Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I made a list of of the things I am thankful last evening. One thing on my list is NeuroTalk and the people who support and contribute so much to the success of this site.

There has not been many posts to this site so I was wondering if there may not be many people on NeruoTalk who have MP. I thought I would ask the question and see if there are more of you out there.

I tried my first Lyrica (75 mg.) yesterday. It was in place of gabapentin I normally take. However it was delayed in shippment as a refill and I had a sample / starter pack of Lyrica. I was reluctant to use Lyrica because I have read over and over about the side effect - weight gain. (I also have read many people find side effects of Gabapentin too. I feel it has caused weith gain in me too.) I will say the Lyrica did help my for 12 hrs I had less pain. I did not feel any side effects. However, for now I am going back to Gabapentin now my refill arrived late, late yesterday. I know you should not change meds quickly but I also was out of my gabapentin and had to take Lyrica in place of.

Lyrica did not help my sensititivy to touch maybe it doesn't or maybe you need to be on the pill longer.

For any of you who have sensitivity to touch from nerve damage, MP. I saw a wire frame you can use in a bed that holds the covers up off your feet. Now my feet are not nerve damaged but I was thinking this type of frame would be a possiblity to use for sentitivity to touch from bed sheets and bed covers for the thigh/leg.. I am thinking of ordering it. Just a thought of getting some relief and maybe it would work for others. Also some handy people could probably make something like it.

Take Care

hi i got mp in june as a result of surgery.i have been in immense pain and i am still looking for answers from the hospital.i am under the care of a pin clinic and feel very miserable.i am taking gabapentin and a couple of weeks ago had asteriod injection. i have since been given skin patches to place on my thigh.how did u get mp.

Sorry I did not relpy to your post sooner. I have a relative with health problems and it has been busy for some time.
I am not sure how I got MP. I had pain in my back and groin area and it was followed by MP very painful, I started to pass out. That has been at least 2 yrs now. I do not know if my back problems contributed to MP or not. I did sleep on 2 chairs in a hospital while staying with a family member very uncomfortable position. I also have weight I need to loose. So the doctors are not certain how I got MP. I do not have the horrific pain I did in the beginning. I am taking Neurontin and Relefin (sorry if sp wrong) and wear the patch for nerve pain in my left thigh. Hope you get to read this. Take care!

Meralgia Paresthetica can be the result of Myofascial trigger points (knots) in specific muscles especially Tensor fasciae latae, Sartorius and psoas/Iliopsoas - which also causes back pain. Tense bands in the paraspinal muscles may also play a role.

You can learn to self treat these muscles.

Side bar restrictive clothing and weight gain are two common reasons for pressure on the below noted nerves.

However, go to a Doctor and review your symptoms and get a professional medical examination and opinion. Your health is too important not to review with a qualified medical professional.

The numbness/pain of MP may be symptomatic of the muscle entrapment of the femoral, lateral femoral cutaneous, and the femoral branch of the genitofemoral nerves which, may occur in the lacuma musculorum beneath the inguinal ligament, as nerves exit the pelvis through a narrow lacunain “opening” in the company of the ilipsoas muscle. The genitofemoral nerve regularly penetrates, and the iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves occasionally penetrate the psoas major muscle as they emerge from the lumbar plexus.

These trigger points can be deactivated by direct digital (finger) compression of the trigger point(s) in the affected muscle(s) followed by appropriate stretch. The Sartorius responds better to a cross fibber technique. You can learn to self treat these muscles. Look up books on treating Myofascial trigger points.

Trigger points cause the muscle to become shorter and tighter. This limits the function and mobility of the muscle which causes weakness, decreased circulation and pain. When injured, most tissues heal, but muscles learn they learn to avoid pain. This muscle memory can produce unexpected pain even years after an injury has occurred, especially during times of physical and emotional stress.

Take a look at the noted muscles and referred pain patterns at this link:
http://www.triggerpoints.net/_sgg/m2m2_1.htm

Thanks Painfree

I came back and read your post again and looked up the web address you suggested also. You mention going to a doctor to review my symptoms and to get a qualifed medical professional. What speciality should the doctor have? I have an orthopedic dr and see my newer rheumtology dr every several months. (he feels I have fibromyalgia and osteoarthris and MP). My general MD does not know much at all about MP. I also saw a neurologist several yrs ago he agreeded it was MP. They suggest weight loss and I think it would help. Back about 2 yrs ago I had a good pain doctor as far as giving shots (which I do not want any more of if I can tolerate the pain when it peaks.)
I agree what you say about trigger points and deactivating the compression point I just am not sure I know how to do it. I do believe it could learn to do it and I do not want my muscles to shrink.
Let me know what type of doctor should be able to help. Maybe I already have him it is just getting the person that can teach me to do this. Maybe it is a book I need to get and read to learn for myself.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks for your reply.

My MP is a result of a lower back injury, possibly causing a nerve impingement somewhere between the lower spine and the Pelvic Girdle area. Local pain blocks directly in the pelvic girdle (with 8 inch needles *yuch*) proved to be an excellent method to stop pain in the leg, however only lasts about 2-4 hours for each treatment.

I have seen a Plastic Surgeon, as they are the specialists that deal with any type of "Nerve repair/surgury" upon recommendation of my Neurologist. Currently, I am under the care of a anestheseologist at a Pain Clinic at our local University Hospital. He is responsible for maintaining contact with me and programming which combination of drugs is the best for combatting the pain that I am in. I also see a psychologist to work on methods to control, manage and work thru pain breakthroughs and constant background pain.

Unfortunately, all in all, my GP appears to have the final word on my daily care, and does not always agree with the specialists at the Pain Clinic, having twice veto'ed their recommendations for various drug therapies.

Hope this gives you an idea which doctors I have seen.

Hi Edouin

Thanks for sharing. I found it interesting that a Plastic Surgeon is the doctor that would repair nerves and that your Neurologist gave the recommendation. This may be the case with some people in the U.S. too, so far I have not read about anyone doing this but it could be very possible.

My pain doctor would have done a procedure to burn my nerve root that is responsible for my impingement. He had done a priliminary procedure to prove the procedure would work. After, he did it and I had temporary success and then he moved to another medical center that was a greater distance to travel. I had a great deal of confidence in him and gave up on the procedure. I have heard people do not always have success with the procedure so for the past year plus I have not considered.

Thanks for writing and telling me what doctors you have seen. Welcome to this great NeuroTalk Site.

I had laparoscopic gallbladder surgery in July after which my right leg was numb. The surgeon said it had nothing to do with my surgery. My primary doctor told me it was shingles (no blisters). 6 months later I went to a neurologist who told me it was meralgia paresthetica. He gave me a shot in my groin area which helped for 1 day. When the numbness wore off the pain was worse. I am taking neurotin which I feel doesn't help. I have been on it only 2 weeks now and am ready to increase the dose to 900mg- 3 times daily. I feel as if the cold weather makes it hurt even more. I also feel that when I have to go to the bathroom (BM) the pain increases until I go. Does this happen to anyone else?

Towie
I have read about many possible causes of MP and I believe there are many. I am not positive what caused mine it could have been several things. I have had MP several yrs. Neurotin helps the electric spikes of the nerves and lidoderm patches on my thigh keep clothing from driving me crazy. I have spinal problems too. I had a flare up of my back about the same time I had MP show its self. At that time I did have have increased pain when I went to the bathroom but that only lasted a short time.
Cold weather can make MP more painful for me too.
It took months or longer for MP to calm down. I have learned to tolerate it better. It is not as painful as it was in the beginning.
If I use the meds, patch, do water exercise, keep clothes and bed coverings away from my thighs, and do not over due physical activity for the day it is easier to cope with MP for me.
Keep positive you will find what works best for you.
MP is a crazy thing but everyday I can get up and move is a blessing.
TAKE CARE!!!

Thank you for your response Lookingup58! The neurotin seems to be working pretty well now. I have been taking it for about 4 weeks now. I know when it it time to take the next dose because I start to get the burning pains. My leg also bothers me when it is cold. I will either turn on the heater or use a blanket and that seems to help. As for it sensitivity when the clothing or blankets touch my skin, that hasn't happened in a while. If I stay on my feet all day, like I did yesterday, I feel like a 90 year old woman. I have a follow up appt with the neurologist on 3/7. I want to ask him if there is a connection with the bm's and MP. I also want to find out if there is an alternative to taking so many pills a day. I find they help but feel like I am constantly popping pills! The shot he gave me only worked for a day.

Thank you again and take care!