Maybe this will help someone.

(I'm guessing in order of importance - for MY symptoms mentioned below)

• bending over with leg stretched back and out straight
• sleep with knees together - no running type positions keeping upper leg off mattress - not rolling hip forward (thanks to JackyP)
• new mattress - Extra firm with 1.5-inch gel foam pad and synthetic filled puffy mattress pad
• putting socks on without lifting leg - seated
• getting lower half dressed while sitting down
• refraining from bending over in general and no reaching out to pick up something
• leg out straight while sitting, rolling pelvis - slouch - no leaning forward to stare at computer monitor
• keeping hip above leg - when on couch and using coffee table as leg rest
• using stand-up desk at work - alternate sit/stand
• tried to lessen stress - release tension from legs
• careful to twist when sitting
• lose clothing
• one size larger underwear - when heavy side seam in hip then turned inside out
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin D3
• "Calm" magnesium
• Prilosec - 2 in a.m. - doubt related, but prone to acid reflux

Advil and Tylenol when necessary - depressed from pain and maybe from meds?

Possible mistakes that I made - hot tubs and heating pad, next time ice or try patch

My symptoms:
• Zings/zaps/electric burst feelings when bending over, sitting and sometimes standing - short in duration and usually could stop by moving leg
• burning mainly on top thigh, sometimes closer to knee and sometimes tight feeling on side
• some soreness to lateral femoral cutaneous nerve area
• painful to raise leg to put sock on and bending over in general
• horrible pain for about 4-5 days after stretching - prior to diagnosis when i thought it was muscular - pain in legs, hip/buttock, some back hip
• doesn't hurt to touch as some experience
• no weakness in leg

This time the trigger was running (for about 3 weeks) and I stopped as soon as I felt pain, but it got worse as time went on – thought it was muscle strain, so I waited for it to get better (ha). So far has lasted 4 months, but much improved since the changes noted above – diagnosis was 10 days ago – made changes immediately (90% pain free and mega improvement each day).

I have had this in the past in both legs after cycling and squatting lots, like painting near the floor, gardening, etc. – I always thought it was muscle strain.

I hope my comments help someone. I feel fortunate that I’m not as bad as it sounds like I could be and I also feel fortunate that my doctor diagnosed this in one exam, without a bunch of tests!

Jenny

I should have had Meralgia Paresthetica in the title!

I fixed the title for you

Hi Jenny... Losing weight.... anyone else on this? (maybe you listed that.) i have intentionally lost a few lbs lately, and i do notice my left thigh MP pain has become less painful and less like "rolling thunder" at nighttime. numbness... going to pain... going to sharp pain... then to unbearable pain. pain areas moving around like rolling thunder. The relief if real for the last two weeks, i think. hope it stays under control, bc lately it's been the worst in my life at nighttime in bed.

Hi Jenny. I haven't been on this site for a very long time and just read with great interest your comments about the things you've done to help with your MP - including the change in sleeping position which you credited me for! I was thrilled to see I could help someone with my comments!! Your post was several years ago and I'm wondering how you're doing now.

I've had MP for several decades, with some blocks of time (sometimes years) where it almost goes away, but never totally. I'm having another bad spell now but I think I MIGHT know what precipitated it. I'm' hopeful but not at all certain that lunges contribute to my MP symptoms, so I'm stopping them altogether and will see what happens.

hope you continue to do well!