Upper leg/groin pain in teenage girl

I'm an 18 year old female and this pain began around 2 months ago. It's a pain in the upper thigh area slightly left from central verging towards the groin area. It usually occurs when I'm walking which seems to set it off. Usually it's mild and I can just walk through it but sometimes it gets so bad I can barely walk. Or if I'm sitting down, can't lift my leg far. It passes for a while then comes back. I thought at first I'd maybe pulled a muscle or something but as I say it's been a couple of months now and it's recurring.

I go to karate twice a week and I've been noticing a kind of "popping" feeling in the area when I lift my leg to do kicks. I also sometimes get tightness in the area when I lift the leg for a long period of time, mainly for balance exercises. This tightness began before the 2 months I mentioned at the start and it's only just occurred to me it could be linked.

I also feel a pain sometimes round the back at the same side which I can only really describe as a "bone pain" kind of feeling. This usually happens when I'm sitting or lying down and when it occurs I can't move until it passes. Again, I don't know if this is linked but I'm just putting in as much info as possible.

It doesn't affect my life terribly, I can usually just keep going and it'll pass, although I suppose it affects me enough to ask this question. I'm not using this forum as any kind of substitute for a real doctor, I'm just wondering if anyone has any ideas reading this. I apologise for this question being so long, and I'd appreciate any answers you have. Thanks

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

Well without a physical examination and probably a few tests it would be difficult to determine the cause of your discomfort. Possibilities include muscle strain/ tears, ligamental injuries, inflammations like capsulitis, tendonitis, bursitis, nerve compression, dislocation/ subluxation etc. It would be best to get this evaluated by a primary care physician initially. After a cause to your symptoms is diagnosed it can be managed accordingly or specialist care may be sought.
Hope this helps.

Take care!

[mercury_7]

Thank you very much for the insight!
Another thing I forgot to mention was a tightening sensation on the lower right abdomen (same side as the other problems and not menstrual). Again however, I'm not sure if this is linked.
If the problem persists I'll seek further help, thanks again for you answer!

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi again!

The tightening sensation in the abdomen is unlikely to be related to your leg discomfort. This could be related to GI, renal or gynaecological issues. I would suggest getting this evaluated by a primary care physician for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate management.
Hope this is helpful.

Take care!