Currently, pain in the right leg (in the thigh) is one of the most common reasons for contacting traumatologists and orthopedists. Most often, patients complain of severe discomfort in the hip joint. In this case, pain is often localized in the right thigh and leg. Sometimes it can radiate to other parts of the body.
Doctors say that such a condition is not dangerous if the symptoms persist for no more than 3 days and disappear on their own without any treatment. Pain in the right leg (in the thigh) is an alarming sign if it bothers you constantly and significantly worsens the quality of a person's life. The cause of its occurrence can be a large number of diseases and conditions - from mild trauma to oncology. It should be noted that the latter pathology accounts for no more than 2% of cases. The following are the main causes of pain in the thigh of the right leg.
Arthrosis
This term refers to a pathological process, the course of which is accompanied by the destruction of bone and cartilage tissue. In the presence of aching painright leg (from hip to knee) it is customary to talk about arthrosis of the hip joint.
According to statistics, pathology is most often diagnosed in females, whose age is 40 years or more. Often, the mechanism of its development is based on the natural aging of the body.
The hip joint is the largest joint. Outside, it is protected by ligaments, muscles and a joint bag. The articulation itself is formed by the acetabulum and the femoral head. Intra-articular surfaces are covered with cartilaginous tissue. In addition, they are lined with a synovial membrane, the task of which is to produce a special lubricant that ensures smooth movements.
Under the influence of various adverse factors, metabolic processes in the joint are disturbed. In addition, its blood supply worsens. As a result, cartilage loses fluid, making it brittle and less elastic. The next step is the appearance of cracks on it. As the disease progresses, the cartilage tissue wears out, and its particles enter the intraarticular cavity, which contributes to the development of the inflammatory process. Bone structures are subsequently involved in it.
Thus, the main cause of pain in the thigh of the right leg in this case is an inflammatory process caused by the destruction of cartilage tissue. Arthrosis is a consequence of:
- injuries;
- high intensity physical activity;
- scoliosis;
- kyphosis;
- flat feet;
- hip dysplasia;
- infectious pathologiesnature;
- gout;
- diabetes;
- obesity;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- chondromatosis.
Pain in the legs in the thighs is not the only symptom of the disease. Other clinical manifestations of arthrosis:
- Lame.
- Change in gait. The person begins to sway in different directions.
- Restriction of motor activity.
- Decrease in the volume of the muscles of the thigh and buttocks on the affected side.
At the initial stage of the development of the disease, symptoms are mild or absent. In the last stage, a person cannot walk on his own, he needs support in the form of a cane.
Treatment of leg pain from hip to knee can involve both conservative and surgical methods. At the initial stages of the development of arthrosis, the use of NSAIDs (Diclofenac, Nise, Movalis, Piroxicam), glucocorticosteroids (Diprospan, Kenalog), chondroprotectors (Teraflex, Dona), muscle relaxants ("Mydocalm"). In addition, intraarticular administration of drugs is prescribed, the active component of which is hyaluronic acid. In severe cases, surgery is indicated.
Piriformis inflammation
This pathology often causes burning pain in the thigh of the right leg. The piriformis muscle is a tissue, one of the tasks of which is to ensure a stable position in the acetabulum of the femoral head. It starts from the sacrum and passes through the ischialhole. It doesn't completely cover the latter. This is due to the fact that both nerve fibers and blood vessels pass through the sciatic canal.
Under the influence of various adverse factors, the piriformis muscle becomes inflamed. Against the background of the course of the pathology, it increases in size and covers the sciatic foramen, contributing to the pinching of nerves and blood vessels.
The main causes of the development of the inflammatory process:
- osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region;
- obesity;
- non-motor lifestyle;
- protrusions and herniated discs;
- arthrosis;
- flat feet;
- high-intensity exercise;
- Coccyx injury;
- hypothermia.
Symptoms of the inflammatory process:
- Stiffness in movement. The person cannot move the limb to the side.
- Pain in the right thigh, radiating to the buttocks.
- Numbness. Most often it is localized in the back of the thigh.
- Muscle weakness. Frequent episodes of spontaneous tissue twitching.
- Convulsions. As a rule, muscle cramps and pain in the thigh of the right leg increase at night.
- Feeling of constant crawling on the skin of the affected limb.
- Hyperesthesia.
- Lameness when walking.
Over time, symptoms of trophic damage appear. They are due to the fact that a person tries to maintain peace of the limb. The skin becomes thinner, varicose veins occur, muscle tissue graduallydries up and loses its working capacity.
Ignoring inflammation leads to the development of dangerous complications, including the death of the sciatic nerve, which threatens with disability.
Treatment of the disease requires an integrated approach. The classic scheme for the treatment of inflammation of the piriformis muscle includes the following items:
- Taking NSAIDs. Against the background of treatment, pain in the right leg (and in the right thigh, in particular) disappears.
- exercise.
- Massage.
- Physio-, reflexo- and kinesiotherapy.
In severe cases, the doctor evaluates the feasibility of surgical intervention, during which the surgeon will be able to restore the patency of the sciatic canal.
Rheumatism
This is a collective term. It includes more than a hundred diseases, the course of which is characterized by an inflammatory process in bone structures and soft tissues. According to statistics, rheumatism of the hip joint is one of the most common pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. The disease affects not only the elderly, but also young people.
Currently, the etiology of the disease is not fully understood. Doctors believe that the mechanism of its development is based on autoimmune processes. In other words, the defense system considers the cells of its own body to be foreign and tries to destroy them. A natural consequence is the development of an inflammatory process, the destruction of ligaments, cartilage and tendons of the joint.
For the initial stage of the development of rheumatism are not typicalspecific symptoms. A person loses his appetite, constantly feels tired. Sometimes body temperature rises to subfebrile values.
Over time, the following symptoms occur:
- Thigh pain radiating down the leg.
- Limited mobility.
- Swelling and redness of the area above the affected joint. The skin in this place is hot.
As rheumatism progresses, other joints are also involved in the pathological process.
Currently, there is no treatment that can completely get rid of the disease. The main goal of therapy is to relieve inflammation and pain. Symptomatic treatment involves taking NSAIDs, as well as undergoing a course of physiotherapy. If the joint is almost completely destroyed, surgery is indicated, during which the affected structures are replaced with a prosthesis.
Herniated disc
Most often, pulling pains in the thigh of the right leg appear if the protrusion is localized in the lumbar region. In this case, the discomfort is the result of pinched fibers that provide innervation to the lower limb.
The exact localization of the hernia can be determined already at the survey stage. In this case, the doctor analyzes the patient's complaints:
- If the thigh not only hurts, but also periodically becomes numb, this indicates that the protrusion has pinched one or more sensitive fibers.
- If you experience a sensation similar to electric shock while walking,the doctor may suspect compression of the roots of the spinal cord.
Other clinical manifestations of pathology:
- Convulsions. Most often they occur after long walks.
- The patient cannot lean on the leg that is on the affected side.
- Significant weakening of muscle tone.
- Violation of sensitivity.
In advanced cases, the limb completely ceases to function. At the same time, the work of internal organs may be disrupted, resulting in disability.
The treatment regimen consists of the following items:
- Symptomatic therapy. Most often, doctors prescribe Ketonal, Dicloberl and Torsid to patients. The first contributes to the elimination of pain in the right leg (in the thigh, in particular) and the resorption of edema. Dicloberl is a powerful anti-inflammatory drug. "Torsid" is an excellent diuretic that helps to remove excess fluid from the body. Due to this, swelling disappears.
- Manual Therapy.
Surgical intervention is indicated when conservative methods are ineffective. Most often, it is performed using minimally invasive techniques, such as microdiscectomy and laser excision of the protrusion. If the hernia is large, it is advisable to perform the operation in the traditional (open) way.
Osteochondrosis
This is a disease that is accompanied by the destruction of the affected joints. Bone structures are distinguished by a very complex structure;the degree of human motor activity.
Under the influence of various adverse factors, anaerobic or aerobic oxidation reactions are triggered in tissues. The next stage is the occurrence of destructive changes in the cartilage tissue. It dries out, becomes inelastic, cracks. In addition, the bones begin to break down. Against the background of these processes, protective mechanisms are activated. The body directs all efforts to the formation of new bone tissue. As a result, osteophytes are formed in the least loaded areas.
Bone outgrowths reduce the load on the joint, but at the same time have an irritating effect on the synovial membrane. Stagnation occurs, muscle tissue atrophies, stiffness in movements appears.
Reasons for the development of osteochondrosis:
- genetic predisposition;
- obesity;
- hormonal imbalance;
- wearing shoes that do not fit in size and other parameters;
- unbalanced diet;
- active activity of viruses and other pathogenic microorganisms, they move freely and often settle in the joints, especially in the synovial fluid;
- various kinds of injury;
- improper organization of work and rest;
- frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages;
- infectious pathologies of the genitourinary system;
- high-intensity exercise.
Clinical manifestations and their severity directly depend on the severity of the disease. The main symptoms of osteochondrosis:
- Pain in the thigh of the right leg when walking (if the joint is affected on this side).
- Lame.
- Change in gait.
- Stiffness in movement. Over time, the patient cannot walk on his own, he needs crutches or a cane.
- Short limb.
- Crunching in the joint while walking.
Osteochondrosis is one of the common causes of human disability. In this regard, it is necessary to consult a doctor in the early stages of its development, when the pain in the right leg (in the thigh) is still very weak.
The ailment treatment regimen consists of the following items:
- Intake, injection or topical application of medicines. Doctors prescribe NSAIDs (Nurofen, Nimesulide, Indomethacin), muscle relaxants (Sirdalud), vitamins (Milgamma), chondroprotectors (Chondroitin).
- Physiotherapy.
- Massage.
- exercise.
- Using orthotics, such as a hip bandage.
- Diet adjustment.
Surgical intervention is indicated when conservative methods of treatment are ineffective. During the operation, the hip joint is replaced with a prosthesis. The latter is made of titanium, thanks to which it has a long service life (about 15 years).
Stenosis and occlusion of the femoral artery
This vessel is one of the largest in the human body. Under the influence of various adverse factors, the lumen of the artery narrows. With its complete overlap, it is customary to talk about occlusion. As a result, tissues cease to receivethe required amount of oxygen and vital components. A natural consequence is severe pain in the right thigh, radiating to the lower part of the limb.
The main causes of the development of pathology:
- unbalanced diet;
- atherosclerosis;
- tobacco smoking;
- frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages;
- high-intensity physical activity or, on the contrary, a lifestyle that does not imply physical activity;
- psycho-emotional instability;
- non-specific aortitis;
- endearteritis obliterans;
- Takayasu's disease;
- IHD;
- myocardial infarction;
- arrhythmia;
- hypertension;
- presence of malignant neoplasms in the heart or lungs;
- mechanical tissue damage;
- natural age changes;
- frostbite of limbs;
- blood pathology.
The symptoms of femoral artery stenosis and occlusion are similar. Clinical manifestations of ailments:
- rapid onset of fatigue in the lower extremities;
- burning and tingling sensation in the legs;
- reducing the degree of sensitivity;
- intermittent claudication.
In severe cases (as a rule, when the lumen of the vessel is completely blocked), there is severe pain in the thigh of the right leg in front. Most often, it is this limb that is affected, since it is the supporting one. In addition, there is muscle weakness and severe stiffness in movements. In the future, this can lead to gangrene orparalysis.
Treatment of stenosis/occlusion of the femoral artery is always carried out in a hospital setting. Drug therapy is aimed at stopping pain and normalizing blood circulation. For this purpose, doctors most often prescribe the following drugs: Mydocalm, No-Shpa, Papaverine, Bupatol, Vasculat. Anticoagulants are indicated only if the narrowing of the lumen of the vessel was due to the formation of a blood clot.
In severe cases, surgery is performed.
The outcome of the disease directly depends on the timeliness of the visit to the doctor. In 90% of cases, patients recover completely. Ignoring warning signs can lead to death.
Sciatic nerve pinched
In this case, the pain is localized in the back of the thigh. They are sharp in nature, as a result of which a person cannot step on the affected limb.
Currently, pinching of the sciatic nerve is most often diagnosed in young people. The main causes of the pathological process:
- displaced intervertebral disc;
- damage to muscles or pelvic organs;
- pathologies of an infectious nature;
- presence of benign or malignant neoplasms;
- hypothermia;
- presence of protrusions;
- osteochondrosis;
- high-intensity exercise;
- spasm of adjacent muscles.
The main symptom of the pathology is pain in the back of the thigh. From-for her, a person cannot sit down and raise a straightened leg. In addition, the intensity of pain increases during flexion of the foot.
Other clinical manifestations:
- paresthesia;
- limping.
Treatment of the disease involves taking painkillers and NSAIDs.
Tuberculosis of the hip joint
This term refers to a specific infection caused by the active life of Koch's bacillus. Pathology can be detected absolutely at any age. It is worth noting that it is diagnosed very rarely.
When the hip of the right leg is affected, the pain in the anterior part is mild at first, but over time its intensity increases.
Other symptoms of hip TB:
- weakness;
- muscle discomfort;
- increase in body temperature to subfebrile values;
- limping;
- weight loss.
As the disease progresses, symptoms get worse.
Treatment is carried out in specialized dispensaries. All patients received antibiotic therapy. Additionally, massage, exercise therapy and other rehabilitation measures can be prescribed. In severe cases, the affected structures are excised.
Injuries
The cause of pain may be damage to the musculoskeletal system and bones. In the event of an injury, it is recommended that you seek medical attention. It is important to understand that this zone heals for a long time, and the bones grow together during a fracture.hard.
In conclusion
Pain in the thigh of the right leg is not uncommon. If they disappeared on their own in 2-3 days, you should not panic. However, if the pain persists, it is recommended to consult a doctor. The specialist will carry out diagnostic measures and, based on their results, draw up a treatment regimen.
