Meralgia Paresthetica

Meralgia paresthetica may cause the following symptoms affecting the outer part of your thigh:

• Tingling and numbness
• Burning pain
• Decreased sensation
• Increased sensitivity and pain to even a light touch

These symptoms commonly occur on one side of your body and might intensify after walking or standing.

Meralgia paresthetica occurs when the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (which supplies sensation to the surface of your outer thigh) is pinched or compressed. The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve only affects sensation and does not affect your ability to use your leg muscles.

Common causes of this compression include any condition that increases pressure on the groin, including:

• Tight clothing
• Obesity or weight gain
• Wearing a heavy tool belt
• Pregnancy
• Fluid accumulation in the abdomen causing increased abdominal pressure
• Scar tissue near the inguinal ligament due to injury or past surgery
• Nerve injury, which can be due to diabetes, trauma after surgery or seat belt injury after a motor vehicle accident

In most cases, Dr Shiva can diagnose meralgia paresthetica based on your medical history and a physical exam.

To rule out other conditions, Dr Shiva might recommend the following:

• An x-ray, CT scan, MRI or nerve conduction study to exclude other conditions as a cause of your symptoms
• A nerve blockade involves pain relief from an anesthetic injection into your thigh where the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve enters into it to confirm if you have meralgia paresthetica.

Most people’s symptoms of meralgia paresthetica ease in a few months. Treatment focuses on relieving nerve compression.

Nonsurgical treatment options include:

• Wearing looser clothing
• Losing excess weight
• Pain relief medication
• Corticosteroid injections

Surgery to decompress the nerve is sometimes considered for people with severe and long-lasting symptoms.

Postoperative care

• Keep the wound dry for five days. Then dressings can be removed
• Monitor for any wound redness, discharge, fevers
• Six-week review with Dr Shiva