sharp stabbing thigh pain

[b guy]

Over the past two weeks i have experienced sharp stabbing pains in front and outerside of both thighs the pain got to the point that i could not walk. the stabbing pains could be stretched out momentarily but would return almost immediately on walking again.

Sharp pain is only at front and outer side of thighs and alternates, usually its worse on one side of the leg more so than the other but from day to day it seems to alternate. Some days i dont feel any pain at all , I increased my stretching and discontinued strenuous activity. On attending a physio I had manipulation on my middle back to the side of the spine and i thought that after a few sessions the pain started to subside.

I have had an x ray/ct on spine/hip and have a slight old bulging disc however it is apparently not impinging on any nerve and ive heard that nerve problems will radiate down the rear of the thigh where ive had no pain.

I thought i'd kicked the problem but tried basketball where again the pain started on the left thigh, i had to continually stretch throughout the game but could not operate anywhere near 100 per cent.

i have recently taken up road cycling and am thinking it may have something to do with this however i was experiening the pain during football season but not to the extent it is at presently.

any ideas would be great as im not sure whether im waisiting time going back to the physio. The pain is not something i can push through and is very painful when at its worst.

[Heidi]

Hi,

Most nerve problems do radiate pain down the back of the leg, because they are due to compression of the sciatic nerve, however it is possible for pain to radiate down the front of the thigh, although less common.

I don't think you are wasting your time with the physio, if there was some improvement it is definately worth continuing. These things tend to take a while because if you can imagine, they have developed over a period of time, it will take time to reverse any damage and muscle imbalances etc.

[b guy]

Thank you for your help. my physio advised to keep up with the stretching, all leg muscles etc and lower back.

i have noticed with the stretching that the hip flexor stretch is the one that hurts more than any however i can still get a good stretch.

if the sharp stabbing pains come back when i resume physical activity i.e sport/riding should i be seeing a chiro aswell or just physio , or both? or is pysio and chiro a bad combination??

REGARDS

BRAD

[Heidi]

As far as I am aware it is possible to see a chiro and a physio at the same time as they usually focus on different things - the chiro on bone and joint alignment and the physio usually more on muscle imbalance etc.