Orthopedics-Online

Pain in the thigh and hip

What is thigh and hip pain?

Thigh and hip pain are two symptoms that are often associated with each other. The pain can occur under stress or at rest. The trigger can be on the thigh, hip or both at the same time. Often the pain is also transmitted to the surrounding area.

There are many possible causes, such as a disease of the hip joint or inflammation of the inguinal ligament. In the case of pain in the thigh and hip, an orthopedic surgeon should be consulted promptly to clarify the cause and start treatment accordingly.

Causes of pain

There are many different causes for pain in the thigh and hip. The triggering of the pain can be a problem with the bones or joints, as well as a problem with the muscles, nerves, or other surrounding structures.

Since there are many structures in the area of the hips and thighs, this area is very prone to injuries and wear and tear in old age. For the latter, a common cause is, for example, hip arthrosis, in which the hip joint is worn down.

The cause can also be in the back area and radiate into the hip and thigh in the form of pain.

Hip osteoarthritis as one of the causes

Hip osteoarthritis is an increasing disease in which the wear and tear of the joint surface causes pain in the hip joint. These are only minor at first and only occur when moving.

In the course of the disease, the pain increases and radiates to the thigh when moving, later it also occurs at rest and during the night.

The causes of hip osteoarthritis are often risk factors, such as being overweight and improper exercise. However, there are also some malformations of the hip that can lead to hip arthrosis if there is no therapy.

Are you more interested in this topic? You can read more information here: Symptoms of hip osteoarthritis

Meralgia paraesthetica as one of the causes

Meralgia paraesthetica is a pinch of the nerve that innervates the outer side of the thigh. This means that there are changes in perception, either tingling or numbness, depending on the severity of the pinching. In addition, there is usually severe pain in the area of the outer thigh, which can also radiate to the hip.

The nerve runs under the inguinal ligament and can be pinched here, for example, by a belt that is too tight, but also in the case of extremely overweight or pregnancy. The pain can also be alleviated by locally injected painkillers, depending on how to combat the cause.

More interested in the topic? You can read more detailed information about this: Meralgia paraesthetica

Inguinal ligament inflammation as one of the causes

Inguinal ligament inflammation usually leads to pain in the groin area. However, the pain can also radiate to the thigh and hip.

The cause is usually a strain of the inguinal ligament. This can also lead to irritation of the structures below the inguinal ligament, which is why an inguinal ligament inflammation, for example, can be accompanied by mild symptoms of meralgia paraesthetica.

If the inguinal ligament is pulled, physiotherapy is very suitable for treatment.

Would you like to know more about this topic? Then read our next article below: Inflammation of the inguinal ligament

Bursitis of the hip as a possible cause

Bursitis (Bursitis) of the hip is relatively rare, as bursitis is more common on the elbow or knee. Nevertheless, it can occur in any joint and lead to pain.

Therefore, if there is bursitis of the hip, pain in the hip area that radiates into the thigh can occur. Bursitis can result either from an injury or from a disease such as rheumatism.

For more information on this section, see: Hip bursitis - How dangerous is it?

Inguinal hernia as one of the causes

An inguinal hernia can manifest itself as pain in the thigh and hip. However, the first symptom is often a noticeable swelling in the groin area and a foreign body sensation. The pain often occurs depending on the pressure in the area of the hernia.

If the pain suddenly becomes stronger and significantly worse, this can be an indication that the intestinal structures in the hernia are clamped. To prevent this, a doctor should be consulted, as it should be clarified whether the inguinal hernia should be operated on.

Would you like to know more about this topic? Then read our next article below: Inguinal hernia - symptoms, causes and therapy

Another possible cause - pubic bone inflammation

An inflammation of the pubic bone, also called Osteitis pubis describes a disease in the area of the pubic symphysis, as between the two pubic bones. It usually arises from overstressing muscles and occurs mainly in athletes.

If a pubic bone inflammation is the cause of pain in the hip and thigh area, it is already quite pronounced and should be treated promptly. As a rule, the administration of pain medication and a break in sport are sufficient for a certain period of time to achieve an improvement in the pain.

Herniated disc of the lumbar spine

A herniated disc in the lumbar spine can cause pain in the hip and thigh, but is a rather rare cause of symptoms.

The pain radiates in a belt-like manner and, depending on the type of herniated disc, can be accompanied by other symptoms. This includes paralysis and abnormal sensations such as tingling or numbness.

The occurrence of a herniated disc can be promoted by various risk factors, such as an incorrect load on the back and obesity.

More interested in this topic? For more detailed information on this topic, see: Herniated disc of the lumbar spine

Abscess in the groin

A groin abscess is an encapsulated space in tissue that is filled with pus. This is often triggered by the staph bacteria. There is significant swelling and redness. Pain occurs mainly when there is pressure. If there is a pronounced abscess in the groin, this also occurs when sitting.

The pain can become very severe and radiate into the surroundings, the hips and the thighs. An abscess should always be opened surgically quickly, otherwise various complications can arise.

You may also be interested in this topic: Abscess on the inside of the thigh

Diagnosis of pain in the thigh and hip

The diagnosis of pain in the thigh and hip is largely based on the anamnesis, i.e. the doctor-patient conversation. An attempt is made to detect a possible trigger. The type of pain, the occurrence and factors of improvement or deterioration are decisive for this.

Depending on the suspicion of a possible cause, further tests may be helpful. This can include, for example, imaging methods such as an X-ray or CT, as well as examining the blood. If you have an inguinal hernia, an ultrasound can also be helpful.

Concomitant symptoms

A variety of other symptoms can occur with pain in the thigh and hip. The pain itself can radiate from one area to another or be of varying severity. The pain can also mainly occur under stress or at rest.

Depending on the cause, swellings, for example in the groin area, and reddening of the skin can also occur. Often the pain can also be associated with limited mobility. If the surrounding nerves are impaired, numbness or tingling may occur.

Tingling and numbness as accompanying symptoms

If a nerve is pinched with pain in the thigh and hip, this can lead to an altered perception in the surrounding areas. These include tingling or numbness.

This occurs, for example, in so-called meralgia paraesthetica, in which a nerve that supplies the skin on the outside of the thigh is pinched. This results in tingling or numbness in this area, depending on the extent of the pinching. This is often accompanied by severe pain, as nerves are very sensitive to pressure.

Are you interested in this topic? You can read more about this here: Leg tickles - what's behind it?

Lymph node swelling in the groin

Another accompanying symptom with pain in the thigh and hip can be swelling of the lymph nodes in the groin area. In principle, this is a sign of an activated immune system and can occur in various diseases.

For example, the lymph nodes swell during the healing process after an injury. In the case of an abscess in the groin, there is also often an additional swelling of the lymph nodes. The cause should be clarified in any case.

For more detailed information on this topic, see: Lymph node swelling in the groin - dangerous?

Therapy for pain in the thigh and hip

Treatment for thigh and hip pain depends on the cause. Pain relievers such as ibuprofen or diclofenac can be helpful for acute pain.

Furthermore, the physical protection and the application of cold or warmth in the form of cool packs or warm wraps can alleviate the pain. This can be adjusted individually depending on the type and severity of the pain. Applying the Voltaren cream also leads to an improvement in some sufferers. Local injections of painkillers or anesthetics also help many sufferers.

In addition to the acute treatment of the pain, therapy for the cause of the pain should always be included. In the case of meralgia paraesthetica with entrapment of a nerve, an attempt should be made to relieve it. In the case of osteoarthritis of the hip, an operative replacement of the joint should be considered, depending on the extent of the joint wear and tear and depending on the pain.

Since many causes of pain in the thighs and hips are favored by risk factors such as obesity and improper exercise, care should also be taken to ensure a balanced diet and sufficient exercise.

Duration of thigh and hip pain

The duration of thigh and hip pain is highly dependent on the underlying cause. For example, if it is a strain or a minor injury, the pain usually subsides after a few days to weeks with appropriate physiotherapy and treatment.

In the case of a degenerative disease, such as hip osteoarthritis, that is caused by wear and tear, the pain unfortunately usually lasts longer. Therefore, early treatment is very important, especially for these causes.

For more detailed information on this topic, see: Pain in the hip

Prognosis of pain in the thigh and hip

The prognosis of thigh and hip pain are highly dependent on the cause of the pain. If this is recognized early, effective treatment can usually be provided to prevent the pain from progressing.

In the case of hip osteoarthritis, for example, the right therapy is often used late, so that it cannot always achieve the desired pain reduction.