Learn about possible causes and how to get. In some cases, physical therapy, prescription medications, and surgery may be required. This firm, flexible tissue wraps around the ball of the ball-and-socket hip joint. This can help prevent groin pain caused by conditions unrelated to the hip, such as sexually transmitted diseases. people may also feel a catching and popping sensation in the hip. Treatment depends on the cause. Testicular cancer: Most of the time, this cancer causes a painless lump in or on your testicle. The takeaway. Reviewing groin pain symptomsincluding their location, severity, onset, and frequencycan help pinpoint the underlying cause. DOI: 10.1259/bjrcr.20150517; Grant T, et al. In addition to pain, kidney stones can cause other symptoms, including: The hip joint is located between the top of the thigh bone and the pelvis. Increased sensitivity and pain to even a light touch. This article lists 18 possible causes of groin pain in adults, including how they are diagnosed, treated, and prevented. It can be difficult to diagnose. Some preventive measures for females upper thigh and groin area treatment include healthy weight maintenance, wearing properly-fitted footwear, and performing regular exercises. In this process, the doctor takes your blood sample, isolates platelets, and reinjects them into your upper thigh and groin area. A complication of diabetes, diabetic neuropathy occurs as a result of uncontrolled high blood sugar levels. Hip Fractures. But it's important to see your healthcare provider to know for sure. If you need help finding a primary care doctor, you can browse doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool. Overuse through training for sports is a common cause, especially if there is a misalignment in the knee joint or a previous knee injury. A pain in your left arm could. All rights reserved. Thigh pain can cause you to have difficulty walking, running, or climbing stairs. (2017, March 22), Villa-Forte, A. Hip fracture pain is often felt in the groin. This procedure is done by a skilled physician such as an orthopedic surgeon, a healthcare provider who specializes in treating disorders of the bones and muscles. Various types of arthritis can cause pain throughout the body, including in the thighs. They are part of your body's natural defense against disease. Arthritis Rheumatol. These may be used for conditions like: An injection of a steroid like Cortone (cortisone acetate) may help some conditions. If bacteria is the cause of either condition, an antibiotic can clear it up. If the pain goes away temporarily, then the source of the pain is probably where the anesthetic was injected. You may also have fever, swelling, warmth, and redness around the hip. Some causes of groin pain can be prevented. A groin strain is an injury to the muscles and tendons in the groin area, which can cause pain and tenderness. A groin strain causes sharp pain or spasms in the groin area or lower abdominal region. If the doctor finds no obvious cause, diagnostic tests may include: Treatment for upper thigh pain depends on its cause. Commonly prescribed NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, among others. Some risk factors include: No single test can diagnose the cause of upper thigh pain. In most cases, you can relieve meralgia paresthetica with conservative measures, such as wearing looser clothing. Groin pain might be worsened by continued use of the injured area. The pain may happen right away, or it could build over time. Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help you feel better, too. Injuries in other areas of the body can cause pain to spread to the upper thighs. Epididymitis: This is swelling in the tube where sperm is stored -- the epididymis. 2015;5(3):214-22. doi:10.11138/mltj/2015.5.3.214. Most groin strains are caused by a failure to warm up before exercise or overuse of the muscle due to repetition or overly vigorous activity. Wear shoes that are comfortable with good support. There is a problem with Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. Meralgia paresthetica (lateral femoral cutaneous nerve entrapment). There may also be a popping sensation. You may feel this pain during ovulation and menstruation, lasting the entire cycle. Opioid-based analgesics, including Tramadol and Oxycodone, are widely used in chronic or severe pain cases. Symptoms include: Treatment for DVT ranges from lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, to prescription blood thinners, the use compression stockings, and surgery in some cases. Enoxaparin Sodium Injection, USP, has been recalled due to a packaging error in which the labels dont accurately list the correct dose. Groin pain also can vary in how it is experienced. Physical therapy includes exercises to help strengthen your leg and hip muscles. These are very rare, however. An MRI can also be used to look for nerve problems. While muscle strains can happen in any part of the body, theyre common in the hamstring and may cause thigh pain. It can take visits to several specialists to work out the cause of the pain. If the stone is really big, you may need surgery. Over-the-counter pain medications like Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Advil (ibuprofen) can be helpful for some conditions. It couldnt be more simple: take your index finger and apply pressure around the crown of your pubic bone (the scientific term for this is the Pubic Ramus). The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve only affects sensation and doesn't affect your ability to use your leg muscles. Sitting for long periods can put pressure on the joints and muscles, particularly of the hips and legs. An inguinal hernia can also cause groin pain. Some common muscle injuries in this area include: Sprains and strains can affect any of the many muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the thigh. Hip pain on the outside of your hip, upper thigh or outer buttock is usually caused by problems with muscles, ligaments, tendons and other soft tissues that surround your hip joint. Common causes of meralgia paresthetica include: tight clothing. Pun S, Kumar D, Lane NE. Sometimes there is a visible bulge in the groin, but it's possible to have an inguinal hernia that causes no symptoms at all. Meanwhile, when they extract highly-concentrated cells from your. In this process, the doctor takes your blood sample, isolates platelets, and reinjects them into your upper thigh and groin area. It is significantly worsened when you try to flex or rotate the hip. It can typically be treated at home with some simple strategies such as ice, heat, activity moderation, and over-the-counter medication. In most cases, thigh pain can be treated with home remedies such as: However, if those measures dont provide relief after several days or if more serious symptoms accompany the pain, you should seek medical treatment. This can cause pain in the thighs and legs. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. A strangulated hernia is a life-threatening emergency. People who take long flights, are sedentary for extended periods, have poor circulation, smoke, have cardiovascular disease, or are pregnant or overweight are at a heightened risk of developing DVT. Harvard Health Publishing. This type of pain is called referred pain. Ultrasounds and CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis can also diagnose intestinal problems or other conditions of the abdomen and pelvis. joint wears down, it can cause severe joint pain, bone marrow, the process is called Bone Marrow Concentrate. They can also wrap your groin area, either with compression clothing or with athletic tape, to help ease swelling. information highlighted below and resubmit the form. In this article, we look at the potential causes of pain in the groin and down the leg and their treatment options. Sports Health. If its found early, its almost always treated and cured. You can expect a groin strain to take from three to six weeks to heal, depending on the severity. Warm up your legs and groin muscles before any physical activity. Learn more here. However, in severe conditions, surgery may be your last resort. Poor Mobility Decreased range of motion and mobility in muscles and joints over time can cause discomfort and pain. The most common is strain and pressure, but several underlying health issues can also be the culprit. This can lead to limping and groin pain. The Pubic Ramus is located at the crown of your pubic bone and hip region. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. The groin is also called the inguinal area and includes your upper inner thigh, as well as the front area where your legs attach to your torso. Common PID symptoms include fever, chills, abdominal pain, unusual vaginal discharge, pain during sex, bleeding between periods, and urinary problems. Rarely, pain in the upper thigh can be due to a blood clot in a blood vessel. The condition causes varying levels of pain, which youre more likely to feel in the pelvic region or throughout the whole body. You may feel aching, burning, or stinging pain in your upper thigh and groin area and discomfort when performing activities such as walking, running, or even sitting. A popping noise may be heard during movement. For injuries, rest and ice can be helpful. Numbness and tingling in the groin area may also happen. But if it does, they can include: Stavrakis AI, Khoshbin A, Joseph A, Lee LY, Bostrom MP, Westrich GH, et al. Very rarely, a tumor in a muscle or bone may cause groin pain. Waltham, Mass: Martin RR, Martin HD, Kivlan BR. Gregg, G. (1974, August 1). Accessed Dec. 17, 2021. Discomfort in your upper thigh, such as aching, burning, or pain, can be a common experience. It usually begins in the uterus and may spread to the ovaries and fallopian tubes. There are ways that you can help prevent groin pulls that result from strains: Ask your doctor about other things you can do to make groin pulls less likely. The pain of osteoarthritis is often concentrated in the hip and knee joints but may radiate down or up. Groin pain can also be related to pregnancy. These include: A pinched nerve in the lower spine may cause groin pain. But in meralgia paresthetica, the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve becomes trapped often under the inguinal ligament, which runs along your groin from your abdomen to your upper thigh. Can diet help improve depression symptoms? Pain on the inside of the hip or groin area is usually due to problems within the hip joint. If leg pain is severe, appears out of nowhere, or does not improve in a few days, a person should see a doctor. The main sign of an overuse injury is pain following exercise or intense physical activity. Pain on the inside of the hip or groin area is usually due to problems within the hip joint. As your hip, Osteoarthritis can also lead to stiffness, a decreased range of motion, and a change in your regular walking style. The most common cause of groin pain is a strain of the muscles, ligaments, or tendons in the groin area. Groin pain in women: use of sonography to detect occult . If you have hip osteoarthritis, you may need long-term physical therapy. With persistent treatment, however, most people can recover from upper thigh pain. Groin pain can seem worse when sitting because the position causes the hip to flex. Osteoarthritis can also lead to stiffness, a decreased range of motion, and a change in your regular walking style. If you do not feel a very sharp pain in that area, it is likely that you have only a strain that is fully treatable with a 10-week rehab program built around restoring strength, flexibility, and mobility to your core. Sciatica is caused by compression of the sciatic nerve, which can cause pain in the upper thigh and groin area. 2015;67(1):17-27. doi:10.1002/art.38887, Moya-angeler J, Gianakos AL, Villa JC, Ni A, Lane JM. The groin is the area between the abdomen and thigh. Pain Practice. The best treatment for pain in the upper thigh and groin area may vary in every female, depending on its cause. , is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in all conditions involving the foot and ankle region. Meralgia parestheticaa common cause of thigh pain. You may see a bulge in your groin or scrotum. It usually begins in the uterus and may spread to the ovaries and fallopian tubes. We also take a look at the steps that can be taken to reduce, treat, and prevent this pain. Meralgia paresthetica may cause these symptoms affecting the outer (lateral) part of your thigh: Tingling and numbness. These can include: It may also be caused by something benign like kidney stones or a UTI. Typically, strains can be treated . These blood clots can break loose and cause an embolism, which is when an artery becomes blocked. Symptoms and Causes Diagnosis and Tests Management and Treatment Prevention He served as assistant team physician to Chivas USA (Major League Soccer) and the United States men's and women's national soccer teams. Calf muscle pain is often caused by overuse or a sports injury. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. You can: In some cases of groin pain due to strain, if other treatments don't work, you may need surgery to feel better. Patjin J, et al. Learn about symptoms and treatment. Peripheral neuropathy fact sheet. Scientists use genetic rewiring to increase lifespan of cells, sudden pain following a fall, an intense workout, or an overstretched joint, difficulty stretching or moving the thigh, unexplained pain in a leg that does not get better after a few days, swelling, redness, or heat along a leg vein, shortness of breath when a clot breaks loose and moves to the heart and then to the lungs (pulmonary embolus), chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes and, a history of injuries to the legs or hips, blood tests to assess for medical conditions such as, joint aspiration, a procedure that involves removing fluid from a joint to check for certain joint problems, nerve tests, such as nerve conduction studies and electromyography, pain relief medication for unexplained chronic pain, medication for chronic conditions, such as fibromyalgia and arthritis, surgery to repair damaged or trapped nerves, surgery to repair damaged muscles, tendons, or ligaments, diabetes medications to prevent further nerve damage, blood thinners if there is a blood clot in the leg, alternative treatments, such as massage therapy, chiropractic, and, taking frequent stretching breaks during extended periods of sitting, working with a personal trainer to determine a healthful level of activity that will not lead to overuse injuries, managing and treating medical conditions, such as diabetes and arthritis. She is based in northern Virginia. Learn about the most common causes and their treatments here. Osteoarthritis of the hip is a condition caused by the breakdown of the cartilage in the joint, resulting in pain and stiffness in the groin area in women. When this happens in the hip joint, bone cells begin to collapse. Most causes are due to affected blood flow. Always ask your doctor for medical, fitness, or nutritional advice. The process usually begins with an exam of the area. They'll also test things like your range of motion and your strength. Peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage that causes nerve pain. Minor injuries often improve with home treatment, including rest, heat, ice, compression, elevation, and gentle massage. In this article, we examine some common causes of pain in the upper thigh, along with any symptoms that may occur alongside. A person may experience upper thigh muscle pain due to impact trauma, sprains, or strains. But in fact, when there are problems with the actual joint, the pain is usually in the groin area at the inner part of the upper thigh. Put ice where you feel pain using either an ice pack wrapped in cloth or a bag of frozen peas. Overuse injuries can occur when a muscle in or around the thigh is worked too hard for too long, or when a person does not warm up before exercise. HSS J. Many causes are related to hip injuries or osteoarthritis. Dual Mobility Total Hip Arthroplasty Is Not Associated with a Greater Incidence of Groin Pain in Comparison with Conventional Total Hip Arthroplasty and Hip Resurfacing:A Retrospective Comparative Study. The pain can range from mild to severe. Endometriosis is a painful disorder in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrial tissue) grows outside the uterus. A few, like testicular torsion or hip joint infection, require emergency surgery. This ends up restricting your hip's movement. Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection of the reproductive organs that can cause pain in the upper thigh and groin area. Tendons connect muscles to bones. However, many other possible causes, include urinary tract infections, ovarian cysts, appendicitis, kidney stones, and osteoarthritis (OA).