Pain can be such a broad subject to approach. It can be caused by so many differentiating factors, which can be a challenge to provide relief for if the root of the problem isn’t known.
When it comes to dealing with muscle relief, specifically in the thigh, the good news is that the region in which it resides can only have so many issues which can cause discomfort. To adequately address your pain relief treatment, determining where the problem stems from is the first step.
Causes of Thigh Muscle Pain
There is a slew of ailments that could cause thigh muscle pain, stemming from the mild to severe. For those that are treatable, you can find many ways to alleviate this pain at home when struck by a sudden onset of pain.
- Pinched Nerve: If you feel pain anywhere in your body, it is not necessarily stemming from the actual part where it is felt. In the instance of a pinched nerve, a nerve in your spine that runs down to your thigh or upper leg could be distressed. Symptoms of this issue include numbness, pain, weakness, tingling, or difficulty sitting and standing.
- Spinal Stenosis: Another issue stemming from the nerve endings of the spine, this cause is related to the bones in your back affecting these nerves causing pain. Typically affecting both legs simultaneously, relief is felt when sitting versus when standing or walking where the pain is at its peak.
- Muscle Strain: These can occur suddenly from normal movement and typically affect the hamstring area. Symptoms include soreness, swelling, stiffness, weakness, muscle spasms, knotted sensation, and a sudden onset of pain with movement. A fairly common issue when it comes to muscle pain, the remedies to offset this issue can be done fairly easily compared to others which are derived from more severe problems.
- Tendonitis: Those who engage in repetitive or strenuous exercise may experience tendonitis more than the average person. Tendonitis is defined as the inflammation of the tendons near the joints such as the knees and hips. You may have difficulty walking or feel weak as a result of this ailment.
- Blood Clot: If you happen to be suffering thigh muscle pain as a result of a blood clot, the best advice would be to seek medical attention immediately. If the additional symptoms when experiencing pain in the upper thigh include warmth, swelling, and redness, there is potential for a blood clot. A blood clot can potentially cause greater harm if it is dislodged and moves to other regions of your body if not addressed as soon as possible.
- Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome: Defined by the pain felt in the upper, outer region of the thigh, it is typically caused by injury, pressure, or repetitive movements, and it’s common in runners and in women. Pain may also worsen when laying down on the affected side, any activities such as running which will put more pressure on the leg, and worsening pain over time.
- Electrolyte Imbalance: Defined as minerals such as potassium, calcium, and sodium, electrolytes can be found in the food and drinks we consume. When engaging in excessive exercise, your body automatically expels these minerals and needs them to be replenished. Symptoms of electrolyte deficiency include cramping, weakness, or numbness.
- Hip Flexor Strain: Yet another instance where a separate body part contributes to the pain felt in your thighs, this ailment is a result of overuse. Typically denoted by a sudden onset of pain, pain when lifting the legs up to your chest, swelling or bruising, or muscle spasms.
Methods to Offer Relief
When you’ve got the clear from a physician that your thigh pain isn’t the result of a more pressing condition, there are a lot of options you can try that can help to relieve everyday aches and pains associated with strenuous exercise, overuse, or even improper use.
Weight Loss: Even though body positivity is something to be highly embraced, there are times when the body simply cannot literally bear the weight on its shoulders. When you start having physical issues come to light, one of the primary recommendations from any medical professional will be to assess if weight loss is going to alleviate some of the strain on your muscles and joints.
In many instances, whether it be severe or not, the core root of your pain can be traced back to the weight on your body and the way it is distributed. Especially when it comes to ailments affecting the lower half of the body, it can be safe to assume that the muscles and joints work hard to mobilize you as your upper region is the more heavy half of the body. This is not to say that weight loss is the only thing that will cure your pain, but it plays a very large role in controlling and hopefully preventing further issues down the road.
Stretching Exercises: Keeping the muscles loose will ultimately bring more blood to the affected area, and keep any stiffness from taking over. This is not to say that if you happen to be in a severe amount of pain that stretching can completely relieve that, but for mild to moderate pain, it can definitely reduce some of the discomfort. Stretching in the morning or before a workout is a beneficial practice as it works to slowly allow your body to get used to the movements and not suddenly be in high activity with no warning which can cause further pain.
Ointments/Pain Relief Cream: One of the fastest ways to find relief are with pain relief ointments with proven ingredients like trolamine salicylate, as these are also a go-to for many including trainers and medical professionals. The main reason is that it provides almost instant, targeted relief, albeit temporary. Other helpful active ingredients include components such as menthol, which when applied topically, can be felt immediately as a cooling sensation.
Compared to taking any form of oral medication where you have to wait until the medication hits your bloodstream in order for pain to subside, topical creams can provide temporary pain relief more directly and much faster. There are many products on the market that can aid in pain management, many of which contain other natural ingredients that are known to assist in providing anti-inflammatory properties to the skin.
When looking for a good product to try, ensure that you are on the lookout for ingredients such as hemp seed oil which can work effectively with other ingredients to provide the best form of temporary pain relief!
Moderating Exercise: Our bodies can be put through some pretty extreme physical circumstances, and while staying fit is absolutely necessary for maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle, there are instances where too much of a good thing is never good. Putting your body through excessive or intense physical activity may make you feel great overall, it will eventually have an effect on your joints, limbs, and muscles on the whole.
Many of the problems relating to the sudden onset of thigh muscle pain can be attributed to added stress on the muscles and joints. If you are beginning to or already feel pain, listen to your body as it is telling you that something is wrong. Working through the problem will not necessarily make it go away unless you know what you’re working away, going back to the importance of making sure you first know the cause of your pain before trying to find ways to relive it. Modify your movements to allow less strain on the affected leg and try some lower impact exercises that will help to increase your blood flow but also allow time for your muscle to heal.
Icing: One of the first things and the simplest treatments is icing the affected area. If you do not have access to pain relief cream or ointment which will provide temporary but long term relief, icing your thigh will also work to help subside the discomfort. When it comes to swelling and inflammation, ice will work to numb the area and allow the affected area to calm down a bit to alleviate your pain. Icing for approximately 20-minute increments at the onset of pain will help immensely.
Heat: In the same regard, heat treatment will also aid in reducing inflammation in the muscles by allowing blood to circulate around the part of the body experiencing the pain. Applying heat 10 to 15 minutes at a time will help in the healing process but be sure to keep an eye out so as to not burn the skin.
Summary
It bears repeating that before starting any form of long term treatment, you should seek medical advice from a professional to ensure you are taking the proper steps to control your pain in the best methods possible.
Many of the recommendations above are safe to provide temporary relief in the interim, but ultimately each body is unique and what may be good for most may not be good for one specific individual.
The bottom line is that there are many pain relief options available to even temporarily relieve that thigh pain. Don’t be immediately deterred by the potential lack of mobility or strain you may be feeling, there are many ways to combat the issue at hand and solutions can be found no matter what causes your pain to arise.