A guide to understanding upper thigh pain
In the world of bodily and muscular pain, there are some kinds of pain that should never be ignored. Back pain is one such pain, but given how common it is, we all tend to believe that it’s completely normal. Upper thigh pain is another one of such pains that is rare; most people will not suffer from it for a long time.

The upper thigh region offers a huge area for potential injury and therefore pain, and it can seriously limit one’s mobility. You use your upper thigh for everything from exercise to walking and even driving your car. Here are some questions relating to upper thigh pain and how you can help get rid of it.

How can you identify upper thigh pain?
Of course, the discomfort of the pain itself is an indicator that something is wrong. However, one must be able to differentiate between a random shot of pain through the leg and something that should warrant your attention. Some symptoms of upper thigh pain include the following:

• An inability or difficulty in putting your weight on one leg
• Sharp, sudden, and unpredictable pain increasing in frequency
• Alternatively, a numb lingering pain that seems to go up and down in severity
• Discolored veins that hurt when touched
• General bruising or discoloration on the upper thigh
• In the simplest cases, upper thigh pain can be caused by overexertion or strain on the muscle and bones that comprise the area. However, in other more severe cases, it could be due to a chronic condition that is worsening over time and is perhaps even related to your back and hip muscles.

Are there different types of upper thigh pain?

• Pain in an area as large as the upper thigh can be arising from the bones, muscles, even veins, or a combination of all three.
• This is why it’s better to classify this pain into different categories depending on the kind of pain it is and what are the possible causes for it.
• We shall delve into the three major classifications in the rest of this guide.

What does traumatic upper thigh pain entail?
As the name suggests, this kind of pain comes from some external or internal trauma to an area of the upper thigh. These can further be classified into the mentioned:

• Strain : Muscle straining that occurs due to overstretching and overexertion of certain muscles, which happens mostly during athletic activity.
• Bruises : Bruises are the easiest to identify given their physical manifestation in the form of discoloration. They occur mostly because of direct physical damage.
• Breaking : The femur is one of the strongest and largest bones in the body; any trauma or impact large enough can crack or break the femur.
• Cramping : This happens for a range of reasons; anything ranging from dehydration to excess fatigue can cause muscles to cramp up, inhibiting movement.

What is meant by systemic disease thigh pain?
These are long-term diseases that slowly take over and cause pain; they often have reasons that are seemingly hard to pin down.

• Tumors : Benign or cancerous, tumors often hinder the regular muscular movement and interfere with nerves, causing shooting or long throbbing pain. If you feel you are at risk, get screened immediately.
• Vascular : Varicose veins are the most common in the upper thigh or leg region, but it could be a whole range of issues in the veins caused by restricted blood flow or knots.

What should you know about inflammatory upper thigh pain?
Inflammation is your body’s immune response to any kind of invasion or injury. As we’ve already covered external injury, this inflammatory response refers to internal inflammation.

• Autoimmune response : If your body senses a foreign entity in any part of your hip, lower back, or upper leg region, it can cause inflammation in the area. Besides this, diseases that directly impact your lower back could expand to your upper thigh and even the entire leg. Degenerative disc disease is one such example that can lead to inflammation in the region.
• Infections : Internal infections are very much a nightmare-ish reality in the world of medicine. Also, an internal infection could wreak havoc on any part of your body, including the upper thigh.

How can you determine the cause?

• The short answer is that you can’t determine the cause. None of this information should replace sound medical examination and advice.
• Give your upper thigh and the leg region time to heal for about three to four days, perhaps a week even if you’ve started a new exercise regimen or are simply straining yourself too much.
• Take a look at your posture and the shoes you wear and be mindful of your exercise and movements.
• If the pain seems to persist, visit a doctor immediately.