Why does my upper right thigh hurt

Overview

Meralgia paresthetica (also known as lateral femoral cutaneous nerve entrapment) is a condition characterized by tingling, numbness and burning pain in your outer thigh. It's caused by compression of the nerve that provides sensation to the skin covering your thigh.

Tight clothing, obesity or weight gain, and pregnancy are common causes of meralgia paresthetica. However, meralgia paresthetica can also be due to local trauma or a disease, such as diabetes.

In most cases, you can relieve meralgia paresthetica with conservative measures, such as wearing looser clothing. In severe cases, treatment may include medications to relieve discomfort or, rarely, surgery.

Symptoms

Meralgia paresthetica may cause these symptoms affecting the outer (lateral) part of your thigh:

Tingling and numbness
Burning pain
Decreased sensation
Increased sensitivity and pain to even a light touch

These symptoms commonly occur on one side of your body and might intensify after walking or standing.

When to see your doctor

See your doctor if you have symptoms of meralgia paresthetica.

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Causes

Meralgia paresthetica occurs when the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve — which supplies sensation to the surface of your outer thigh — is pinched (compressed). The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve only affects sensation and doesn't affect your ability to use your leg muscles.

In most people, this nerve passes through the groin to the upper thigh without trouble. 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.

Common causes of this compression include any condition that increases pressure on the groin, including:

Tight clothing, such as belts, corsets and tight pants
Obesity or weight gain
Wearing a heavy tool belt
Pregnancy
Fluid accumulation in the abdomen causing increased abdominal pressure
Scar tissue near the inguinal ligament due to injury or past surgery

Nerve injury, which can be due to diabetes, trauma after surgery or seat belt injury after a motor vehicle accident, for example, also can cause meralgia paresthetica.

Risk factors

The following might increase your risk of meralgia paresthetica:

Extra weight. Being overweight or obese can increase the pressure on your lateral femoral cutaneous nerve.
Pregnancy. A growing belly puts added pressure on your groin, through which the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve passes.
Diabetes. Diabetes-related nerve injury can lead to meralgia paresthetica.
Age. People between the ages of 30 and 60 are at a higher risk.

Aug. 25, 2022

Pain at the front of the thigh is also known as anterior thigh pain. Here we explain the common causes, as well as some less common causes of front thigh pain.

Medically reviewed by Dr Chaminda Goonetilleke, 24th Jan. 2022

Quick links:

Sudden onset thigh injuries
Gradual onset thigh injuries
Thigh rehabilitation programs

Sudden onset anterior thigh pain

The following injuries occur suddenly. You will most likely know a specific point in time when it occurred:

Quadriceps strain (thigh strain)

A thigh strain or quadriceps strain is a tear in one of the quadriceps muscles at the front of the thigh. Symptoms typically include:

Sudden sharp pain at the front of your thigh.
Swelling may develop depending on how severe your injury is.
Bruising may also appear later.

Read more on Quadriceps/thigh strain
Go to the Thigh strain rehabilitation program

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Quadriceps contusion (thigh contusion)

A dead leg, also known as a charley horse, is a bruise or contusion caused by a direct impact or trauma to your leg. Symptoms include:

Pain at the time of injury
You may have restricted movement in your leg/muscle
Your leg may swell up and later bruising may appear

Femur Fracture

An acute, traumatic femur fracture is a serious and usually fairly obvious injury caused by accident or severe impact.

The patient will feel severe pain in the thigh.
There may be a deformity in the thigh, for example, the leg may be at an angle, or the injured leg appears shorter than the other.
A considerable amount of swelling may be visible and the patient will be unable to move their leg.

Rectus femoris tendon strain – upper thigh pain

These cause pain at the top of the thigh/front of the hip where the tendon of the powerful rectus femoris muscle originates.

It can be difficult to distinguish between a tendon strain and an avulsion injury. Therefore, it is important to seek professional medical advice and imaging.

Read more on the Rectus femoris tendon strain.

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Gradual onset anterior thigh pain

The following injuries tend to occur gradually over time through overuse, or from an acute injury which has not healed properly”

Myositis Ossificans

Myositis ossificans occur as a complication of not treating a contusion correctly. It involves a small growth of bone within the muscle. Symptoms include:

Muscle pain, particularly during exercise.
Restricted range of movement.
A hard lump may be felt deep in the muscle.
An X-ray can confirm the diagnosis and show bone growth.

Femur Stress Fracture

The femur bone is the long thigh bone. Prolonged overuse can cause a stress fracture known as a femoral stress fracture. Symptoms include:

Pain that develops gradually as a dull ache.
Pain is made worse when a bending force is applied to the femur.

Upper thigh pain

The following cause gradual onset pain at the front top of the thigh”

Rectus femoris tendon inflammation/tendinopathy

This causes gradual onset pain at the front of the hip where the Rectus femoris tendon attaches to the pelvis. It may occur through overuse, or follow a tendon strain/rupture which fails to heal properly.

Other causes of anterior thigh pain which should not be missed:

The following injuries and conditions are not particularly common but it is important they are not overlooked if you have pain in the front of the thigh.

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis

The injury happens when the epiphysis (upper end of the bone) where the bone growth plates are located, slips away from the rest of the bone.

It is more common in boys aged 11 to 16 years old and occurs gradually over a period of time.

Read more on Slipped capital femoral epiphysis

Perthes’ disease

Perthes’ disease affects children, most commonly aged between four and eight, but can also occasionally occur in younger children and teenagers.

Symptoms include an ache in the thigh, groin, or knee. The patient may have a noticeable limp. Medical help is needed to diagnose this condition as early as possible to try to prevent and limit any future problems.

Compartment syndrome

This occurs when increased pressure builds up within the muscle compromising the blood supply and nerve supply

Tumour

Tumours can also cause front thigh pain.

Rehabilitation & exercises

We have the following rehabilitation programs available:

Thigh strain rehabilitation program
Groin strain rehabilitation program

What can cause thigh pain without injury?

Not getting enough exercise or spending too much time sitting each day can damage the muscles, causing chronic pain. Sitting for long periods can put pressure on the joints and muscles, particularly of the hips and legs. Lack of activity may also cause the muscles to weaken, triggering widespread muscle pain.

Should I be concerned about a pain in my thigh?

You could potentially be having a medical emergency. Conditions that cause damage, compression, entrapment or inflammation of a nerve can lead to thigh pain. Peripheral neuropathy, which is nerve damage frequently due to diabetes, is one such condition.