Introduction
Pain in the outer thigh is often caused by muscular tension and is not uncommon. Running sports such as football, handball or endurance running can cause problems. Often, athletes who increase their training too quickly, do not warm up their muscles and tendons before the sport or do not stretch them sufficiently after the sport cause pain. Overweight also plays an important role in the development of pain in the outer thigh due to overloading of the bones and muscles. In most cases, the pain is felt during movement or loading and can extend to the knee.
Causes of pain in the outer thigh
Pain in the outer thigh can have many different causes. Tension of the tractus iliotibialis (tendon fibres of two hip muscles, connecting the outer hip and knee): Tension can be caused by malpositions, for example x-legs, on the one hand, and by incorrect loading on both sides or on one side. Meralgia paraesthetica: The nerve that supplies the outer thigh becomes trapped and causes pain and numbness in the outer thigh.
Hip joint diseases: This can cause pain due to arthrosis of the hip joint. Bursitis trochenterica: This is an inflammation of a bursa located on the upper thigh bone, which can become inflamed after falls, for example.
- Tension of the tractus iliotibialis (tendon fibres of two hip muscles, connecting the outer hip and knee): Tension can occur on the one hand due to malpositions, for example x-legs, and on the other hand due to incorrect loading on both sides or on one side.
- Meralgia paraesthetica: The nerve that supplies the outer thigh becomes trapped and causes pain and numbness in the outer thigh.
- Diseases of the hip joint: This can cause pain due to arthrosis of the hip joint.
- Bursitis trochenterica: This is an inflammation of a bursa located on the upper thigh bone, which can become inflamed after falls, for example.
The bursitis of the hip, also called bursitis trochanterica, is an inflammation of the bursa, which is located on the thigh bone.
The upper end of the thigh bone has a bony protrusion over which the tractus iliotibialis slides. The tractus iliotibialis is a strong stabilizing band that connects the hip and the knee. To prevent the tractus from rubbing against the bony prominence, a bursa is placed between them.
After falls, misuse and overloading (sports, overweight) this bursa can become inflamed and cause movement-dependent pain in the outer hip. A snapping hip is also called coxa saltans. Young women are usually affected by the snapping hip.
When walking, there is a palpable and possibly also audible snapping when the iliotibial tractus glides over the upper thigh bone. The tractus iliotibialis is a ligament consisting of tendon fibers from various muscles. It gives the thigh bone stability and thus protects against fractures.
In the course of time, the bursa between the ligament and the bone can become inflamed, which is accompanied by pain. The therapy consists of a physiotherapeutic treatment and a pain treatment with medication. If the pain persists, an operation may be necessary.
More information about snapping hips can be found here. An L2-syndrome is rare and can be caused by a herniated disc of the lumbar spine or a prolapse of the intervertebral disc. Pressure on the nerves can cause pain in the area supplied by the spinal nerve Lumbar spine 2 (L2). In addition to the pain, numbness and loss of strength may also occur. If there is any suspicion, a CT or MRI should be performed as soon as possible to prevent further nerve damage.
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