What causes intermittent twitching and pain in the inner thigh muscles?

Sep 29, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Chen Jian
Introduction
In general, the main causes of intermittent twitching pain in the inner thigh muscles include excessive exercise, local cold exposure, medial thigh myofasciitis, lumbar disc herniation, and sciatica. If discomfort occurs, it is recommended to seek timely medical evaluation and treatment at a正规 hospital. In daily life, perform proper warm-up exercises before physical activity and avoid overexertion; also pay attention to keeping the thigh area warm.

Generally, the main causes of intermittent twitching and pain in the inner thigh muscles include excessive exercise, local exposure to cold, medial femoral muscle fasciitis, lumbar disc herniation, and sciatica. If discomfort occurs, it is recommended to seek timely medical evaluation and treatment at a正规 hospital. Specific analysis is as follows:

1. Excessive Exercise

Intense physical activity recently or failure to warm up before exercise may lead to fatigue of the inner thigh muscles and lactic acid buildup, causing muscle spasms and twitching pain. Reduce exercise intensity, avoid strenuous activities, stretch the muscles after exercise, take warm baths to relieve muscle tension, and ensure adequate rest.

2. Local Exposure to Cold

Prolonged exposure of the inner thigh to cold environments or direct contact with cold stimuli can cause blood vessels in the muscles to constrict due to cold invasion, resulting in insufficient blood supply and subsequent muscle spasms and twitching pain. Promptly wear additional clothing to cover the inner thigh area, apply warm compresses using a hot towel on the painful site for 15–20 minutes per session, and avoid staying in cold environments.

3. Medial Femoral Muscle Fasciitis

Chronic strain or trauma may lead to aseptic inflammation in the fascia of the medial thigh muscles, which irritates the muscles and causes twitching pain. Under medical guidance, medications such as loxoprofen sodium tablets, eperisone hydrochloride tablets, or celecoxib capsules may be taken, along with local massage to relax the muscles.

4. Lumbar Disc Herniation

A protruded intervertebral disc in the lumbar spine may compress nerve roots, leading to abnormal nerve conduction and radiating twitching pain in the inner thigh. Under medical supervision, medications such as mecobalamin tablets, diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablets, or vitamin B1 tablets may be used. In severe cases, surgical removal of the herniated disc nucleus (discectomy) may be required.

5. Sciatica

Compression or inflammatory irritation of the sciatic nerve can cause pain that radiates along the nerve pathway into the inner thigh, resulting in muscle twitching and pain. Under medical guidance, medications such as ibuprofen sustained-release capsules, gabapentin capsules, or pregabalin capsules may be prescribed. In some cases, surgical decompression of the sciatic nerve may be necessary.

In daily life, perform proper warm-up exercises before physical activity and avoid overexertion; keep the thighs warm to prevent cold exposure; avoid prolonged sitting and engage in moderate lower back movement; undergo regular lumbar spine check-ups to detect issues early; and rest promptly when pain occurs to prevent further injury.