
Inner thigh pain usually heals on its own. All you need to do is give it some time and rest.
You can speed up the healing process as follows:
- The RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) method (a first-aid treatment that helps reduce pain and inflammation and helps with healing)
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen (over-the-counter medications)
- Exercises for stretching and strengthening
Inner thigh pain can be simple, but it is usually caused by a muscle pull caused by vigorous exercise without stretching or by serious underlying conditions.
Inner thigh pain occurs in the area of the inner thigh muscles, also known as the adductor muscles. These muscles are located near the groin. One of the most common causes of pain in the inner thigh is groin strain. Swelling and bruising are seen depending on the severity of the groin strain.
What causes of inner thigh pain?
In most cases, the inner thigh pain is not a serious condition; however, in a few cases, it is associated with underlying conditions such as:
Groin strain
Groin strain or groin pull is due to excess stress or tear of one of the muscles of the groin or inner thigh. Groin pulls are commonly seen in people who play sports where a lot of running and jumping are involved, such as football, basketball, and hockey.
Symptoms of groin strain include:
- Severe pain and tenderness in the groin
- Pain when you bring your legs together
- Excess pain when you raise your knee
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
A condition in which blood clots are formed more in the deep veins of the body, especially in the legs. Although these clots appear in the legs, they result in symptoms such as:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Discoloration of the skin
- Tenderness
- Warmth on the affected leg
- Pulmonary embolism (life-threatening; symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain rapid breathing)
Hernia
A condition in which internal organs push through a weak point in muscle or tissue. Inner thigh pain is caused by a very uncommon hernia called a femoral hernia. Femoral hernias occur in only three percent of all hernias and six percent of all groin hernias.
Femoral hernias are caused when a tissue part of the bowel moves through the groin muscle wall of the inner thigh. This is pushed through a weak area called the femoral canal. Common causes of femoral hernia are obesity, severe cough, overstrain while exercising, and passing stools.
Symptoms of a femoral hernia include:
- Lump in the groin or inner thigh causing discomfort and abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Pregnancy
Inner thigh pain is commonly seen during pregnancy, but the severe pain of the inner thigh during pregnancy may be due to a condition called symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD). SPD is caused by the hormone released by the placenta during pregnancy called relaxin. This hormone loosens the ligaments, which leads to pain and inflammation. Relaxin also helps prevent premature birth of the baby. SPD is mostly seen by the end of the second trimester, and this condition resolves on its own once the baby is delivered.
Symptoms of SPD include:
- Burning or shooting pain that travels down the inner thigh
- Difficulty while walking, climbing stairs, or changing position while sleeping
- Clicking while moving
Hip-related issues such as osteoarthritis
One of the common causes of hip pain may also cause pain in the lower thigh. This type of osteoarthritis is caused by the cartilage breakdown that covers joints in the hips.
The common symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain, stiffness, and inflammation.
Muscle injury
Pain in the inner thigh may be due to the injury of thigh muscles or adductors caused by certain activities such as running and turning quickly. This muscle damage can cause severe pain in the inner thigh accompanied by swelling and bruising around the affected area.
Kidney stones
Crystal-like structures form solid lumps in the kidney. When these kidney stones are passed through the urinary tract, they cause severe pain and discomfort in the abdomen and the inner thigh area, especially when there are larger stones.
Other symptoms of kidney stones include:
- Lower back pain or pain in the groin area
- Restlessness
- Nausea
- Pain while urinating
- Blood in the urine
- Cloudy urine

SLIDESHOW
Pictures of the 7 Riskiest Workout Moves, and How to Improve Them See SlideshowWhat are the treatment and management of inner thigh pain?
Risk factors of inner thigh pain include:
- Exercise without warm-up
- Pregnancy
- Obesity
Consult your doctor as soon as possible if you can't put any weight on the injured leg or can't walk more than four steps without excruciating pain.
If the RICE method does not relieve your pain or discomfort within a week, see your doctor immediately.
The following measures can help relieve inner thigh pain:
- Adequate rest and avoiding activities that strain your thigh muscles
- Hot compressions and ice application
- Bandages or compression wraps that help provide support to the muscular injury and help to heal fast
- Over-the-counter pain medicines
- Taking an Epsom salt bath
- Prescription medicines such as corticosteroids
- Using a foam roller to stretch and massage
- Performing stretching exercises
- Pelvis belt in women with symphysis pubis dysfunction that may help relieve pain
- Lifestyle changes such as weight loss may reduce the pressure on the joints and can reduce the pain
- In very rare cases, the doctor may recommend surgery
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/osteoarthritis-of-the-hip/
https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/knee-pain/default.htm
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/knee-pain/symptoms-causes/syc-20350849
Top How Do You Relieve Inner Thigh Pain Related Articles
Can a Chest Muscle Strain Feel Like a Heart Attack?
Chest muscle strains can cause sudden, acute pain that feels like a heart attack. Learn the signs of a chest muscle strain, what causes it, how doctors diagnose it, and what you can do to treat it. A panic attack is an intense wave of fear accompanied by symptoms like sweating, shaking, dizziness and others. A heart attack is a blockage in blood flow to the heart. The symptoms of a heart attack and panic attack are similar, but they have different outcomes.DVT Quiz
Take the Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Quiz to learn causes, symptoms, and treatments for these two dangerous conditions.Healthy Eating: Foods That Help Increase Blood Flow Circulation
Good blood flow circulation occurs when you eat the right foods. Choose cayenne pepper, beets, berries, fatty fish, pomegranate, garlic, walnuts, grapes, turmeric, spinach, and citrus fruit to keep blood flowing.DVT Slideshow
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a dangerous and sometimes fatal blood clot that occurs deep within the lower leg or thigh. Understand the symptoms, treatment and prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).How Long Does It Take for a Muscle Strain to Heal?
A muscle strain occurs when muscle fibers are overstretched and tear. Learn more about muscle strains, how muscle strains happen, muscle strain symptoms, muscle strain diagnosis, and muscle strain treatment options. Receive information on how a sprain and strain differ.How Can You Tell If You Have Nerve Pain or Muscle Pain?
If the pain started after an injury and it's a dull ache, it's likely muscle pain. If your pain seemed to come out of nowhere or it's been ongoing, and it feels like your skin is on fire, you're likely experiencing nerve pain.Is a Muscle Strain the Same as a Muscle Tear?
What is the difference between a muscle strain and a muscle tear?Leg Cramps at Night: Causes and Prevention
Nocturnal leg cramps, also known as sleep-related leg cramps or charley horse, are sudden, painful muscle contractions occurring at night that can disturb sleep. It usually affects the calf or foot and may last for several seconds to minutes.Muscle Cramps
Muscle cramps are involuntarily and forcibly contracted muscles that do not relax. Extremely common, any muscles that have voluntary control, including some organs, are subject to cramp. Since there is such variety in the types of muscle cramps that can occur, many causes and preventative medications are known. Stretching is the most common way to stop or prevent most muscle cramps.Muscle Cramps (Charley Horse) and Muscle Spasms
What are the differences between muscle spasms and cramps? Learn about the causes of muscle spasms and cramps (charley horse) in the calf, leg, and more.Muscle Pain (Myofascial Pain Syndrome)
Muscle pain (myofascial pain syndrome) is muscle pain in the body's soft tissues due to injury or strain. Symptoms include muscle pain with tender points and fatigue. Treatment usually involves physical therapy, massage therapy, or trigger point injection.Pain Management: Signs Your Muscle Pain Is Something Else
Could your achy muscles be a sign of more than a tough workout? Learn when a twinge might warrant a visit to the doctor's office.What Are the Three Grades of Muscle Strain?
Depending on the severity of damage, muscle strains are classified into three grades. Learn about symptoms, causes, and treatment.What Can I Do for a Muscle Strain in My Back?
Muscle strain is sometimes called a pulled muscle. Treat a muscle strain in your back with ice, rest, compression, and heat or a see a doctor for an evaluation of a severe muscle strain in your back.When Should I Be Concerned About Leg Pain?
Leg pain may occur as a result of conditions that affect bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, nerves, or skin of the leg. Leg pain can affect the foot, ankle, knee, thigh, or in any part of the leg.