My observation is that the lateral femoral nerve does exit the spine at L4/L5 along with other nerves. If compression is happening at that point from spurs on the facets, or stenosis, then mixed symptoms might result.

The nerve passes thru the abdomen and exists under the inguinal ligament near the lateral thigh. So abdominal compression (trauma/surgery) or groin issues also cause MP this way.

Here is a website with illustrations:
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/0401/p2109.html

Figure 2B shows the nerve passing into the thigh.

Hi. Finally got a right diagnoses and wanted to share it with you guys. After tons of useless tests by his primary and the spine place. Finally he was sent to get an Ultrasound and after talking with the lady she decided to check his arteries in his leg even though she was supposed to check his muscles. She was right on ! He has PAD. A blockage in his thigh area. The vascular surgeon said he has very skinny arteries he was probably born with and some build up. He goes for angioplasty and stent on feb 2nd. Thanks for all your advice :)

Hi MNS1979,

Thanks for letting us know of the diagnosis. Wishing you the best. We will be thinking of you both on the 2nd of February. I am sure that once the stent is placed, he will see a vast improvement in his leg with proper blood flow.

Hi MNS 1979,

I responded to your NEW post and then I just went back and read your earlier posts in the thread.

I am a little concerned that you are still maybe not getting a FULL diagnosis. I do not doubt that your husband may have a vascular problem in his leg, confirmed by ultrasound. Did they do a Doppler study?

But I am NOT sure that explains ALL of the symptoms you had listed. PAD usually causes claudication, pain upon walking, but I am thinking there may be more involved.

It would not be out of the ordinary to have more than one issue occurring in the same location within the body. Just because he does have a vascular problem does not rule out that he may have "other" issues, too.

Please let us know how he does after the stent placement. If all the symptoms disappear, that will be great. If not, that does not mean the stent did not resolve the problem for which it was done. That may mean he has other issues, too.

Please keep us posted. Wishing you the best.