Meralgia paresthetica

Overview

Meralgia paresthetica is a condition characterized by tingling, numbness and burning pain in the outer part of your thigh. The cause of meralgia paresthetica is compression of the nerve that supplies sensation to the skin surface of your thigh.

Symptoms

Pressure on the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, which supplies sensation to your upper thigh, may cause these symptoms of meralgia paresthetica:

  • Tingling and numbness in the outer (lateral) part of your thigh
  • Burning pain in or on the surface of the outer part of your thigh
  • Less commonly, dull pain in your groin area or across your buttocks

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

Causes

Meralgia paresthetica occurs when the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve — a nerve that supplies sensation to the surface of your outer thigh — becomes compressed, or "pinched." The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve is purely a sensory nerve and does not affect your ability to use your leg muscles.

In most people, this nerve passes through the groin to the upper thigh without trouble. But in meralgia paresthetica, the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve becomes trapped — often under the inguinal ligament, which runs along your groin from your abdomen to your upper thigh.

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

  • Tight clothing
  • Obesity
  • Pregnancy
  • Scar tissue near the inguinal ligament, due to injury or past surgery
  • Walking, cycling or standing for long periods of time

Nerve injury, which can be due to diabetes or seat belt injury after a motor vehicle accident, for example, also can cause meralgia paresthetica.

Diagnosis

A proper diagnosis can be achieved by consultations with your treating physician or a neurological specialist.

Prognosis

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Treatment

Treatment will vary depending on the cause, of which: extra weight, physical injury, prengancy and diabetes are all risk factors.