouts.
Home Treatments for Inner Thigh Pain
In most cases, these kind of injuries require medical attention, but sometimes there are home remedies you can try.
1. Hot Bath
Heat can help to make the swelling go down and alleviate the pain for a small amount of time. A hot bath can help you reduce the pain in inner thighs.
2. Massage
Muscles tend to get tense. Sometimes massaging the affected area with essential oils will relax it enough to start healing itself.
3. Medical Ointment
Applying a medicated cream to the area may reduce the pain. Consult with your doctor before using any over-the-counter ointments.
4. Yoga
Yoga is a low-impact exercise that can strengthen the muscles and prevent it from happening further.
5. Vitamin and Mineral Supplements
Your body needs certain vitamins and minerals, and not having enough can cause pain and discomfort. Vitamin deficiency can also weaken your immune system, causing you to pull or strain muscles. Taking natural vitamin and mineral supplements can improve your immunity.
6. Heating Pad
Using a highly hot heating pad can take down the inflammation and swelling. Apply it on the affected area for 15 to 20 minutes.
7. Elevation
Keeping the area elevated will take away some of the stress and pain. Resting will keep you from further injuring it.
8. Ice
If you use an ice pack, it’s best to use it directly after the injury. The ice will help to prevent internal bleeding and swelling. It will also contribute to speed up recovery.
9. Keep it Covered
Keeping the affected area covered can help the inner thigh pain from getting worse, although it may not be a treatment.
How to Prevent Pain in Inner Thigh
In some cases, you won’t be able to prevent inner thigh pain, like if you have a degenerative disease.
A regular workout can help to strengthen the muscles in your hip, stomach, and back. Following are some easy ways to keep your body moving without injury:
- Stretch before any physical activity. Doing this can also increase joint movement and reduce pain and stiffness.
- Gradually increase your activity instead of rushing straight into it.
- Wear proper footwear and use proper equipment, this will decrease your chances of getting hurt.
- Don’t lift heavy objects by yourself.
- Stay hydrated. Having plenty of fluids in your body will prevent stiffness and muscle pain.
Following these tips will help to keep your body in good shape and keep you from getting hurt.
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