7 Possible Causes of Sharp Pain in the Front Thigh

Everyone deals with random aches and pains from time to time — indeed, muscle pain is a part of life. But when it comes to a sharp pain in the front of your thigh, there are several possible causes.

The pain may be due to muscle injury, nerve issues, tendon damage or in some cases, nothing at all. Here is more information about what may be causing sharp pain in the front of your thigh.

One of the common reasons for sharp pain in the front of the thigh is delayed muscle soreness after exercise, says Joshua Scott, MD, a board-certified primary care sports medicine physician at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles. So if you are experiencing sharp pain in the front of your thigh and you have recently worked out or participated in physical activity, you may just need to rest your muscle. It may also be a good idea to speak with a trainer or physical therapist about how to support your muscles, such as with stretching, or heat or ice therapy.

Outside of muscle soreness, however, Dr. Scott notes that pain may also be attributed to more serious causes, such as a muscle strain or tear. For example, thigh pain could actually be referred pain from the lower back or the hip/knee joint due to a cartilage injury or arthritis. There are also other types of injuries that could cause thigh pain:

The quadriceps are a group of four large muscles in the front top of the thigh. The muscles extend from the thigh to the knee and are involved in walking, running, jumping and many other leg movements. Accidents, blows to the thigh or vigorous training can cause the muscles — as well as the tendons that connect to the muscles and allow them to work — to tear partially or even rupture completely.

Dr. Scott explains that the symptoms of a quadriceps tear include:

• Severe pain that starts suddenly, usually at the same time you are using the thigh muscles
• Pain while bearing weight on the affected leg
• Swelling and discoloration in the affected area

A complete tear can take months to heal, and it is important to return to activities slowly, under your doctor's recommendations and guidance as you recover. However, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons notes that quadriceps tears are actually very rare, and occur most often in middle-aged adults who are participating in sports that involve running or jumping.

The groin muscles run from the hip to the inner thigh. Forceful movements of the inner thigh muscles can cause tears. Athletes who do hurdles, perform long jump and use repetitive starting and stopping motions are at greatest risk, but you can pull your groin muscles with something as simple as stretching too much, according to Denver Health.

Dr. Scott notes that some symptoms of a possible groin pull include:

• A sudden onset of pain in the inner thigh, usually while exercising or with a quick movement
• Pain that gets worse when you make a movement that brings the legs together
• Pain and limping while walking

To recover from a groin pull, you should avoid strenuous activity that would aggravate the injury. You can also ice the area, take anti-inflammatory medication (such as ibuprofen) and wear a supportive bandage called a thigh wrap, according to Summit Medical Group.

The hip flexors are another group of muscles located in the upper part of the thigh that help to move the hip forward and up. As with other muscle groups, blows or forceful movements can cause a tear.

With a hip flexor tear, the pain is usually in the front of the hip or thigh, and happens especially when lifting the leg, says Dr. Scott. He adds that this can occur with running or climbing stairs. Anyone who participates in activities with repetitive motions that involve the hip, such as cycling, swimming, running, golfing or baseball, are at the highest risk for this injury.

Additionally, a hip flexor tear may be confused with a groin pull, since both conditions can cause pain in the groin area. As with a quadriceps tear, if the muscles suffer a complete tear, the pain will be more severe than a partial tear, and there will be a long recovery period. See your doctor if you suspect you have this type of injury.

‌Read more:‌ 3 Simple Stretches to Help Relieve Hip Pain

As Dr. Scott previously mentioned, pain in the front of your thigh may actually be referred pain from arthritis of the hip. He explains that some characteristics of pain due to arthritis include:

• A slow onset of pain that can occur in the groin, or radiate into the thigh or inner knee
• The pain occurs when you're walking or turning the hip inward
• The pain may be mild and achy, or sharp

Hip arthritis can make weight-bearing activities difficult, and may be accompanied by stiffness, redness and swelling. There are various forms of arthritis that can occur in the hip, so it is important to have the cause diagnosed so that the right treatment approach can be chosen.

A hernia occurs when there is a weakness somewhere in the abdominal wall, allowing the intestines to push through and causing the abdomen to bulge. If this happens in the lower portion of the abdomen, causing a downward bulge, it is called a groin or inguinal hernia.

According to Dr. Scott, symptoms of an inguinal hernia include:

• A sudden onset of pain in the groin that can travel to the thigh
• Pain that gets worse with coughing, sneezing or with heavy lifting
• In some cases, a bulge in the groin may be felt when the pain occurs

See your doctor if you believe you have an inguinal hernia.

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, there is also a type of nerve damage that can cause pain in the outer thigh, called meralgia paresthetica. This condition occurs when the nerve that runs along the side of the femur (your thigh bone) is compressed.

Symptoms of this condition can include:

• Pain on only side of the outer thigh, that may also extend to the outer side of the knee
• Burning sensation, tingling or numbness
• Pain that radiates to the buttocks

The main causes of the nerve pain from this condition are due to restrictive clothing or excess weight putting pressure on the nerve. For example, individuals who wear tight stockings, girdles or work equipment, such as a heavy tool belt, are at risk. Sometimes, a seatbelt injury during a car crash can also cause the condition.

Because there can be so many causes behind sharp pain in the front of the thigh, it may be difficult to know when you should seek medical attention.

Dr. Scott recommends seeing a doctor if the pain you are experiencing lasts for more than two weeks, the pain is severe, you are limping or can't bear weight on your leg, there is swelling or redness, or if the pain is so severe that it wakes you up at night.