Achy pain in my upper outer thigh and there is a hard lump there about the size of my palm? tender/uncomfortable with touch and/or pressure

Possible infection: A large tender lump like that could be due to trauma or infection. I suggest you see a doctor as soon as possible. If you develop a fever, you might want to go to urgent care or an emergency department. Draw a line around the lump with a marker to monitor its size. If it's rapidly getting larger, you need to go to the er. Good luck.

Spasm: Muscle spasm can transiently ball up and feel as a mass. Massage may alleviate quickly along with some ice packs. If not, must consider diagnostic imaging for cyst, rupture muscle, hematoma, tumor.