Originally Posted by drp. (Post 739268)

I recently read your post regarding a nerve block for meralgia paresthetica. I am a Harvard-trained plastic and peripheral nerve surgeon and also use nerve blocks to help in the diagnosis of this condition. However, in my hands, the nerve block is as diagnostic test, not a treatment modality. In other words, if the physical exam suggests MP and there is a positive Tinel sign on physical exam, that to me is a sign of peripheral nerve compression (just like carpal tunnel syndrome). If the patient responds positively to a nerve block they are a candidate for a decompression procedure to hopefully give them more permanent relief. This procedure is done as an outpatient and often takes less than two hours. As you know, meralgia paresthetica (compression of the lateral femoral or lateral femoral cutaneous nerves is a condition which results in a lot of anterior and lateral thigh (sometimes buttock) pain. Most people do no know this it can be very successfully treated with decompression surgery. It is a procedure I have performed on more than one occasion. In fact, I presented my results with this very procedure at the California Society of Plastic Surgeons Meeting last May. In that series of patients, the pre-operative pain intensity score was 9.4/10 and post-op was only 1/10.

Originally Posted by rMuD (Post 879152)

I have had undiagnosis MP for 15 years. I have not suffered from the pain for the past 3 years, and finally diagnosed a few months ago.

If I stay sedentary Lyrica works great, if it is not, you are not taking enough, Taking More Causes Less Side Effects So when your doctor says take more gabalin (Neurontin) or pre-gabalin (Lyrica) they are not crazy. Taking 600mg of Lyrica is not uncommon and safe. If you feed drugged at 75-100mg of it, take more, it means you are not taking enough! Most people complaining about this medication never took enough to be theraputic. 2700-3600mg of gabalin is considered theraputic dosage for MP, anything below that can give you what I call chronic Drool syndrome.

Now that I've had some relief from Injections, and fully understand what is causing the pain, and what the flare ups are caused by, I can now exercise and move around much more. Deep Water Aerobics is a miracle for me. The Arthritis Foundation has $1 classes weekly at most YMCA's and other places. My Rec Center has a Lazy river that is mostly used for Water Walking. Water also calms the anxiety and depression, the root of suffering from the pain.

As a man, I tried lidoderm patches years ago and thought it was the most evil torture ever! I now shave my leg, and Lidoderm is the #1 way I reduce the pain when I am active or having a flare up.

Taking Opiods and morphine over a few months will increase your pain levels and anxiety which will cause you even more pain. Stay away from Opiods and Morphine on a daily basis, save these for the flare ups.

If you tried everything and nothing works, there are 2-3 clinics around the world that have intensive programs to manage your life with pain. The Pain level is reduced to a tolerable level, it works, and works well. I can't post links yet. but search on the Cleveland Clinic, Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program. If you want a chance of getting back control of your life, this is the program. 5 days a week 8 hours a day under direct doctor care. Mayo Clinic, and there is one in Indiana. The American Chronic Pain Association was founded by patients of the CCF program. They have meetings in cities all over the world.

This week I go to the peripheral nerve center at the Cleveland Clinic. Like the doctor said above the injection removed a lot of the pain. Fingers crossed I can get perminate relief.

Get out of the house, move around, do something fun. Agoraphobia and Social Phobia run rampant with MP. It hurts to move, and if I move for too long it gets worse.. so Getting trapped in so much pain out in public scares the crap out of people with MP.

Rob.

Originally Posted by Rottonron777 (Post 847723)

I had to go to the emergency ward at my local hospital, because I had so much pain in my right thigh, they told me to come back the next day for a ultra-sound, I had just come back from a trip and thought that I might have a blood clot in my leg. I did go back the next day and they told me I did not have a blood clot, and that it was probably just a pinched nerve, and not to worry. I have not slept for more than 3-4 hours a night in the last 1 1/2 weeks, I did some research, and I am convinced I have Meralgia paresthetica. Is there any Canadians on this board that are dealing with MP? The Canadaian health plan SUCKS!!! ( get ready Americans! it is going to get very UGLY) I know once I get to see my doctor it will be 6 months before I will get to see a specialist. Is there anything I can do myself to eleviate the pain ( beers not working ).

Rottonron

Originally Posted by Hopeless (Post 1209910)

Hi Mando,

Welcome to NT but so sorry to hear MP brought you to us.

You are NOT alone but you may find this forum a bit inactive because many MP sufferers have it on a temporary basis. But then, there are a few of us that suffer with it for a lifetime.

If you ever want to chat about it, feel free to contact me.

Most of the people have come and gone but there are a few of us that remain.

One of the posters that left due to recovery, kept in touch with me after they had their LFCN removed. It took at least 6 months before ALL symptoms were gone. I guess it is like when one has an amputation and phantom limb pain of the missing limb.

The GOOD news, this person, has now totally recovered, is back to living a VERY full life and has resumed all the activities that MP had taken away.

Since your decompression was recent, I would not give up hope just yet. What does your doc say?

I know I would feel like the surgery was a failure if I still had pain after going through a decompression procedure, but based upon what I was told by others, and my own personal experiences (not with decompression or removal), some treatments do take time to produce the desired effects.

We are here if you wish to keep in touch. Welcome aboard but again sorry to hear of your suffering. You are NOT alone.

Originally Posted by drp. (Post 739268)

I recently read your post regarding a nerve block for meralgia paresthetica. I am a Harvard-trained plastic and peripheral nerve surgeon and also use nerve blocks to help in the diagnosis of this condition. However, in my hands, the nerve block is as diagnostic test, not a treatment modality. In other words, if the physical exam suggests MP and there is a positive Tinel sign on physical exam, that to me is a sign of peripheral nerve compression (just like carpal tunnel syndrome). If the patient responds positively to a nerve block they are a candidate for a decompression procedure to hopefully give them more permanent relief. This procedure is done as an outpatient and often takes less than two hours. As you know, meralgia paresthetica (compression of the lateral femoral or lateral femoral cutaneous nerves is a condition which results in a lot of anterior and lateral thigh (sometimes buttock) pain. Most people do no know this it can be very successfully treated with decompression surgery. It is a procedure I have performed on more than one occasion. In fact, I presented my results with this very procedure at the California Society of Plastic Surgeons Meeting last May. In that series of patients, the pre-operative pain intensity score was 9.4/10 and post-op was only 1/10.