Neurosurgical Diseases and Disorders (M-Z) / Meralgia Paresthetica
General
Information
- Meralgia paresthetica occurs when the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve of
the thigh becomes trapped in the groin area.
- Obesity and obstructive respiratory disease with a chronic cough increase
susceptibility.
- The disorder affects men three times as often as women.
Symptoms
- The primary symptom is paresthesia, or numbness in the thigh. The numbness
may include burning, stinging, tingling, prickling, or a feeling "like pins
and needles."
- In the early stages symptoms are mild and intermittent. They are
aggravated by standing or walking and relieved by lying down.
- In advanced stages, paresthesia develops into shooting pains that are
unaffected by position change.
- Symptoms tend to regress spontaneously, but recurrence is common
Diagnosis
- Diagnosis is based on the patient’s medical history and evidence of
sensory loss strictly within the area of the thigh served by the lateral
femoral cutaneous nerve.
Treatment
- Non-surgical
- They include eliminating clothing or accessories that may cause
compression; weight loss and exercise to strengthen abdominal muscles; and
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications.
- These measures bring relief in approximately 90 percent of cases and
should be tried prior to considering surgery.
- Surgery
- Decompression of the nerve.
- Division of the nerve (neurectomy)
- More effective at relieving pain.
- Leaves permanent numbness in the area supplied by the
nerve.
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