The thigh consists of three set of muscles that support the entire weight of the body. Besides these muscles, there are bones, ligaments, cartilage and a vital sensory nerve in the thighs. All these components coordinate with each other for the movement of legs and feet while walking, jumping and running, and any problem in these components can cause pain in the thighs. Burning thigh pain or Meralgia Paraesthetica is a neurological condition in which the outer thigh starts paining due to the compression of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh.
Causes
- Direct injury to the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve of the thigh.
- Sports activities such as soccer, bodybuilding, baseball, etc.
- Pregnant women and overweight people are more prone to the pain.
- Arthritis and other health problems can also cause burning thigh pain.
- Over-exercising, running and kicking can lead to stretching of the abductor and the hamstring muscles, thus leading to excruciating thigh muscle pain.
Symptoms
- Burning pain
- Numbness in the upper thigh
- Inability to do normal activities
- Tingling
- Pain that worsens with walking and standing
- Skin gets super-sensitive to heat and touch
Diagnosis
The orthopedic doctor performs a physical examination to analyze the symptoms and to diagnose the problem. He may ask some questions related to the condition to confirm the cause of burning pain in thighs. The condition is often confirmed with the help of certain imaging tests such as X-rays and CT scan. The doctor also goes through the medical history of the patient to confirm the extent of the condition.
Treatment
There are different types of treatment methods for different intensities of pain.
- Ice packs can be applied to get relief from the pain.
- Certain medicines such as anti-inflammatory medicines, muscle relaxants, can also offer relief.
- To reduce swelling the orthopedic surgeon might advise using a compression bandage.
- Physical therapy helps in stretching and strengthening of the muscles and can bring relief.
- In severe cases, orthopedic surgeons might decide to perform surgery in order to take the pressure off the nerve and release any inflammation. The patient may take some time to recover after the surgery and undergo rehabilitation exercises.
