The cause of meralgia paresthetica is compression of the nerve that supplies sensation to the skin surface of your thigh. Surgery techniques include neurolysis, which is surgically freeing a nerve that is compressed by scar tissue or a neuroma tumor. Some of the common causes of meralgia paresthetica are wearing tight fitting clothes, obesity or gaining weight, and pregnancy. Found a book on it that recommended gabapentin, which worked well enough for me to start the exercise program it suggested. Meralgia has also been reported after longdistance walking and cycling. Manual muscle testing of myotomes l2l5 is critical, because again. Meralgia paresthetica is the term used to describe the clinical syndrome of pain, dysesthesia, or both in the anterolateral thigh associated with compression of the nerve. Meralgia paresthetica is a condition characterized by numbness, tingling, and a burning pain in the outer thigh. Meralgia paresthetica, which is also known as bernhardtroth syndrome, is a chronic neurological disorder involving a single nerve. Meralgia paresthetica is caused by compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, a. Many people with meralgia paresthetica benefit from other interventions like. Meralgia paresthetica and disability ortiz law firm. We describe 40 patients with clinical features of meralgia paresthetica referred to our pain clinic over a period of 6 yr february 1988 to december 1993 who were managed by a multimodality regimen.
Meralgia paresthetica comprehensive overview covers symptoms, causes and treatments of. Meralgia paresthetica mp, also known as bernhardtroth syndrome, is a neurological condition that causes pain, burning, tingling, or numbness in the outer part of your thigh. This nerve supplies feeling sensation to the outer thigh. It i mp pain while sleeping neurotalk support groups. However, it can also be caused due to other reasons such as other medical conditions like diabetes or local trauma. My doctor prescribed lidocaine patches, which really help i use to 12 a patch, depending on the level of pain and how muc. How do we treat meralgia paresthetica with manual therapy. Learn more from cleveland clinic about this conditions causes, symptoms, diagnostic approaches, treatment options and outcome. Treatment of meralgia paresthetica with ultrasound. In this case, recommended treatment may include medications to relieve symptoms or, in rare. Meralgia paresthetica symptoms and causes mayo clinic.
The symptoms of meralgia paresthetica are relieved by treating the underlying cause. The term pinched nerve applies to meralgia paresthetica. The cause of meralgia paresthetica is compression of the nerve that supplies. However, it can also be caused due to other reasons such as other medical conditions like diabetes or. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members pm, respond to polls. That same year roth termed this syndrome meralgia paresthetica. Atypical trigeminal neuralgia atn is a rare form of neuralgia and may also be the most misdiagnosed form. Although it seems like a random type of pain to experience, it is actually a result of a pinched nerve in the pelvic region.
Meralgia paresthetica is an entrapment neuropathy arising from compression of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve as a surgical complication or diabetic. In 1895 bernhardt described the syndrome of numbness, burning, and paresthesia in the anterolateral aspect of the thigh, corresponding with the distribution of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. See approach to the adult with unspecified hip pain. Meralgia paresthetica mp is a condition that causes numbness, tingling, and burning pain in your outer thigh.
Advise the client patient to wear clothing that is loose and comfortable and does not press against their hips. It is caused by compression of a nerve called the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh. The condition usually affects only one side of the body, but both sides may be affected in up to 20% of cases. Tight clothing, obesity or weight gain, and pregnancy are common causes of meralgia paresthetica. Meralgia paresthetica gbscidp foundation international. Meralgia paresthetica lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. Meralgia paresthetica mp is a condition associated with tingling, numbness and burning pain in the anterolateral part of the thigh, though sometimes characterized by lightning or electric pain, deep muscle achiness or, rarely, local hair loss in the anterolateral thigh. I have also encountered physicians that have never heard of meralgia paresthetica. Pdf meralgia paresthetica solving the diagnostic dilemma. First things first, mike, although a longstanding and respected colleague of ours, is not actually a bacc member. If you have a painful, burning sensation on the outer side of your thigh, it may mean that one of the large sensory nerves to your legsthe lateral femoral cutaneous nerve lfcnis being compressed. Meralgia paresthetica is a painful thigh condition caused by compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. Meralgia paresthetica, also known as bernhardtroth syndrome, is a physical medical condition caused by compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. The veteran contends that he is entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent for his meralgia paresthetica because he believes his symptoms are moderate in severity.
The carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common, but nerves other than the median can be involved. Ultrasoundguided diagnosis and treatment of meralgia. Meralgia paresthetica is a sensory neuropathy that occurs when the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve is compressed approach to hip and groin pain in the athlete and active adult view in chinese lateral femoral cutaneous nerve is exclusively sensory. I was diagnosed with meralgia paresthetica about a month ago when my outer thigh became completely numbasleep. Atn can have a wide range of symptoms and the pain can fluctuate in intensity from mild aching to a crushing. Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for meralgia paresthetica is remanded. Compression of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, sensation supplying nerve to the skin surface of the thigh, causes meralgia paresthetica. Meralgia paresthetica causes, symptoms, pain relief and. Meralgia paresthetica refers to the entrapment of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve at the level of the inguinal ligament. Heres some information to help you get ready for your appointment. I was diagnosed with meralgia paresthetica almost 3 years ago. Meralgia paresthetica diagnosis and treatment mayo clinic. Meralgia paresthetica best exercises for pain relief. Nothing ive done has cured the numbness, but i really dont care about the numbness as long as there isnt the pain.
If the client is overweight, weight loss is important. I believe you can get the book at amazon and most book stores. There is also no one size fits all treatment for mp. Meralgia paresthetica is a disorder characterized by tingling, numbness, and burning pain in the outer side of the thigh see figure 3. Pressure on any sensory nerve can cause pain and paresthesia in its area of distribution. Meralgia paresthetica is a condition characterized by tingling, numbness and burning pain in your outer thigh. Meralgia paresthetica is a disorder characterized by tingling, numbness, and burning pain in the outer side of the thigh. This can also be a side effect of obesity as a large belly can cause that pressure on the nerves in question. Meralgia paresthetica treatment strategies and exercises. There are also some medical conditions that seem to increase the chance of the nerve being squeezed, especially diabetes. The symptoms can be mistaken for migraines, dental problems such as temporomandibular joint disorder, musculoskeletal issues, and hypochondriasis. A cause of thigh pain, meralgia paresthetica can be mistaken for other conditions. Meralgia paresthetica is a mononeuropathy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve lfcn that can lead to significant disability when the diagnosis is missed or delayed. As the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve passes through the groin to supply feeling to the outer part of the thigh.
Meralgia paresthetica secondary to abdominal desmoid tumor. Meralgia paresthetica is also quite common in people who are overweight, especially if the weight gain was rapid. Meralgia paresthetica mp is a nerve entrapment which may cause pain. If the gabapentin does not work for your friend, please have her seek. Often, merely the awareness of the condition and knowledge of a few key differentiating factors helps the clinician quickly recognize this disorder. Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for. The disorder is caused by compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve spinal nerve ventral rami of l2 and l3, a sensory nerve to the skin see figures 1 and 2. It can, however, also be seen in fit and muscular individuals.
He is the medical director of the british medical a. Surgical management of meralgia paresthetica is a viable option for patients in. Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve entrapment meralgia. A manual therapy and exercise approach to meralgia paresthetica in pregnancy.
Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve entrapment meralgia paresthetica mayo clinic are you a healthcare practitioner. Meralgia paresthetica mp is the diagnostic term given to a patient presenting with a mononeuropathy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve lfcn and typically presents with numbness, tingling, paresthesias, or any other sign of nerve impingement along the anterior and lateral thigh. The patients medical history can elicit key information to direct the clinician to. Once diagnosed, the management of meralgia paresthetica poses a formidable challenge to the treating clinician. Meralgia paresthetica or meralgia paraesthetica is numbness or pain in the outer thigh not caused by injury to the thigh, but by injury to a nerve that extends from the spinal column to the thigh this chronic neurological disorder involves a single nervethe lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh, which is also called the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve and hence the syndrome. How to cure numbness in the case of meralgia paresthetica. Meralgia paresthetica is a condition that causes numbness, pain, or a burning feeling in your outer thigh. There are also some medical conditions that seem to increase the chance. Fifteen cases of meralgia paresthetica were identified in 14 patients in. Meralgia paresthetica mp, a common condition seen by both primary care physicians and specialists, is easily misdiagnosed because it can mimic other disease processes. Meralgia paresthetica can also be the result of trauma to the thigh or a disease, such as diabetes. The patients were given detailed information on the procedure, and informed. Meralgia paresthetica as a cause of leg discomfort.
The symptoms of meralgia paresthetica can vary in sensation, but they all show up in the same region of your leg the front and lateral region of the thigh, or the area innervated by your lfcn. Meralgia paresthetica and hypothyroidism annals of. A manual therapy and exercise approach to meralgia. For meralgia paresthetica that does not respond to these treatments, the doctor may recommend surgical treatment called sensory nerve surgery to relieve the compression surrounding the nerve. Your treatment may involve losing weight, wearing loose clothing, or avoiding certain restrictive items like belts. Mp occurs when the nerve that provides feeling to the area is pinched. The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve can be compressed particularly as it passes under pouparts ligament, leading to pain and paresthesia in the lateral aspect of. The disorder is caused by compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, a sensory nerve to the skin, as it exits the pelvis. Fulford grange, micklefield lane, rawdon, leeds, ls19 6ba.
The authors hypothesized that when the patient is prone the anterior hip gets. Subscription is free for qualified healthcare professionals in the us. Fifteen cases of meralgia paresthetica were identified in 14 patients in a. Meralgia paraesthetica is a nerve neurological condition that causes pain in the outer thigh.
The condition involves a tingling, numbness or burning pain in the outer thigh. Symptoms include burning sensations, numbness, and tingling in the outer thigh. Manual therapy treatment for meralgia paresthetica is primarily oriented toward removing the physical stressors that are likely causing the condition. Meralgia parestheticaa common cause of thigh pain page 2. Many causes have been suggested including mechanical factors such as. The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve a purely sensory nerve arises from the l2 and l3 spinal nerve roots, travels downward lateral to the psoas muscle, and then crosses the iliacus muscle. The available literature regarding manual therapy is composed of two.