Causes of chronic thigh pain
The most common cause of chronic thigh pain is dysfunction and irritation of the nerves that supply the thigh with motor and sensory information. These nerves originate from the spinal cord and leave the spinal canal at the level of the lumbar spine as the so-called plexus lumbalis and supply the entire lower extremity. By localizing the pain, the pain event can be assigned to one or more specific nerves.
This dysfunction can be caused, for example, by a lumbar disc herniation. In addition to pain in the thigh, pain in other parts of the body can often be detected. The pain can also be accompanied by sensory disturbances and loss of strength.
However, a functional disorder or irritation of a nerve is not necessarily present at its point of exit from the spinal canal. In principle, the nerve can be compressed in its entire course by muscles, fluid accumulations, foreign bodies or other types of spatial demands. Even a slight increase in pressure can cause a painful event, so that finding the cause can be very difficult.
Very detailed imaging procedures such as CT and MRI of the lumbar spine can help in the search for compression of such a nerve or largely rule it out as the cause. The meralgia paraesthetica is a constriction of the nerve that supplies the outer thigh sensitively. This leads to sensory disturbances such as numbness and tingling sensations as well as pain in the outer thigh.
An increase in pressure in the abdomen during pregnancy or due to overweight can trigger the Meralgia paraesthetica. Also a constriction from the outside by belts, corsets or waistbands can irritate the nerves. This is the reason why this disease is called a jeans lesion.
If the triggering cause is removed, the symptoms usually disappear spontaneously. Thigh pain is widespread in people who sit for long periods of time. For example, an incorrect posture during sedentary work (office job) can lead to over-tension of the musculature and consequently to pain.
If the legs are crossed for a long time while sitting, this can also lead to poor posture and pain, especially on the inside of the thigh. Sitting for too long can also pinch the nerve that supplies the front thigh. In addition to pain, this can also lead to numbness and tingling sensations.Particularly in thin people, where the lack of fat padding causes the ischium to be more strained, pain in the buttocks can radiate to the rear thighs.
