Burning in my thigh

Triathlon Forum
1

For the last week or so, I have been experiencing some tingling/burning sensations in my left thigh. I would say quad, but it doesn’t really feel like its a normal muscle strain. Well today during my run it got alot worse. During the run it started burning so I decided to walk abit. Once I started walking it became much more severe. The sensation runs from the middle of the front of my thigh down to around my knee. Only on the left leg. It has be concerned since I am 3 months out from Longhorn, my first HIM.

Is this a nerve issue? Have I pinched one someplace? It really doesn’t feel muscle related.

Any ideas?

2

Sounds like it could be a back problem. Go see your doctor. You may need an MRI of your lumbar spine.

Jodi

3

Afraid of that. Its strange though that it only bothers me during and run and then for about an hour after.

I am going to really ramp up the stretching and get a couple of deep tissue massages in hopes that it is more of a problem with muscle spasms in the back causing a pinched nerve or something. Think that is a possibility? If I continue to have issues though, I will see a Dr. Should I go see an ortho guy first, my general dr or a chiro?

4

Caveat: Not a doctor, don’t play one on TV, but train like a mofo and have experienced my share of “tingling, sore, hurts, ouch” etc.

Before running (well, maybe hobbling, in your case) to a doctor:

What have you done with your training? Biking a lot more? Different bike position? New shoes? Worn out shoes? Running a lot of hills? What?

Do you stretch? Do you get massage?

The area you are describing is obviously your quads, and it COULD be a nerve related issue which would point to your back, but need for an MRI may be premature.

Sounds like your psoas/rectus femoris, which are the hip flexors. Psoas goes up your back, which is why it’s suspect. If you don’t stretch it or don’t know how to, it can cause problems in bikers or runners or even swimmers. Same thing with tight glutes, weak adductors or imbalance of quad strength between inner (VMO) and outer (vastus lateralis). Any of these things can cause pain in the quads referring to the knee.

I’d try a few things before going to doctor: gently stretch your psoas. Several ways: kneel on one leg; other in front as if mid-way through lunge; pigeon pose in yoga (difficult if you haven’t done it), stand up and put one foot on table. Do you feel anything? Does it hurt? Try a quad stretch where you lay on your stomach and grab one foot and pull the leg gently towards your back. This stretch works better on the rectus femoris than the usual standing quad stretch.

Next, check for trigger points in your rectus femoris, which is the large meaty, central part of your quads. The trigger points are usually right up near the tendon area. Hunt around with your thumbs. Any tenderness? Hold for maybe 30 seconds and then relax and massage around them. Better yet, go get a sports massage.

If you’d like, PM me, I have a whole set of stretches that target psoas/rectus femoris/piriformis that seem to work well to keep me in good condition and others have found relief for various things.

Trigger points cause symptoms that mimic nerve issues. Trigger points come and go in athletes. It’s just a result of the muscular stress we place on ourselves. But having them doesn’t mean the muscle is injured or you have nerve damage. But if you don’t take care of them by working them out by stretching, trigger point work, etc., they can turn into much larger problems.