--a diagnosis of pure small fiber neuropathy would be unlikely; the usual presentation of small fiber neuropathy would not start in the thighs.

There'd more likely be symptoms in the furthest reaches of the extremities first, but if progressing, it would slowly "crawl" from the those extremities towards the center of the body.

Meralgia parasthetica cannot yet be ruled out--it's very hard to image the spaces through which the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve passes and may become compressed. But yes, there is also the possibility of one of the vascular autoimmune conditions that can have neuropathy as a symptom; these neuropathies are often patchier in distribution (sometimes referred to as a mononeuritis multiplex).

See:

Immune Neuropathies: Axonal

I realized recently that my description of my pain is not entirely accurate. I've called it a "burning" pain, not realizing some might mistake that for a "sunburn" type pain, which is not what I experience. (Although, I've had many sunburns over the years, being pale and with freckles, lol). I guess it's more like an electric shock-like pain? It's really hard to describe accurately. It was the same type of pain I had in my ankle / foot years and years ago (which eventually went away on its own; never found out what caused it).

When I googled "electric shock-like pain in the thigh," there was one maybe two sites that listed it as a symptom of meralgia paresthetica, but most don't mention it. Secondly, I have noticed that in diagrams and descriptions of MP, they say / show it on the outer side of the thigh. Mine is on the top / front of the thigh (in both legs; right leg is just way worse).

Either way, just something I've noticed. I'll have to make sure when I see the doctor later this month, to clarify what the pain is like.