The paresthetic meralgia is a disease characterized by compression of the lateral femoral nerve of the thigh, leading mainly to the decrease of the sensitivity of the lateral region of the thigh, besides pain and burning sensation.
This disease happens more often in men, however it can be quite common in pregnant women, obese people or who wear many tight clothes, compressing the nerve and causing pain in the thigh.
The diagnosis is made mainly based on the symptoms described by the person and the treatment is done with the objective of relieving the symptoms, being recommended for example the loss of weight and the use of more loose clothes. Surgery to decompress the nerve is only indicated when the symptoms are persistent and do not improve with conventional treatment.
Main causes
The paresthetic meralgia can happen due to any situation that can make compression in the nerve of the thigh. Thus, the main causes of this condition are:
- Overweight or obesity;
- Use of tight straps or clothing;
- Pregnancy;
- Multiple sclerosis;
- After hip, abdominal and inguinal surgeries;
- Carpal tunnel syndrome, in which there is involvement of peripheral nerves;
- Direct thigh striking the nerve.
In addition to these causes, paraesthesia meralgia can happen when sitting cross-legged or during exercise, for example, causing numbness or tingling, but disappears when you uncross your legs or stop exercising.
How to treat
The treatment of the paresthetic meralgia is done with the objective of relieving the symptoms, it can be done with the use of analgesics and anti-inflammatories, for example. Depending on the cause, specific measures may be indicated, such as weight loss, if it is due to obesity, or wearing more loose clothing, if it is due to wearing belts or very tight clothing.
It is also indicated for people who have paresthetic meralgia that, if they are standing for a long time, try to support the foot in something, like a low bench, for example, to decompress a little the nerve and relieve the symptoms a little.
In addition, physiotherapy or acupuncture may be indicated, which is done by applying needles at specific points of the thigh with the purpose of reducing nerve compression and relieving symptoms. Learn what acupuncture is and how it works.
If the treatment with physical therapy, acupuncture or medication is not enough or if the pain is very intense, surgery is indicated to decompress the nerve and, thus, to improve the sensation of numbness, tingling and burning.
Symptoms of meralgia paresthetica
Meralgia paresthetica is relatively common and is characterized mainly by the sensation of tingling or numbness in the lateral part of the thigh, besides pain and sensation of burning from the hip to the knee.
Symptoms usually get worse when the person is standing for a long time or walks a lot and relieves when the person sits, lies or massages the thigh. Despite the symptoms, there is no change in muscle strength or movement related.
How is the diagnosis made?
The diagnosis of paraesthesia meralgia is mainly clinical, in which the physician evaluates the symptoms described by the person. In addition, the doctor may request additional tests to confirm the diagnosis and exclude other diseases, such as hip and pelvic X-ray, MRI, and electromyography, which is able to evaluate the conduction of an electrical impulse in the nerve and, thus checking the activity of the muscle. Understand how the electromyography is done.
