A.I. Health Assistant Causes for Sharp Thigh Pain
The list below shows results from the use of our A.I. Health Assistant by Buoy users who experienced sharp thigh pain. This list does not constitute medical advice.
1.Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body. Most deep vein clots occur in the lower leg or thigh.
Curable with medication or surgery but may recur.
- Rarity:
- Uncommon
- Top Symptoms:
- fever, thigh pain, upper leg swelling, calf pain, butt pain
- Urgency:
- Hospital emergency room
2.Compartment Syndrome
Compartment syndrome is a serious condition that involves increased pressure in a muscle compartment. It can lead to muscle and nerve damage and problems with blood flow.
Prognosis is highly variable after surgery and depends on how rapidly you are treated.
- Rarity:
- Rare
- Top Symptoms:
- arm numbness, hand numbness, foot numbness, pain in one leg, thigh numbness
- Urgency:
- Hospital emergency room
3.Thigh Nerve Issue (Meralgia Paresthetica)
Meralgia paresthetica is a nerve condition that causes an area of skin over the upper outer thigh to feel numb, tingly, or painful. This is caused by compression of a nerve known as the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh as it passes underneath a tough fibrous ligament known as the inguinal ligament.
Pain and pins-and-needles feeling resolves with time. Sometimes numbness and altered sensation remains for life.
- Rarity:
- Rare
- Top Symptoms:
- pain in the outside of the hip, pain in one thigh, thigh numbness, tingling upper leg, hip numbness
- Symptoms that never occur with thigh nerve issue (meralgia paresthetica):
- new headache, swollen hip, swollen hips, swelling of one hip, leg swelling, weakness of both legs, leg weakness, leaking urine
- Urgency:
- Primary care doctor
4.Thigh Bruise
A bruise is the damage of the blood vessels that return blood to the heart (the capillaries and veins), which causes pooling of the blood. This explains the blue/purple color of most bruises.
Bruises will begin to heal over the course of a week
- Rarity:
- Rare
- Top Symptoms:
- pain in one thigh, thigh pain from an injury, upper leg injury, thigh bruise, swelling of one thigh
- Symptoms that always occur with thigh bruise:
- upper leg injury, thigh pain from an injury
- Urgency:
- Self-treatment
5.Repetitive Strain Injury of the Quadriceps
Repetitive strain injury of the upper leg is caused by consistent repetitive use.
Resolves with rest
- Rarity:
- Uncommon
- Top Symptoms:
- upper leg numbness, thigh weakness, thigh pain from overuse
- Symptoms that always occur with repetitive strain injury of the quadriceps:
- thigh pain from overuse
- Symptoms that never occur with repetitive strain injury of the quadriceps:
- upper leg injury, severe upper leg pain
- Urgency:
- Self-treatment
6.Iliopsoas Bursitis
Bursae are small fluid-filled sacks located around the body in strategic locations to provide a cushion and help reduce friction. Iliopsoas bursitis, or hip bursitis, is an inflammation of the hip bursa, causing pain at the point of the hip. The pain may extend to the outside of the thigh area.
Problem should resolve within weeks to months.
- Rarity:
- Uncommon
- Top Symptoms:
- thigh pain, groin pain, limping, snapping or clicking sensation of the hip, pain in the front of the hip
- Symptoms that never occur with iliopsoas bursitis:
- fever, back pain, butt pain from an injury, pain in both hips, unmovable hip lump, hard hip lump, back pain that shoots down the leg
- Urgency:
- Primary care doctor
7.Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome is a common cause of hip pain caused by damage to the tendons and/or bursa (fluid-filled sac near a joint) at the outside point of the hip known as the greater trochanter.
Weeks to years
- Rarity:
- Uncommon
- Top Symptoms:
- lower back pain, pain in the outside of the hip, moderate hip pain, groin pain, limping
- Symptoms that always occur with greater trochanteric pain syndrome:
- pain in the outside of the hip
- Urgency:
- Primary care doctor
8.Peripheral Arterial Disease (Pad)
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) occurs when the big blood vessels, called arteries, become too narrow due to clumps of fat (called plaques) building up inside the walls. If arteries become too narrow, not enough oxygen and nutrients are delivered to the muscles, skin, and organs. The arteries in the legs are often affected first, as they are the furthest from the heart.At first, PAD has no symptoms. As it gets worse, leg pain is likely to develop, leading to cramps in the calf, thigh, foot, or buttock upon exercise. PAD can also increase the risk of a blood clot if a piece of plaque detaches, leading to serious complications such as a heart attack or stroke.Peripheral artery disease is much more common in smokers and in people with diabetes. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, being overweight, and not getting much exercise also can put one at higher risk.
The prognosis of this disease is highly variable and depends heavily on habits, medical history, and genetics. Peripheral artery disease is a chronic non-life threatening condition. Managing the disease, however, is very important in reducing the risk for stroke and heart attacks, so make sure to follow-up with a physician.
- Rarity:
- Common
- Top Symptoms:
- leg numbness, spontaneous foot pain, decreased exercise tolerance, cold feet, thigh pain
- Symptoms that never occur with peripheral arterial disease (pad):
- calf pain from an injury, thigh pain from an injury
- Urgency:
- Primary care doctor
9.Thigh Bone Infection (Osteomyelitis)
Osteomyelitis of the thigh is a bacterial or fungal infection of the thigh bone, typically caused by Staph Aureus (40-50% of the time). It is difficult to diagnose as the infection can come from a break in the skin at the area or anywhere else in the body that spreads by blood.
Improvement during a 6-week treatment with antibiotics
- Rarity:
- Rare
- Top Symptoms:
- moderate fever, constant upper leg pain, spontaneous thigh pain, painful surgical site, warm red upper leg swelling
- Symptoms that always occur with thigh bone infection (osteomyelitis):
- spontaneous thigh pain, constant upper leg pain
- Urgency:
- Hospital emergency room
10.Chronic Thigh Bone Infection (Osteomyelitis)
Osteomyelitis of the thigh is a bacterial or fungal infection of the thigh bone, typically caused by Staph Aureus (40-50% of the time). It is difficult to diagnose as the infection can come from a break in the skin at the area or anywhere else in the body that spreads by blood.
Improvement during a 6-week treatment with antibiotics
- Rarity:
- Rare
- Top Symptoms:
- spontaneous thigh pain, moderate fever, painful surgical site
- Symptoms that always occur with chronic thigh bone infection (osteomyelitis):
- spontaneous thigh pain
- Urgency:
- Hospital emergency room
Questions Your Doctor May Ask About Sharp Thigh Pain
- Q.Do you run for exercise or sport?
- Q.What is your body mass?
- Q.Do your symptoms get worse when you exercise?
- Q.Have you ever had any surgeries?
If you've answered yes to one or more of these questions, try our sharp thigh pain symptom checker to find out more.
Take QuizSharp Thigh Pain Symptom Checker Statistics
People who have experienced sharp thigh pain have also experienced:
- 11% Pain in One Thigh
- 8% Lower Back Pain
- 4% Thigh Pain
People who have experienced sharp thigh pain had symptoms persist for:
- 32% Over a Month
- 26% Less Than a Week
- 22% Less Than a Day
People who have experienced sharp thigh pain were most often matched with:
- 40% Deep Vein Thrombosis
- 40% Compartment Syndrome
- 20% Thigh Nerve Issue (Meralgia Paresthetica)
Source: Aggregated and anonymized results from visits to the Buoy AI health assistant (check it out by clicking on “Take Quiz”).