Sharp pain inner thighs

[Nelllie]

The pain I experience is usually in my left inner thigh but last week it was in both of my inner thighs.  The pain is a slicing excruciating pain that is horrible.   I have had three children so I know what pain is, but this is horrible pain.  It feels like someone is stabbing me.

It doesn't happen very often and I have experienced this pain for the past several years.   I am 58 years old, I am 5'8" and weigh 165 lbs.  I exercise frequently and am in good health. The only medication I take is celebrex for arthritus, estratest, and synthoid.  

I have been to a back doctor, a neurologist and no one seems to be able to find the cause.  Every time it happens it scares me to death.  There is absolutely no pain or soreness after the pain ceases.  It usually doesn't last over 5 minutes.  But five minutes of horrible pain is enough!

Any ideas?  Any remedies?  Help!  Nelllie

[Quixotic1]

Have anyone imaged (MRI) your back?  I would get another neuro opinion.  Quix

[honewood]

I just recently began to experience similar pain in my right inner mid thigh area - it almost makes me want to sit down the pain is so severe.

I have not seen my MD about it yet due to Xmas and all  - my first episode was last week and have had two more episodes since.

I keep thinking the worst ie: heart and/or cholesterol related.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

***@****

[susiesoprano]

I just saw your posting of May 2007 and the description matches what I have been experiencing. Excruciating sudden pain in the inner thigh - sometimes one, sometimes both - as if someone were burying a burning hot knife in my thigh. An MRI showed a listhesis (sliding vertebra) which may be related. I thought it was over because of back exercises I have been doing, but this afternoon it happened again - and it was awful. I had my babies without pain medication - and this is much worse! It only last 5 minutes or so, but all I can do is hold on to the furniture and scream. So - I was wondering whether you have found out anything in the 2 years since the posting. Of course, information from anyone else would be welcome, too!
Direct Email: ***@****
Thanks - Susan

[Judiciouslady]

I have experienced what sounds like the same thing you have had. It has happened several times within the last year. If you want to rate the pain from 1 to 10, it is a 13! It is always in the upper thigh. It is hard to describe other than beyond excruciating. It feels like someone hooked me up to something like an electric chair, but it only went through my entire thigh, not my whole body. It lasted about 5 minutes. The first time it happened about a year ago and I had X-rays that showed nothing. The last time it happened, it woke me up about 3 a.m. and I laid there and just wanted to scream for about 5 minutes. I put a heating pad on it and it subsided. Then a couple hours later, the same thing happened again. Then it happened the third time and that was the last episode. My doctor is clueless and thought it might be some kind of neuropathy (I have diabetes) but thought it odd because it normally would be in the feet and go up from there in to the calf of your leg, not the thigh. There is something to this if it's happening to others who describe it the way I feel.

[popcorn89]

Hi.  for the past 2 days I have been experiencing the same thing. It is exactly like a red hot knife being plunged into my upper inner thigh. And yet, once it stops, there is no pain in the leg or muscle or anything. Also it feels not like a muscle pain, but only skin deep, despite the extremeness of the pain. Someone suggested to me that a pinched nerve can cause this- the nerve being pinched by tight clothing. So, I have, today, worn the loosest pants that I own and so far so good. I hope your thigh pain has ceased. and I hope this will end my thigh pain. I just got a new job and cannot afford to loose it... Let me know if or how you resolved your leg pain.

[jamesdm333]

I started experiencing this pain last night. Let me just agree about the level of pain first off. Before reading this I was describing the pain as a stab to the inner thigh by a really sharp pencil. What is most odd is its tendency to come and go so quickly. One second your thigh feels likes its being torn open and the next it feels 100%. Not irritated, sore, nothing. Hope it goes away!

[cardcounter1]

I'm a 70-year-old male, 5'9" 160 lbs. in perfect health.  I could probably run a mile (I've never been a "jogger") or more if I had to.  Every couple days -- especially when I make a sudden turn -- I get a sharp, sudden pain and a feeling of extreme weakeness in my right upper, inner thigh, exactly at the "crotch" line.  If I sit down or stand motionless, the pain disappears in a minute or so -- until the next "strike," sometimes days or weeks later, although the strikes are more frequent than they were a year ago.

It doesn't matter at all whether I've been sitting for long periods, or standing, doing physical labor for hours, or even walking for miles.  The attacks just seem to happen randlomly, without warning and without discernible reasons.

My worry is that if I were running for some reason, or just walking at a fast pace -- normal for me -- the weakness in the groin area would cause me to fall suddenly, possibly injuring my hip.

I haven't seen any docs about this because it would probably entail endless, very expensive tests, with a possible "no diagnosis" or "ambiguous, multi-opinioned diagnosis."

Anyone out there with a clue ... especially about the feeling of extreme weakness when it happens?

[moantrube]

I have pain in my inner left thigh that I would describe as a lightening bolt.  I have attributed it to a bad disk at L4-L5 because I had 2 partial diskectomies in that area  in 2001  But I guess anatomically I don't know if a bad disk would cause intermittent inner thigh pain like this.   This pain  is more annoying than anything and has caused me to not lift as much weight as I do at body pump.  I am 5 feet 3 and weigh 110 and work out 5 days a week.  Any suggestions?  Thanks  Mary

[Suzanne1959]

All sound like my issue... but where is someone to answer.  Mentioned it to my doctor and he didn't know... he is not my dr anymore.  Waiting for an answer...

[leslie_27]

It could either be post herpetic neuralgia from shingles or neuralgia from interstitial cystitis, an inflammatory disease of the bladder. Both can cause nerve pain in the thighs. I actually have both of those conditions and the pain can be extremely excruciating. I was given Neurontin which makes me depressed. Lyrica worked good but my insurance will only approve the neurontin. It makes me feel so low I would rather deal with the pain. Another thing to check into is fibromyalgia. It's hard to diagnose but actually very common. Good luck to everyone!

[imdying704]

the first morning i woke up i found that my left inner thigh was sore like a bruise. then the next morning i woke up to find that my entire left inner leg was in sharp shooting pain. it had somehow spread overnight. its been two days and its still not getting any better. i keep limping and i cant extend my leg at all. i dont know what it could be. i went to an acupuncturist and they stabbed me with some needles and it did feel a lot better and i could walk again...but a few hours later the pain is back.

[sc665]

I can't believe it!!  I'm so glad I found you all.  I have the exact same thing!  Severe - actually, excruciating pain down the inside of my thigh.  Lasts 5 minutes where I can't stand, straighten my leg, I sweat, panic, and can't seem to do anything to relieve it at all.  Embarrassingly - it happened to me at a dinner party!  Everyone panicked - no one could do anything!   Then just as suddenly as it comes, it goes!   And no residual pain!  How can so many people suffer from the same thing - and no one seems to know what it is.  I've spoken to my Chiropractor and Doctor and they have no clue - sciatic nerve they think.  But looking that up, it doesn't seem right.   Has anyone found out what it is since the first post?  Every hopeful!!!

[clou59]

wow, I'm so glad I found this.  I have had this pain off and on for over 10 years.  Its been a couple of years...it's back.  I will be totally fine..sleeping, watching TV, at work..and bang.  It's like a ice pick into my upper inner thigh..almost to the pantie line.  I have to hold on to something the pain is so bad.  It doesn't last more than 30 seconds..it hurts so bad that I shake for several mins after.   Today there has been the addition of a less sharp pain in my heel on the same side..right side, at the same time.   I have a chronic neck issue and lower back weakness.  I weight 160 5'8" ...I work out about 3 days a week, run/ walk, weights, yoga...doctors don't seem to know what it is...  Would sure like to get an answer..

[rower0209]

Same thing here. Actually just went to an orthopedic dr. this morning. He took x-rays and thought it could be related to the hip but bones look good. Now he wants to do an mri and is looking for a arterial aneurysm or cyst in the artery. I don't know if I want to go to the expense of this as I have a feeling that he will still not know what it is. 90% of the time I get the pain which is about 4 inches above my knee on the inside of the thigh at night and it is very painful and long lasting. During the day I have times when it feels like someone has driven a knife in me but it only lasts a few seconds. I have a spot where you can press and it hurts alot but otherwise it doesn't affect my daily life. I am very athletic and have not stopped doing anything but this is really affecting my sleep. If anyone learns anything, please post.

[newhip]

I had a total hip replacement exactly a week ago, and I have now had several occurrences of this same issue. The most recent, which occurred a few minutes ago was so severe that it caused me to research and find this thread. I am hoping that mine is due to the surgery and some of the extreme things they do with the hip in the OR. I just had a physical therapist visit and about 10 minutes after he left I got the sharp stabbing pain on the inner thigh. There was no warning, like a cramp, but instead a sharp grabbing pain. I was really worried it might be a blood clot, but I'm thinking probably not.

[grommit]

I'm a 55 year old man and recently have also suffered identical symtoms as all the above. Anyone with more info??????????? Thank you

[muffin210]

It's comforting to know others are experiencing what I am. It started about 6 months ago, possibly after a fall. The sharp stabbing pain is at the top of my thigh at the panty line towards my inner thigh. It happens alot when I stand up from a sitting position. The pain is sudden and I will be stooped over, half standing, half sitting, until it stops. It is excrucciating and I have cried several times. Then just as suddenly it will stop and I can move again. Sometimes I hear a clicking sound and then I can move again. I went to my chiropractor for an adjustment and he said I was only slightly out of line. The pain is still the same. I rely on Aleve almost everyday so I can be active. I'd love to hear about the tests undergone by anybody in this forum. As soon as the holiday's are over I will be seeing my primary physician.

Thank you....

[Stringbean69]

I am a 41 year old woman. reasonably fit, could probably exercise a bit more..but I don't own a car so I walk everywhere. I too am experiencing this excrutiating pain.. Like a sharp stabbing pain in the left inner thigh.. I would say it's at the centre of the fleshy area about 2 inches below the crotch area.. It's like someone has got a red hot poker and stabbed me in the thigh and twisted it.. It only lasts for a few seconds but it totally knocks me sick! If I am asleep it wakes me up and I almost scream out. I find it terrifying. I'm going to make an appointment to see my GP asap. Don't know what good it will do though from the sounds of it... Nobody has figured out what it is yet. Thanks to everyone who has posted on here though as it's good to know I am not alone..

[ellenmay]

I am so happy to have googled this and be able to read similar pain.  Weirdly enough, I was on my way to play tennis.  I was getting out of my car and received this most excruciating pain in my left thigh. (never had this before)  After about 3 minutes it subsided and I did go and play tennis BUT  it is still sore where the phantom stab wound would be. I am so afraid that it will reoccur.  I wish I knew what caused it so I can avoid that.  Thanks for sharing your experiences with me.  It does help to know that you are not alone.

[InPain1668]

It's 5:30 a.m. Right these past few hours I have been kept awake by a similar pain on my left inner thigh near the knee.  It feels like someone is plunging a sharp needle on the same spot every few seconds.  Then it disappears & comes back again a few minutes later.  The pain does not feel like it's deep in the muscles but only feels like it's skin-deep.  When it disappears I'm perfectly normal but when it hits, it's excruciating that I'm kept awake.  The pain is alleviated when I press on the spot with my fingers while the stabbing pain is happening.  So if the pain comes comes in short bursts, I press on to the spot with my hands & the pain is somewhat relieved.  When I'm walking & the pain hits, I actually have to bend over & let out a little yelp.

When I mentioned it to my doctor (who is a cardiologist / internist), he seemed clueless & gave a puzzled look as if I'm the only one who has complained to him about this kind of pain.  Since the painful episode comes & goes only every few weeks or months even, it's difficult to pinpoint the cause.  

I have been having these painful episodes for about 3-4 years now. I have observed that it has happened a few times when I lacked sleep so it may be neurologically related.

I may have to see a neurologist after reading all the helpful comments above. I'm so glad I'm not the only one having this strange pain, after googling the symptoms & discovering this site.

[elkejames]

I have had this pain for several weeks. It feels like a sore muscle with stabbing pain. I am 40 years old and female in good health (I thought!!! hahaha) I have bad lower back pain and right hip pain for years....the inner thigh pain is also on my right side. Interestingly, my hip pain has improved since the new inner thigh pain. I have bone deterioration in my left foot and slight scolisis which makes me walk crooked....my foot doc said that I am not aligned. After reading everyone's posts and evaluated my issues, I am going to take a guess that this inner thigh pain has something to do with the hip/lower back.  I think an MRI would help show if anything is going on....perhaps starting with an Xray. If something is really screwed up, an Xray often can tell, as was the case with my neck. Gee, thanks Dad for your wondeful genes! Good luck all!

[flamenca130]

I have experienced the same pain in my inner thigh and yes, it feels like someone is putting a hot knife in my thigh.  It last under 5 minutes and always in the middle of the night.  I also have had some hip soreness in recent months.  I'm 50 years old and have been a dancer for many years, so I'm wondering if this has something to do with it.  I have not gone to the doctor yet and was wondering if a chiropractor would be of any help.  Any thoughts?

[Volpicelli]

I have the same symptoms that you are all describing.  I went through a myriad of test: X-Ray of my back & spine, ultrasound of my pelvis and abdomen, a C-Scan of my abdomen with dye.  The good news is that they found a small sports injury hernia in my left inguinal area.  The most concise procedure was the ultrasound.  You could see the ripped wall on the screen. The doctor said that this could definitely be the cause of my intermittent ice pick pain because of the location of the hernia pressing on my femoral nerve.  I am scheduled to have it repaired this week. I will be praying that all of you find a cure to your pain.  I know how debilitating it can be.

[Tenn_pete]

I think you’ll find this interesting:  
I’m 58, male, 5:11; 200#.  About 4 mo. ago I got awakened by our mutual friend; writhing pain in both inner thighs for about 10 min.  I’m an engineer, not a doctor so take all this with due caution.  After studying the nerve diagram and anatomy charts, I think it’s a form of sciatica, an irritation of the nerves in the lower back. Usually sciatica hurts your rump and the back of your legs, but other nerve bundles in your back connect to your inner thigh (and other places)  My guess is that some irritation – possibly arthritic- in the lumbar region is setting off spasms in the back but we feel the attacks in our legs. Rubbing the place where it hurts really doesn’t do much to help.   I’ve had only one attack but I began to have chronic low level pain during the day. Let me jump to a side story: For a yr or more my wife often couldn't sleep through the night due to pain in her back (not legs).  (we’ve invested in ever more expensive bedding to no avail)   A month ago an internet search found a suggestion of “Evening Primrose Oil” (no I don’t own stock).  It was cheap, low risk, and natural so I got her some.  Since that day she has never been awakened ( she took 1000 mg a day for several weeks and has since quit in keeping with my result as detailed below ).  After decided my issue may be back inflammation related, like hers, I took one – That’s one – 1000 mg tablet.  In 1.5 hrs my inner thigh pain was gone.  AND as a side benefit, so was the “heal spur" pain (plantar fasciitis) I've had for a couple of yrs!! I determined to prove to myself that it was the EPO so I didn’t take any more, waiting for the pain to come back so I could repeat the experiment.  I’m sorry to disappoint but the chronic pain has not come back in 2 weeks!  Now, two things 1) My heel spur pain did come back in about 36 hrs and built to hurt pretty bad at about 5 days (seemed more than before), since then that has backed off to “normal”.  2) I have had a few twinges of pain in my inner thigh (moves around a bit)  but hasn’t been much.  I figure it will be back sooner or later.   I feel like a snake oil salesman but my 58 yr stiffness was noticeably less during the 24 to 48hr time frame.  ( I admit this could be psychosomatic but I don’t think so).  Maybe some of you ladies are grinning because EPO is labeled “for women’s health”  I guess I won’t have “cramps” for a while :- )   Please come back here and post if you found it did, or didn’t help.