Excruciating inner thigh pain is caused due to straining certain muscles in the inner thigh area of the leg. The pain felt is very distinct and sharp. It is generally caused in women, especially during pregnancy and men and women who undertake heavy physical activity. It is not so common otherwise.
Causes
There are many causes for this kind of pain. One of the reasons is the adductor muscle, which runs along the inner thigh and is responsible for controlling the motion in the lower end of the leg, that is, the toes and feet. When you try to control your feet due to slippery surfaces or imbalance in posture, the adductor muscle feels the strain, to maintain the balance of the body, resulting in pain in the groin. This groin strain induces pain in the inner thigh causing acute pain and also swelling and bruising in some severe cases.
Inner thigh pain is caused in mostly runners, athletes and sportspersons, who indulge in heavy actions, tend to strain and tense their muscles in order to regulate their speed and movements. In order to suddenly stop or change direction, there is intense pressure on the upper inner thigh which causes a muscle strain. Straining of the inner thigh is also reported in areas of snow where people tend to put pressure on the thigh muscles in order to prevent slipping on the surfaces.
Inner thigh pain is also very common in women, especially during pregnancy. It is caused due to the pressure on the femoral coetaneous nerve, one of the largest sensory nerves which run through the legs. These nerves pass through muscles without effecting the functioning of the body. When sometimes, in some positions, these nerves get squeezed, the pain is felt. It is more common in pregnant women while sleeping in the night.
Symptoms
Initially, the mild pain is felt only when the sportsperson participates in some strenuous activity like running. But this pain goes on increasing if not treated properly. For others, the pain may be very sharp and excruciating from the moment the injury takes place.
While sleeping, the cramping in the upper inner thigh pain can be very severe. It takes a few minutes for the pain to subside. Pregnant women are more affected by this pain while sleeping.
Treatment
Warm ups and stretches are a good idea to start with before a heavy work out session and gradually end the session for sportspersons. Also, consuming water and fluids timely and in good amounts can help relieve the inner thigh pain. Also, absence of minerals is said to effect the functioning of the muscles in an efficient manner giving rise to such cramps.
Acute inner thigh pain can be controlled by a balanced and healthy diet that provides all the required minerals and vitamins. Liquids supplemented with minerals also helps in preventing further damage to the leg muscles, which take the load of the body throughout the day.