Meralgia Paresthetica | Burning Thigh Pain

What is Meralgia Paresthetica?

Meralgia Paresthetica is a common problem that can be a complicated pain issue to resolve. Meralgia paresthetica involves compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. In the classic anatomic configuration, the entire lateral femoral cutaneous nerve comes out of the pelvis just to the inside of your hip bone, the anterior superior iliac spine, and underneath the inguinal ligament, which is a tough band of fibrous tissue that goes from the front of your hip bone to the pubic bone in the middle.

What causes Meralgia Paresthetica?

Some people won’t get the symptoms checked out because the symptoms lessen when they avoid what exacerbates it. Many brush it off the feeling as something they get “when they wear something too tight” or “overdo it.” But If the diagnosis is late or missed entirely, a patient can suffer permanent disability. Pain can keep increasing, and leaving it untreated can lead to paralysis

Most common causes for Meralgia Paresthetica include:

Thigh pain started after surgery

Pregnancy

You’ve been doing a certain activity for long periods

Wearing tight clothing

Tension

You wear a seatbelt tightly…or had a motor vehicle accident

Pain/numbness that doesn’t affect your legs

You carry a lot of weight around your midsection

Carpal Tunnel

You’re 30 to 60 years old…or you’re a child

Diabetes

Meralgia Paresthetica treatment

How can doctors know meralgia paresthetica is the problem, and not something else? After all, it’s often misdiagnosed. To start, your doctor will look for clusters of risks and symptoms when they review your health history. And if your symptoms are relieved by a local anesthetic nerve block, your doctor can usually confirm that meralgia paresthetic is the right diagnosis.

If your doctor suspects that meralgia paresthetica is the problem, they’ll start you out with some conservative measures. For many people, symptoms resolve on their own, like with a pregnancy.

Some common treatments for Meralgia Paresthetica include:

Wearing loose clothing

Taking anti-inflammatory medications

Losing abdominal weight

Doing meralgia paresthetica stretches

Managing diabetes

Starting physical therapy

Adjusting activities to avoid sitting, standing, and more for long periods

Call now for an appointment to see how we may be able to help

(702) 666-0463