Sharp Thigh Pain: Causes, Symptoms & When to See a Doctor

Question
Hi Doctor,

I hope you can shed some light to my urgent problem.

I am 60 years old, male.

Yesterday evening, after my dinner and just when I was standing up, a sudden very sharp jabbing pain occurred on the outer side of my left thigh.  The pain was so intense that I had to sit down.  That really got me very worried.

Then later in the evening, it happened again intermitently for a number of times.  It came without any warning, just a sudden series of jabs (poking)  and I was really shaken.  I could feel the pain going up to the left side of my head near my left ear. I have never experienced such pain before.

Strangely, I had a sound sleep without any occurrence, and for the whole day today it did not happen, except on 2 occasions when I felt a slight discomfort on the same area for a fraction of a second.

What could this be, and what are the remedies?  Can I continue to do my light exercise and qigong?

Thanks for your help.

jc.

Answer
those kind of pains typically are nerve pains (neuritis) where the nerve sends a pain signal for an unknown reason.  If it is happening occasionally, I don't see any reason you can't do light exercise and qigong (provided you aren't messing with chinese supplements)  

An evaluation for this is pretty frustrating... since it is just starting, finding a cause is probably not going to happen... these often bug people for a few days then go away, but if it persists, get it checked.