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Front & Side Thigh Pain

Thigh pain can be the result of various conditions, including sciatica. When sciatica presents itself, front thigh pain is a very common occurrence. The term sciatica is used to illustrate pain that radiates from your buttock and down through your lower limbs. Sciatica is often the result of a compressed nerve. However, sciatica pain can also be prompted by trigger points that are located in the soft tissue in your body

  1. Injuries

    • If you have injured your hamstring, this can cause pain in your thigh. The hamstring runs from the butt to the back of your knee. This muscle allows us to extend our thigh at the joint of the hip as well as flex our legs at the knee joint. Pain will be felt in the front of your thigh even though the problem stems from the back of your thigh, notes Sciatica Clinic.

    Tears and Ruptures

    • Another condition that can result in pain in the front and side of your thigh is called pseudo sciatica-gluteus minimus. The fibers in the gluteal muscles run from the hip to the pelvis and allow rotation of the thigh and assist with abduction of your thigh. The gluteus minimus and gluteus medius are the pelvic side struts that provide stabilization when you stand on one foot, according to Easy Vigour. The side struts can weaken and shorten as you age and this can cause bursitis, tendinopathy, tendonitis and a tear or rupture of the medius or minimus muscles. When a tear occurs, this is going to send pain down through your leg.

    Other Considerations

    • Piriformis syndrome can also result in referred pain in the thigh. The piriformis muscle is small and sits deep within the buttocks and hip region. It connects the top of the thigh bone or the femur to the lower region of the sacrum. The piriformis muscle allows us to turn our hip joint outward. Generally, when the piriformis muscle is not functioning correctly, pain will be felt deep in the buttocks, but the pain can also be felt in the thighs.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Preventing thigh pain can be achieved by not injuring yourself in the first place. Do not exercise on uneven ground or on hard surfaces. Do not sit for long periods of time and wear proper footwear all the time--especially when working out.

    Use Good Biomechanics

    • Consider your biomechanics. Are you walking properly? Do you have good posture? Use good techniques when walking and when working out. Faulty body mechanics, poor posture and bad sitting habits can hurt your back, which can cause thigh pain.

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