<s>[INST] Hi I am a very inactive person who started having discomfort in my very upper thigh on Monday this week. (Felt like I had pulled a muscle) It has been tender all week, this mornign while steping down some steps it felt like an explosion in my very upper thigh, almost the joint area. Can this be a strain from inactivness does that even make sense? [/INST] Hello, Thank you for contacting me at "Ask a Doctor". I will try to answer your question to the best of my ability. This does sound like a simple muscle strain.  It may well be that the qua Chat Doctor.  Most of these simple muscle strains will get better with simple conservative treatment.  Ice will help with pain relief.  If you feel stiffness in the area and then heat will help.  Take a simple pain medication such as Tylenol. If the symptoms are getting worse over the next few days, then I would suggest seeing your primary care physician. I hope this information is useful for you. Please do not hesitate to message us back if you have any further questions. Best wishes, A </s>