Neuropathy and weight loss
 

Hi all (again)

Just returned from the EMG test with my new Neurologist.

I have the beginings of Neuropathy, the test shows some slight damage to the Lateral Cutaneous Nerve in the thigh.
Advised me to increase my Gapapentin slowly from 600mg daily to 2700mg per day.
I asked him if this damage was due to my Type 2 diabetes and he said that he didnt think so. As I have lost 35 kilos of weight in 6 months he believes that the reduction of fat around the, now, atrophic muscles have altered the way the nerves lie and in time they will settle down providing I keep my Blood Glucose within normal Diabetec levels (which they are)

I just get the feeling he is blowing in the wind with his diagnosis.

Allan

Certainly is possible, though.
 

Damage to the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve is a conditin all its own, referred to as meralgia parasthetica, and we even have a subforum here for it (though it's not terrbily active):

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum76.html

This condition is more closely associated with obesity and tight-fitting garments that constrict the pelvis and upper thigh, but it's certainly possible that a weight loss could have triggered it, especially if you were heavy there to begin with. And, being diabetic, you are more prone to compressive nerve situations anyway.

Most of the treatment in these cases is symptomatic, though in extreme cases some have tried transpositional surgery and/or nerve ablation, since the lateral femoral cutaneous is a sensory nerve only.

Most recommendations for MP patients include "try to lose weight". :confused:

One can get this from abdominal surgery (which is how I got mine). Some people have reported MP from bone graft harvest of the pelvic bone.

Tight clothing, tight belts, even males who carry their wallets in their back pockets have been suggested. Tight blue jeans, especially.

I use Lidoderm patches for mine. After 14 straight days of use, my MP of many years quieted down alot. The only thing that sets it off now is extreme stretching (too much exercise) or hot baths or steam baths (it will start up after 10 minutes in a steam room!). I place the patch, cut in half, at the top of the thigh, where the nerve exits the groin. Also I have placed it on the lateral top of the thigh as well.

My MP started after a C-section (surgery).

Here is an article about it:
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000401/2109.html

Figure 2b...shows the placement of the nerve. It can help you place the Lidoderm patch if you choose to try that. Place the patch at the point where that ligament is above the nerve. You can see how tight clothing will compress that area as well.