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Meralgia paresthetica is a condition caused by compression of a lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, resulting in numbness, burning, or tingling sensations in the outer thigh. It can be caused by various factors, including pregnancy, weight gain, tight clothing, and traumatic injury. Treatment options include changing behaviors, medication, and surgery as a last resort.
The body has two lateral femoral cutaneous nerves, one on each side of the body. They attach to the spine and then travel down the outer thigh, helping to create sensation and nerve response in the outer thigh. If one of these nerves becomes compressed, it can cause a condition called meralgia paresthetica, which can result in tingling, burning, or numbness or dullness sensations on the outer thigh.
There are many things that could cause meralgia paresthetica or compression of a lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. Sometimes the condition occurs when people are pregnant because there is pressure on the nerve. Alternatively, some overweight people may also have this problem. Something as minor as wearing tight-fitting clothes, sitting, and/or especially riding a bike for long periods of time could cause this condition. On the other hand, the actual damage to the nerve could have occurred due to traumatic injury or conditions such as diabetes.
As stated earlier, the primary symptom of meralgia paresthetica is a numbness, burning, or tingling sensation on the outer thigh. Some people may also have numbness in the buttocks on the affected side. It should be noted that it is rare for symptoms to occur on both sides of the body. Usually only one nerve is compressed or damaged and this would only change the feelings on the side of the body where the nerve resides.
People who notice these symptoms may want to see a doctor, as nerve damage may be present and the condition is not minor. Doctors will likely evaluate each patient for common causes. They may ask about weight gain, pregnancy, common types of activity, whether clothing is usually tight, and whether there has been an accident or injury recently. The goal is to narrow down the cause and, if possible, rule out conditions such as diabetes that could be causing meralgia paresthetica.
Once diagnosed, treatment can depend a lot on the cause. Often changing a few behaviors is all that is needed. For example, the overweight person may need to lose a few pounds to relieve compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. Pregnant women will usually see the end of this problem after they deliver their babies. People who have these issues caused by sitting in certain types of environments may require a different type of seating.
When meralgia paresthetica causes burning pain, doctors may recommend medications to promote greater comfort. These could include over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If the condition does not improve, other medications may be tried. These surgeries are usually sufficient, but if the pain persists, doctors might recommend surgery to treat the affected nerve and terminal compression. This is usually a treatment of last resort, and doctors typically do not favor an aggressive approach to meralgia paresthetica unless clearly medically indicated.
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