Merlagia Paresthetica
 

Hello Everyone,

So, about two years ago between my junior and senior year of college I began to notice that every time I put a pair of pants on my legs went numb and for the next two years it just got a lot worse and eventually even became somewhat painful.

I saw many, many doctors during the last two years and then finally one of them suggested a diagnosis that made sense. It at least explained why I couldn't wear pants anymore. He said that based on where the numbness was(outer part of my thigh) it was most likely a case of Merlagia parenthetic,even though my EMG test had come back negative. He then proceeded to tell me that there was nothing that he could do and he dismissed me basically, which made me angry because knowing what little I did about the condition I knew there were still things that could be done.

So, I went back with that information to my first doctor(at a local practice) and I explained to him the diagnosis and reasoning my last doctor had given me and he prescribed a new medication and set up a cortisone injection for me for the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve in my right thigh. It has so far helped me a great deal. I feel less pain and at times almost no numbness. I was just wondering if anyone else who had this condition and got a cortisone shot could tell me the difference between how they felt before and after. Any other feedback or information would be appreciated as well.

Sincerely,

Megan McDaniel

Tight belts and tight clothing around the hips and upper thighs,
compress this nerve.

Also surgeries in the abdomen can injure it. Or compression from the spine where the nerve exits in the lumbar area.

I had this for many years after a C-section (with exploratory additionally done to look for an ovarian tumor).

I used Lidoderm patches when they came out, over the area in the upper thigh were the nerve exits the abdomen. Used daily for me for 14 days, the nerve quieted down, and now I have a remission.

I find this nerve is very sensitive to HEAT so any thing like hot tubs or steam rooms will trigger it for me, now. I had severe lightning like bolts of pain for many years...and am now glad it is gone!

This link to a thread here has a photo of placement of the Lidoderm patch. It also has more detail.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread144042.html

MP can vary from person to person, because the triggers vary, and the anatomy varies. In a young person with no surgical
trigger, I'd look to injury to the hip or back, or tight clothing.

Here is a link to a good article:
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/0401/p2109.html

and this:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mer...hetica/DS00914

I have some similarities with you. My pain is mainly in abdomen. I am female and started
wearing dresses because it hurts to wear pants.

I did finds some lounge pants at Walmart. They are brand name George and have soft material. They are in pajama area, but don't look too bad as they are solid color. They might not be acceptable for work, however. I wear these pants for out and about in winter.

Do you use patch for the full 12 hours as on drug label, Mrs. D? I found the patch does seem to ease the pain even after I remove it for day. I wear it for about 8 hours a day.

Yes, 12hrs on and 12hrs off. (the off time is because too much lidocaine may get absorbed systemically and that may affect the heart).

Sometimes 1/2 patch is enough if you get the placement right.

I didn't expect a full remission. But it happened with daily use of the Lidoderms for 2 weeks!

Lidocaine is a sodium channel blocker, and this effectively stops the neurochemical transmission in the nerve from reaching the spinal cord.

I think it is possible that some minor damage to nerves just gets them stuck in the "on" position, and using an agent that turns them OFF, results in reversal in some cases. (like mine).