#127 Meralgia Paresthetica: What You Need to Know About This Mysterious Condition

Meralgia Paresthetica is a neuropathic pain condition that causes burning pain, tingling, pins & needles, and numbness outside the thigh. It is caused by a compression or injury of the Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve.

Dr. Furlan is a pain specialist in Toronto Canada. She is a physiatrist (specialist in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation). She holds a medical degree from the University of Sao Paulo and a Ph.D. degree from the University of Toronto. She has 30 years of experience helping people with chronic pain to get better quality of life.

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ALERT: This video is not intended to replace medical advice. If you think you have a condition that is causing you pain, please consult with your doctor to get a diagnosis and a treatment plan for you. The intent of this video is only for educational purposes. If there is any emergency, go to the nearest emergency department or call an ambulance. CLOSED CAPTIONS in this video have not been professionally verified.
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[marciacrandall]

Fifteen years ago I was able to self diagnose based on Internet searching (when the Internet was still relatively new). There was only a blurb on the Mayo Clinic website giving the symptoms and name, no treatment except surgery in severe cases. But it was never more than an annoyance until 2 years ago when it evolved into severe burning waking me several times a month, especially when I woke lying on my back. ANY muscle movement was unbelievable pain and some days my skin was so hot from the burning. It progressed to the point I developed insomnia because I was afraid to wake in pain and I needed an electric scooter at the grocery store. I again searched the Internet and to my surprise found many more entries on the condition, including YouTube videos showing stretches and treatments. The stretches worked!!! Some better than others for me. It's been a few months since I felt any pain until tonight so was looking up those stretches to do before bed and found your informative video, the most recent I've ever seen. Thank you for validating this condition and keeping the info current. I'll check to see if you have one for stretches or use one of the others on here.

[BiBi-pkzn]

I wish I would be able to find a good doctor that doesnt call me hypochondroac and helps instead of ignorance the suffering!!

[bulldoggarageapparel]

20 years have been going through this now its to the point where standing or walking longer than 5 minutes is so painful i want to cry. been to all kinds of doctors and had all kinds of injections and tests done and nobody has been able to help me, only relief i can find is sitting in a chair 90 % of the day i'm only 49 years old and i cant hardly do anything for the pain i'm in over it, it stared as just numbness and some burning 20 years ago now its Honorable pain after 5 minutes of standing or walking, been to 5 different doctors and surgents nobody has been able to help me,

[moonchild]

Thank you for this informative video, Dr. Furlan. I can confirm that some doctors don't seem to know about this condition. I went to a doctor about it who appeared clueless about the lateral femoral nerve. I believe mine originated from a hip injury I suffered while cleaning the floor. I went to PT, which I think helped quite a bit, and also rolfing. I've watched some youtube videos on exercises for this condition and they are very helpful as well.

[angelagodwin]

I agree totally with you I also have this condition and it’s more than just a mild annoyance it has also ruined my quality of life and my children have also suffered because I’m limited with the things I can do with them I hope you can somehow heal from this or at least not be in so much pain

[sarkartalpola]

Good evening Andrea Furlon. I appreciate your immense knowledge about pain and its causes. We need doctors like you all over the world and especially in India. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I had this pain a few months ago and it went off by itself. I was worried like hell. You relieved me of the anxiety. Thank you. Wish you a very happy new year.

[robertk]

Great video. Simple explanation. Thank you for not playing music in the background. I suffer from meralgia paresthetica. My doctor overdiagnosed it as a spine problem. Luckily I came across knowledgeable chiropractor, who worked on that nerve. With exercises and swimming plus chiropractor visits I feel great improvement. Still not 100% though. It is very important that this is annoying condition, but it's not leading to a wheelchair. Thank you Doctor. You're great. I've subscribed to your channel.

[helenahayes]

TART CHERRY JUICE: I read about tart cherry juice in a research report - as bizarre as it sounds. . Lyrica (the medication) only helped partially. The cherry juice really helped. The research said research participants felt the difference after 2 weeks. Its day 7 and I have felt the difference for a few days. It requires half a glass twice a day according to research. If I forget to take it though, the pain comes back. And I found that taking a little more than half a glass twice a day helps even more.

[jakesyaseen]

All welcome to 2023 wishing everyone a happy new year from Johannesburg South Africa 👍💕🇿🇦

[evelynevans-appiah]

Thanks for your pod cast as I am suffering this condition right now from my waist line down both tights. I move about holding onto walls and furniture. I will watch your next episode for treatment and management.

[timothyvaher]

Thank you Dr Furlan for the diagnosis! Yes I've experienced this very condition periodically and will take your advice. It's alarming, it awakes me with painful numbness in the very area described. I'm overweight in the lower waist area and use a tight 36" belt size. Sit for hours be at the computer and ride the bus for an hour each be day! So glad you have the cure! I'm relieved 😅 ! Love your channel! Thank you.

[MILXN.]

Hello from Germany . I am only 28 Years old and i have exactly this . i can blame myself for playing videogames over years while sitting on my desk . I’ve had this burning pain (or numbness) for 2 months now, and it’s slowly driving me crazy. I have an X-ray appointment next week and an MRI appointment the week after for my groin, and I hope to get rid of it as soon as possible. I want to wish everyone who has been struggling with this for years a speedy recovery.

[gracejimenez]

I have just diagnosed with meralgia paresthetica recently.this info helps me a lot thank you.

[cydkriletich]

Thank you so much for this video. I am 73 yr. old woman who, at the age of 41, had compressed disks at L4, L5, and S1, with the L5 suffering a serious herniation, aka “a blow out!” It impinged on my sciatic nerve, causing severe pain. I was unable to lift my right foot more than an inch and could not walk upright for 7 months. (I had a terrible doctor at the time) I ended up having surgery; but, the surgeon told me that by the time he opened me up, the disk matter had been reabsorbed and the sciatic nerve was permanently damaged. I’ve had a lot of problems since then, including being diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 5 years after this happened. I have had this problem with the outer thighs of both legs since the back issue. The right is so damaged that once I slapped on the electro-pad of my T.E.N.S. Unit and cranked the Unit up as high as it would go. I felt absolutely nothing! I did not leave it on long, but it really showed me how deep the problem is. I’ve been taking a low dose of Gabapentin for many years for the strange ache and all the other symptoms you mentioned, though now the doctors want to take me off of it. My left thigh 6:11 does not get the strange, annoying, and sometimes painful symptoms as the right, but it is ultra-sensitive to touch, and, like the right side, doesn’t feel heat and cold. I’ve never been told what this is caused or what causes it. I may go ahead and try to get off the Gabapentin as my doctor (new, good doctor!) wants me to do. Giving this condition a name and some tactics to ease it has given me a boost of confidence! Again, thank you, and a very Happy New Year to you from me!

[NikkiPumpkin]

I was having severe pain in my right leg in July . It felt like it was broken and I went to a doctor and she’s like let me send you for x-ray. The x-ray of my back said that I had a fractured, L5 and two slipped discs that was back in July and I have not been able to get in with a specialist yet, but I am trying to now I am suffering so I felt the MP all of a sudden this extremely severe pain burning in muscle of top right thigh and like you said, just touching it with a little bit of my finger is excruciating. It wakes me up all night. It keeps me up. I mean I’m also suffering for my back but this feels like something horrifying. I’m so glad I seen your video because now I can go to someone and ask for help. I think this started probably three months ago and it has been nonstop severe pain. I cry all day.

[H.O.P.E.]

Glad to have a name to go with the condition. Good lecture.

[lenisemcauliffe]

Self diagnosed, but confirmed after going to a Neurologist, traced back to a car accident where l broke my pelvis. Very annoying and can get extremely painful, l am checking out all videos.

[FriendlyPharmacy]

I had this during pregnancy. Very, very bothersome but completely resolved after.

[saundrakielborn]

Annoying is an understatement, I have lived with this condition for over 30 years, misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia, I’m 5’2” and 128 pounds, and never wear tight clothes, I also get simultaneous back pain with the pain in my thigh. My life has been ruined from this debilitating condition.

[GP-quev]

Thank you for the helpful information. Both of my thighs are numb, burn and I often have electric shooting sensation on both sides. I've recently had a double mastectomy and can not lie on my sides or stomach. Will lying on my back worsen my condition. I've tried a wedge pillow to elevate my legs, but it definitely makes it worse.
Thank you for being an open minded doctor.