Anyone with Meraliga Paresthetica?
 

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.

jeanette
 

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!

Stay hopeful
 

Hi everybody.

I finally found the new forum! I've had MP about 5 years. I was able to reduce what I'd call agony to "just barely noticeable" pain with the methods of transverse friction described in this forum by "Painfree".

I discovered them by researching the old "braintalk site" after a neurologist scared me by suggesting a transection. I've been more or less pain free for about 2 years now thanks to this site.

When I was reading the old threads looking for hope, it was scarce, but just remember, most of the cured don't bother posting anymore. They are too busy doing other things, like running, jumping and clicking their heels together. Keep your collective chin up. And keep researching. I understand there are more than 80 different causes for MP.

So keep trying to find a solution that's right for yourself.

All the best.

Glad you found relief
 

kellie

Thanks so much for posting and letting us know your are doing well. It is good for those of us who are still searching to have hope. I have heard of this transverse friction. I do believe it could work for some but maybe not everyone. It is worth a try and I quess you do not have to take medication, if that so? That would be a real plus to find something that is not a pill/medicine.

Thanks for your update.

Blessings!! :)

You're so right
 

Hello there.

Yes, you are right. It took me a long while, lots of pain, lots of research and thinking outside the box, to figure out the connection between my MP and the potentiality it was caused by scar tissue from several laproscopic surgeries impinging on my LFN. (Especially as docs do not like to admit surgeries can cause this incidious disease.)

Maybe I'm wrong about that, but gee, coincidence? - the treatment worked, when all that was on offer from the medical community was more drugs and more surgery.

Good luck finding a solution to your pain. I really feel for everyone with this horrible condition and wish docs could understand how truly painful it can be.


:)

MP
 

HI ALL
Just wanted to suggest that some of you may have the same cause as myself.After 20 years of misdiagnosis of neuralgia,I discovered
a displaced thoracic rib(between the shoulder blades),my physiotherapist twisted my spine and when it clicked INSTANT pain reduction of 50%,90% by the end of the fortnight.Most days I am now totally pain-free.
Hopes this helps

Mike 1462
 

Mike
I am happy for the fact you have found relief. 20 years is a long time to have MP or symptoms like MP. What a change in your life!

I have been told my MP could be my back problems. I had an operation in 1992 and I think it could be a result of cutting of the stomach muscles.

My MP is not has painful now as in the past. So that is an improvement. Also I know I tolerate it better. I know my limits as to how much I can physically do too.

Take Care and thanks for sharing.

Lost in Pain
 

Jeeze, I thought I was the only one. I have had MP for 14 years, first few years I was told I was crazy (nicely buy that it was a psychological problem). They tried depocote ,(sp?)didn’t help tried another doctor was told basically the same thing. I let it go for years (mostly due to no insurance). Years later another doctor said it was neuropathy and I took Gabapentin for a year with no real relief. Again, I went years suffering through. The only things that have kept me going is things like Vicodan that were actually prescribed for Migraine headaches or other ailments, ( also been accused of trying to get pain meds for recreational use….God if they knew the pain.) I would stock up for use when my legs were on fire with the feeling of white-hot sharp objects stabbing my thighs.

I have been using a cane for about 10 years. It helps me not have AS MUCH pain later in the day when the pain at its worst but it is still not a fix.

Recently (February 14th) after a stroke (TIA) I was chatting with the neurosurgeon while still in the hospital, asked if I could ask some other questions and he did some “pin” tests diagnosed the MP in 2 mins, and said he new how painful it was and had the hospital give me some vicodan for relief. To come see him when I got out and we would discuss a very simple operation to clip the nerves, well I was fired from my job ( they said because of “poor performance” but it was because of the stroke and limited duties for a month). Bye bye Insurance!

That was 5 months ago the pain in my legs has gotten so bad that I have trouble functioning, getting out of bed is a problem sometimes. I cannot work. If I do not do, too much walking around I can actually sleep through the night.

I applied for Medical Assistance and am receiving it, so I have been doing the Doctor thing for the MP, heart, stroke and diabetes, I feel a little better. My Neurologist gave me Lyrica and it works a bit but I am up to 75 mg 4 times a day, It tends to put me to sleep. She agreed that I should get the operation. Medical Assistance is crap insurance and I haven’t yet to find a Neurosurgeon that will accept it. There is only one Pain management center in the state that will accept it… Its 70 miles away. Anyone with this disease knows 70 miles in a car will exacerbate the MP to the spike status.

So I guess I am looking for suggestions, I saw the posts about points to press and stretching but I didn’t quite get it, so further explanation would be greatly appreciated.

Just damn tired of the pain and inability to work and fuction. :(

Thanks for the ears!
Czar

Czar
You are welcome for the ear. It helps to be able to talk to people who have MP or at least know what it is.
Different things work for different people. The Gabapentin and an anxietiy medicine works for me to calm the never spikes and shocks. I have not had bad ones like I had in the beginning Jan 2003. I have the nerve sensitivity on my left thigh. I am very sensitive to clothing and bed sheets. The Lidoderm patch has help me also.

I hope you can get insurance coverage to have treatment to help your pain. I know how MP keeps us from doing many things. I had thought of having my nerve burnt where it comes out of the spine. Then the Doctor moved away. So have tabled that plan for now. I do water exercises 3 times a week it seems to help me.

Keep pursing your treatment or maybe someone here will share something that worked for them to at least help tone down the pain.

Keep us posted. Blessings to you!
Lookingup

More from The Czar of pain
 

Thanks for the reply, Figured I'd update a bit. My Medical assistance is handled by an MCO...United Healthcare.

I am starting to learn how the system works.. ***** and complain! The state has a number to call when you are not happy, they in turn call the MCO (managed care) and things begin to move.

They nixed the Lyceria, complained, doctor wrote a note saying medically neccessary .... got the Lyceria, taking 5x daily now lessens the shocks but pain and is still there, as long asI sit down every 10 mins or so I can live with it, it's getting worse these last few months...

I have to large areas on my thighs I can draw an oval where I am numb but tingly, rub something against it and I am crazed, so I know what you are going through.

The complaints have also as of yesterday gotten me my own case worker (I have other issues) also they agreed to pay a pain management doc local to me --supposed to find out today when I get to see him. Will let you know how it works out…

Till nextime

Czar

No longer just the Czar of pain, now the Czar of hope!
 

[QUOTE=painfree;54763]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.[QUOTEpainfree;54763]

Muscles? Doc told me (new pain doc) there is a tunnel where the nerves run through the outside of the pelvis this is blocked (by weight in my case). It can have other causes but he said manipulating the muscles was absurd that if it worked it was a cause other then Meralgia Paresthetica. Only a steady dose of Tegretol plus Lyrica will relive most of the symptoms; most often surgery is the only way to actually alleviate all of the pain impulses.

For 4 days, I have been taking a cocktail of Lyrica 75mg 4 times a day plus 200 mg of tegretol two times a day and one 750mg Hydrocodone two times a day if needed. I am down to half two times a day as of yesterday. Which was the best day I have had in years… jeeze a doctor that knows what he is doing!

Yesterday my car broke down I had to walk a half a mile took me an hour resting every so often, but NO SPIKES, pain yes but no electrical SPIKES. Furthest I have walked in 10 years. After I got the car home, I was able to work on it myself and fix it sitting on a stool. My God, I am functioning, a little tired, a little buzzed but functioning. Today I am hurting a bit but tolerable, going to try an get a job I think.

No longer just the Czar of pain, now the Czar of hope!

Czar that is fantastic you found a doctor that was able to help you to function again. I have tried a couple of different medications but found topamax and cymbalta together work well for me. I still get sore when I do too much but it is much better than the pain I was getting everyday. I go back to my neurologist in July and he said he is going to try to cut back the topamax. But I really don't see that happening. As for the trigger points, when my leg is really sore, I will rub it and it does ease the pain. Would I rely on that solely? no. I also found heat helps it. When my leg gets cold, the numbed area gets really sore. I will either turn a space heater on or put a heating pad on it and it helps.

Well, Here's to the Czar of Hope and the continuation of no more pain. Take Care!

Czar
Happy to hear you are able to do more and your pain is less. It is a good feeling when you can walk and your MP is under control. I am happy for you. Keep us posted on how you are doing.
All good thoughts are with you.
Lookinup58

Czar's World
 

Thanks for the comments back..

Well the drugs are still effective, much less pain then before. I forgot to mention in my last post the new doc I have has 11 patients with MP, I presume that is why he knows what works and what does not.

Yesterday I was like a little kid, a friend let me take his Harley out for an hour…..sold mine almost 2 years ago because I kept dropping it at stop lights (cant pick a bike that big up alone…) Legs just couldn’t support me and the bike. Ahh the freedom of a good ride.

Came home completed all the laundry, made a cake and washed all the dishes, a lot for me. Actually, it turned out to be too much and I am paying for it today. I did too much, so I am being taught some moderation. It was just so unusual wanting to do things and being able too.

Today I stated a new website (what I used to do for a living). I am creating a portfolio of all my work and am going to see about getting some small projects to start out now that I can sit at the computer longer then 20 min. I am even looking into a Healthcare Agent provider franchise that I have found interesting.

Funny how the mind works when your pain lessens enough to begin to see opportunities.

God Bless..
Today the Czar of opportunities..... :D

Undiagnose for over 20 years
 

I started having MP when I was in the Air Force in the early 80's. Needless to say it was never diagnosed, and the doctors thought it was just a muscle strain. Every time I ran at full speed I would get a burning sensation in my left upper thigh that would last only a few minutes followed by 5 to 10 minutes of numbness. About 5 years ago I was playing softball and had the pain when I ran to 1st base. Then the numbness came and the feeling has never returned. It has been both a blessing and a curse. I haven't had the pain caused by exercise since. But I have had what I can only describe as phantom pain. On several occasions, I have been wakened up by extremely sharp pain in my thigh that is very short in duration but repeats every few seconds. On a few of those occasions, after about 5 minutes, I stated having muscle contractions in every muscle in my body. It seemed to me I was having convulsions. the muscle contractions kept happening every few seconds like clock-work even after the nerve pain stopped. The first time it happened I went to the doctor about 8 hours after it started. He gave me a drug used to treat panic disorders, and explained what was happening was sort of like hiccups. It stopped a few hours later. For the next few days every muscle in my body ached. I still get the phantom pain once in a while, but the severity has decreased to the tolerable level without the muscle contractions.
Has anyone here completely lost feeling from MP? Is there any treatment for it when it gets this far?

Marc,
Yours sounds very different then mine. In mine the pain starts after standing for about 20 minutes, slight burn in my thighs at first quickly progressing to sharp stabbing pains, then heads into the full sharp white-hot stabbing pain.

The biggest difference in the 14 years I have had it is the intensity and the length of time it lasts after I get the weight off my legs. The last year it has become unbearable, and will last for the whole night if I did too much.

The numbness has been there for at least 10 years, I could draw a ellipse with a pen on both thighs where the numbness is, my neurologist has shown me a book that defines the those areas exactly. The numbness really doesn’t bother me much except some times in the evenings in bed or when I sit in my computer chair too long I cant stand any pressure against those areas.

If you read back to my posts you will see that I have been seeing a pain management neurologist recently, he has defined me 100% disabled. Fun. He took me off the Lyrica; I was having trouble driving on it. I am up to 200 mg of Tegratol 3 x a day but I still need the vicodan to function, that is to get much done, better then I was but not quite were I was hopping to be.

There is an operation to have the top of the nerves clipped, which I was warned would create permanent numbness in the areas I mentioned earlier. (Like I care considering I have no feeling there except for pain anyway.) Problem is I am not a good candidate for any type of surgery at this time. (diabetes, heart and had a stroke last February. I am being told any type of surgery is a year away. Cannot wait I will get it as soon as I am able.

My advice is get a Neurologist that treats this disease specifically, my doc says most people respond well to the tegretol, if not they get the surgery, which is about 80% effective. Good Luck and keep us posted.
~michael

Hi from the UK!

Well my story goes I have a weight problem and I am diabetic. Three weeks ago on holiday I developed Meraliga Paresthetica. How?

Well I am not the most active person, dog walk perhaps twice a day but on my active holiday I walked a lot during the day, rested then attended a concert. Okay so of course I wanted a good spot I got to the venue about two hours before and stood up to secure my place, complaining my back was hurting, concert started and I bopped along with everyone else for over two hours, the pain in my back disappear I then just complained my legs where hurting and I would pay for it the next day!

After the concert we had to walk back into town as we couldn’t flag a taxi, I estimate I walked over two miles – less than three until we successfully flagged a taxi. At the point I was knackered, my legs, back and I complained my right thigh had gone numb and slapped it as a joke!

I made it back to the hotel and collapsed into bed, woke up the next morning and my leg was still numb, initially thought I had strained it from too much walking.

The day we did some walking but I realised that the more I walked my leg started to burn really bad, almost like someone pouring hot water on it and I couldn’t pull my leg away to stop the pain. When I sat down the pain disappear. I got some painkillers from the chemist and drugged myself on them to get through the day and night.

That night it was another concert and I was determined to get a good place and did, same again more standing jumping etc… totally knackered after but walked about two miles back to the hotel.

After that there was break of three days and I rested up the best I could but still had the same walking caused pain, resting I was fine. I did an internet search and found out about Meraliga Paresthetica and knew that was what this was…

Anyway three more concerts, the 3rd one being the worse and I had to drop out to sit down, I was in so much pain I nearly called on the red cross!

I got home, saw my GP two days later and he told me it was Meraliga Paresthetica, I didn’t mention I already knew… he’s given me some Diclofenac 50mg to take three times a day and I’ve been on it 7 days but it’s done nothing. Thankfully being at home I am not as active but still am getting the burning pain when I am walking 10 minutes or more. GP said to go back if no improvement on these pain meds…

Anyone else no what I can do to keep active and avoid the pain! How long can I expect this to last… I know I need to lose weight and I am determined it’s the next step but that’s is not an overnight cure, it could take me two years to get to my ideal weight (356lbs)

The burning pain is pain I have never experienced in my life and it was so bad at times on holiday I could have seriously hurt someone (esp. my non sympathetic travel friend!)

Hi Rubyice
 

Sorry to hear you are in such pain with MP. It's not fun especially when you are trying to find out what helps control it. And it seems what works for one may not work for another. I have had MP for a year since having my gallbladder removed. Nobody knows why but the day following my surgery, my right leg was numb around my knee and thigh area. A couple weeks later I was getting the burning, shooting, electrical pains that I still get on occasion. My doctor put me on cymbalta which didn't seem to help much for the pain but it helped with my depression. I went to a neurologist in January who dianosed me. He tried giving me a shot in the nerve and also put me on neurontin. The shot lasted a day, the neurontin didn't work. He changed me to topamax. I now take 100mg a day. The first couple of months I had quite a few side effects which have subsided. It has helped a lot with the pain. Even though I still have days that bother me, I am a lot better than I was. I go back every 3 months to the neurologist and he monitors how i am doing. He will try to wean me off the medication however he said some people are on it for a very long time. Only time will tell.

Go see a neurologist and I hope you find the medication to help you feel better:p

Help Finding Transverse Friction reference
 

Kellie - Any chance you could help me locate the transverse friction reference you mentioned that Painfree had written about?

Markitwell

I Remember Reading About This Several Times. I Think One Place Was On The Old Braintalk. If I Locate The Information On "transverse Friction" I Will Write Back.

I Once Went To A Chrio Who Gave Me A Round Plastic Stick. He Wanted Me To Roll It Over My Thigh For The Mp Pain. I Was To Apply Alot Of Pressure. He Said It Would Break Up The Soreness. It May Work For Some. I Do Not Like To Cause My Body More Pain So It Was Not For Me Even Though I Think It Is Possible It May Help.

Lookingup

new mp
 

I was diagnosed with MP about 1 1/2 yers ago. This was after 6 months of MRI's to rule out MS. I was given injections in both legs and the pain went away for about 6 months. I also did some physical therapy and continue to stretch which sometimes deals with the pain. On Aug. 1 of this year, I spent the entire day on my feet at my daughter's wedding and the next day I could hardly walk. I got a hold of my dr. and to make a long story shor, I had to see a new guy for the injections. They helped for about one day.
The problem I have now, is the hoplessness I received from the dr. and from reading all the comments. This new dr. said that it will be pain management and has me on Tylonal and Ibuprophine (I can't spell). I'm a teacher and really hate sitting when I teach. Is this condition as hopeless as it sound?
Help!
Lou1

Other causes of MP, not a Dr's typical diagnosis of; MP is more common with diabetics
 

Good day,
I was diagnosed with Meralgia Paresthetica (MP) back in 2002.
At that time a had reached 22 years living with Type 1 diabetes.
Up until that time I was well controlled, never skipping an injection as so many diabetics tend to do. I was and am still today very healthy, no diabetic related problems. At that time I was very fit, but since the leg pain I've shyed away from sports due to worrying if the leg pain will worsen.
The problem I have still today is the diagnosis. Doctors are saying this is typical for diabetics to develop, but it also develops in normal people too.
I'm telling the doctors that I had lifted a wooden crate at work with a co-worker which weighed atleast 400 to 500 pounds. I squatted on the right leg and lifted the crate above my head and then rested it on my head and walked about 3 to 5 steps and had to drop it because it was so heavy.
I believe the injury happened to the nerve in the right leg when I squatted. The boss told us to lift it, so I thought it was liftable. After we couldn't the boss got the forklift to move it. I don't know why he didn't do that in the first place. Later that evening and the following day the pain developed.
They say diabetics with MP have diabetic neuropathy of the nerves. But a Neurologist told me I have no diabetic neuropathy and I'm in great shape. But also said it's common with diabetics. He is telling me this only from medical journals he's read which blame diabetes. There was no further investigation concerning my problem. I like to know why things happen. Medical experts are still learning new things everyday which sometime contradicts earlier known explanations.
I told him I believe it was caused by lifting the crate. He said it's not likely. And that was it. "It's not likely" does that mean lifting a crate can cause MP but with a low probability or does it mean if I pay him money he will tell me what he's really saying. It seems here in Canada most Doctors are only motivated by money or they don't give you the time of day.
I would like more data to determine if lifting a heavy crate compressed the nerve or my well controlled diabetes and fitness caused the MP.

Could somebody please give me your opinion(s) or a proffessional in the field who can shed some light on ALL possible causes of Meralgia Parestheica.

Your help will be much appreciated.
Thanks.

Meralgia Parasthetica can certainly--
 

--be caused by traumatic injury, or even constant chronic strain.

It is primarily a compressive neuropathy after all, with the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve being compressed somewhere along its length, usually in the narrow space that if passes through on its way through the pelvis.

Certainly it's more common in diabetics, but all compressive neuropathies are more common in such people, as the type of microvscular damage of diabetes predisposes one to become symptomatic when nerves are compressed, due to the "double crush" phenomenon.

Take a look at:

http://www.emedicine.com/pmr/topic76.htm

http://www.tifaq.org/archive/double-crush.txt

Please let me know how you are doing and what helped you and who helped you. dr...location

Hi sidster,

I posted a reply to you under another thread on the MP forum.

I think it was the one about a support group.

Hello. I'm a new user here and I hope not to be here very long. I've just got a few quick questions. I've read several stories here and I think I am lucky. I got a doctor fairly on who was able to figure out what was causing my problem. (He used the words "entrapped lateral femoral cutaneous nerve." Now, if I understand it, this is another way of saying meralgia paresthetica. I did not have to wait months or years for a diagnosis. He was only the second medical professional I had consulted about it.

If you do not mind, I have some questions. How long should it take to get over the symptoms? The initial doctor said no medications would help. (I had no insurance and had to go to a free clinic. I should resolve this issue soon.) He also said losing weight was the most likely cause in my case. His solution is to lose more weight. I hope this is correct, although his solution seems counter intuitive.

This is not helping me in the meantime. I have two jobs. I am a freelance writer. Because that pays inconsistently, I also am an event specialist. (I work for the company that hands out food at Sam's Club.) This job requires me to stand all day. By the end of the day, I am almost crying because of the pain. Today someone asked me if I was about to faint. Now, I'd like to go armed to the next appointment with possible ways to reduce the pain.

Is the doctor right and how long should I expect this to last? I assume, with the exception of the quick diagnosis, that my case is typical. I hope it is. I don't want to deal with this any longer than I have to.

It Varies
 

Hi Sinisterporpoise,

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear you are suffering with MP. Yes, you have it exactly correct. That depends. Some people have a spontaneous resolution, some live with it forever. In my opinion, as long as the LFCN remains compressed, one will continue to experience the symptoms of it being compressed. IF excess weight is what caused the compression, then losing weight will be beneficial. If one's weight has nothing to do with it, then weight loss is not going to change anything. The key is to remove the cause of the compression.

It is a purely sensory nerve but can certainly cause pain. Standing will exacerbate it in many people. If standing is what precipitates an episode for you, and you must do that for your work, you may try to keep the affected leg bent by propping it up on something and shifting your stand to the other leg. That was the advice given me by a neurosurgeon. Sit whenever possible. Are you allowed to sit if you have no customers from time to time? Does sitting help resolve the pain? Many years ago, the only time I would have episodes of intense pain was upon standing or walking. Sitting would resolve it in a short time until I stood again. Then it progressed to pain in all positions. I did not have to stand to experience the pain. Sitting would bring it on and then even laying down. Then it began to interfere with sleep.

If you have not had MP for very long, there is a very good chance that it could resolve on its own. The longer the nerve is compressed, the less likely it will resolve. It can take months for recovery.

Physical therapy is an option. (Especially aquatic) Pain patches help some people. Wishing you better days and hoping you can have a spontaneous and complete resolution. Remember, the key is to avoid compressing the nerve.

How your LFCN became compressed is important for knowing the prognosis.

The trick is to keep the LFCN "happy". As I call it after many years of dealing with MP, when the LFCN gets angry, it will let you know. You need to find out how to make it happy. My LFCN hates me and I can no longer make it happy. Hope you can find a way to appease the monster.

Understand
 

Hello Sinisterporpoise,

I am also new to MP and completely understand the feeling of pain to point of tears and people keep asking me, as I am hunched over in pain if I am ok. My MP is caused by injury but from what I read loosing weight can help reduce the pain of the trapped nerve or correct the issue all together. What meds did they put you on?

Losing 50 pounds caused it. I was doing fine with excess weight. The fat was protecting me.

At the moment, I'm almost at the two month mark. I hope it does resolve on its own.

Someone asked what medication the doctor prescribed. I went to the emergency room initially. They said it was muscle spasms and gave me 800 milligrams of ibuprofen. The ibuprofen did nothing. The second doctor prescribed nothing. He only said to lose ten more pounds. Because it was an unusual encounter at a free clinic, I understand their reluctance to prescribe expensive pain medications.

During this time, I did break into some pain medication left over from a kidney stone. I was reluctant to keep it, but it did work. Fortunately, I only had a small amount left. If anyone wonders, the pain from the kidney stone was worse, but this is almost as bad at times.

As for work, I am going to have to do something. The job requires standing the whole time, although I'm sure I might be allowed to sit down with a doctor's note. The supervisor is letting me sit down from time to time, but it's not helping when I need to stand for long periods of time. I also have to go off the floor to do it. In the meantime, I've started using a cane to relieve some of the pressure on the nerve.

I've had MP for 8 years now. Standing too long bothers it, laying on my bac kin one place too long bothers it. There are other triggers as well. I've had injections, the nerves cauterized, tried multiple meds. The only med that makes it bearable is GAbapentin. My leg is still numb and I have the burning pains when I aggravate it but it is at the tolerable point. Good luck in finding what works for you. I understand the frustrations you are going through.

jmy1155
 

I have had MP for about 5 years in both legs and have tried everything the doctors have given me for this pain. The only other option I have is surgery. I feel for anyone that has to live with this pain. The pain at times is so unbearable, you can't sleep, sit or walk for too long. I was told by my doctor once I have the surgery you will have numbness forever in your legs. I can live with the numbness if the pain is gone. My heart goes out to anyone with this pain. :)

Hi jmy1155,

Thanks for your post. Are you considering having the surgery?