I posted the following many months ago. Just want to let you know I am now virtually 100% sure that my sleeping position caused my MP. It's hard to change your natural sleep position, but I've been working hard at it with enormous success

I just wanted to let all you MP sufferers know that this is ONE POSSIBLE CAUSE, probably of many. But if this happens to be the cause of your MP, you can solve it just by changing sleep position. It's been close to a year now, and my MP is 99% gone. Once in awhile I get little reminders that it's not 100%. But I was at my wit's end with it before this, and now I'm doing great

I figure if just one person can benefit from this posting, it's certainly worth my effort. Good luck to all! Here's my original posting:

I have suffered from Meralgia Parasethica for many years. The cause of my MP has always been a mystery - until now.
In the past couple of months, my symptoms started easing up considerably, and in the past 2-3 weeks they have disappeared, hopefully permanently! I have been mystified as to what's changed. But I just realized the answer and I'd like to share it with others. I'm quite sure this must apply to some other people who are suffering from MP.
My natural sleep position is on my side, with my upper leg hanging over my lower leg and knee touching the bed. I never thought twice about that until recently, when I've been working on my body alignment (for other reasons). Since June, I've been forcing myself to sleep on my side with my knees together instead. I'm more and more convinced this is what's made the difference.
I can't believe no doctor has ever asked me about my sleep position. But it's logical that this position can easily compress the Lateral Femoral Cutaneous nerve, thus causing MP.
If you sleep on your side, please consider this. I'm more convinced every day that this was the cause, and cure, for my MP! Good luck to all - I sure hope this will help some of you

Thx for posting this. I've apparently have mp and I'm certain it started from constantly being forced to sleep on my back after breaking my collar bone. After about 3wks it started tingling and one night my frontside thigh was burning. Sleeping with pillows high pillows under my knee helped but the problem has gotten worse but not as painful. Worse as in numb thigh and some stabbing explosions in my thigh. Still bare able though but my numb spot gets itchy and can't scratch it and it actually gets sore deep inside if I scratch. Anyway I was happy to read this. After 10 was I can now sleep on my side a little bit so your post gives me hope. I'm going to try ur position to c if we have some common structural issues.

Cheers!

I had numbness and some odd sensations on my thigh for months until I had nasal surgery, where I had to sleep propped up on 3 pillows on my back....this caused all the painful electric shocks and burning. When I tried to move during an electric shock feeling an excruciating pain would start as a result. I can now sleep on my side which is more comfortable but the shock pains are there all day long too.

Thank you Jacky P. I've been trying to not sleep as you've said you used to. I've been a little better since i've kept my knees together at night. I also just received a new mattress. I'm not sure there is a connection or not to my MP.

Like you were at one time, i can't figure out where the irritation is coming from. Fortunately, i consider my symptoms mild compared to so many here. Sometimes sitting hurts, sometimes standing still hurts, so far walking feels good.

I was diagnosed by an Ortho specializing in hips, and i'm certain he has this correct - burning on the thigh, etc. I feel lucky too only seeing one doctor for his diagnosis.

My pain does move around and i haven't read others saying that. Mostly it is on the top of my thigh, sometimes a few inches above the knee on the thigh and sometimes the side. Typically burning feeling, except when bending over more of a zing-shock like - hard to describe.

Putting my socks on is super painful with zings, so now i sit and put them on, and it is better. Bending over in general is bad for me. I bend over now with my bad leg out straight and that helps.

Overall, i sleep ok, though it does seem like if i start my day bad, i'm bad all day, and likewise, if i start out good, i'm good most of the day.

I haven't had recent weight gain, but trying to lose a little. Anything to make this go away. Rolling my pelvis when sitting seems to help (i think - too new to know long term), which makes me think weight lose would help. I wore tights today, which i was worried about, and i had a great day. Again, maybe holding in some belly fat? I don't know, i'm maybe 10 pounds overweight.

Many years ago, i had this in both legs after cycling for a few weeks, and thought it was muscle strain. I stopped cycling and it went away within a few weeks. This time the first trigger was running, but has been around since July. I was diagnosed on October 31.

Well, i'm rambling, but I wanted to say thanks for suggesting the sleep position thoughts. It makes sense, sort of like not crossing legs any longer. Thank you for following up months later too, so we knew you hit a long term solution.