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Are you having back pain with any of the following?
- Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
- Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
- Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
- A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Burning Thigh Pain (Meralgia Parasthetica) [Read/Print full article]
Overview
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Burning thigh pain, also called meralgia parasthetica, is caused by pressure on the femoral lateral cutaneous nerve that gives sensation to the surface of the skin on the front and side of the thigh. Most people with meralgia paresthetica describe a burning pain in the thigh.
A number of factors can increase pressure on the nerve including excess weight, pregnancy weight, surgery, or excessively tight clothing. In most cases, meralgia paresthetica goes away on its own. In other cases, we may need to consider treatment options to reduce pressure on the nerve.
Symptoms
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Burning thigh pain causes a number of sensations that include:
- Numbness, tingling, or burning sensation at the upper outer thigh
- No sensation when you touch the skin on your upper outer thigh
Diagnosis
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We base our diagnosis on your medical history, including what you tell us about your symptoms, and a physical examination. We may also order other studies if we think that another condition may be causing your symptoms.
Medical history
We will ask you about your medical history and ask you a number of questions about your symptoms. These will include:
- What kind of sensations do you feel in your thigh?
- Do those sensations go anywhere else?
- When did you first notice symptoms in your thigh?
- What makes the pain feel better and/or worse?
- Do your symptoms stop you from going to work or exercising?
We will perform a physical examination of the hip and thigh area and ask you to show us exactly where your symptoms are located. We will also examine your back and your knees, to rule out problems in those areas that could be causing your symptoms.
Additional tests
We may order additional tests to confirm your diagnosis. These may include:
- X-ray. We may order X-rays of the hip and pelvic area.
- NCS (nerve conduction studies). NCS measure electrical activity in the nerves. If the test detects abnormal electrical activity, that can help us confirm meralgia parasthetica.
- EMG (electromyography). We use EMG to measure the electrical activity in your muscles. The test can help us diagnose neuromuscular disorders and identify some causes of muscle weakness. If you have meralgia parasthetica, the results of this test are usually normal. However, we perform the test to rule out other disorders that have similar symptoms.
Causes and Risk Factors
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Burning thigh pain is caused by something pressing on, or pinching, the femoral lateral cutaneous nerve. The femoral lateral cutaneous nerve, which originates in the spine and extends to the outer thigh, is a sensory nerve that gives feeling to the skin of your outer thigh. There are a number of conditions and injuries that may increase pressure on the nerve or cause it to become trapped. These include:
- Posture. Standing with your hip extended for long periods of time will stretch the nerve.
- Obesity. Lower belly fat can push on the nerve.
- Tight clothes. Clothing or a belt that is too tight at the waist may compress the nerve.
- Scar tissue. Scar tissue in the groin area (for example, from a C-section) may compress the nerve.
- Seat belt injuries. An injury to the pelvic area during a car crash can injure the nerve.
- Pregnancy. Weight gained during pregnancy may cause pressure on the nerve.
- Diabetes. Uncontrolled high blood sugar can damage the nerves.
Treatment
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If your symptoms are mild
Often, meralgia parasthetica is a temporary problem that goes away on its own. Sometimes it is clear what is causing pressure on the nerve, and you can take steps to relieve it. For example, if you wear tight clothing, we will recommend that you try wearing clothes that are looser around the waist. If you are carrying extra weight, talk to us about losing and maintaining a healthy weight.
Usually, symptoms related to pregnancy weight will begin to diminish as soon as the baby is born.
If your symptoms persist
If you still have symptoms 2 months later, we may recommend ibuprofen or other medications to treat nerve-related pain. We may also recommend a steroid injection into the thigh area to reduce pain and inflammation.
We rarely need to use surgery to treat meralgia parasthetica. If your symptoms persist for many months and become disabling, we may consider surgery to relieve pressure on the nerve. Surgery does not always help, and it may actually cause more scar tissue and worsen your symptoms.
Your Care with Me
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If you are having symptoms that concern you, your first contact will typically be with your personal physician, who will evaluate your health and symptoms.
If specialty care is needed, your personal physician will facilitate the process of scheduling an appointment in my department. If appropriate, she or he might call me or one of my colleagues while you are in the office so we can all discuss your care together. If we decide you need an appointment with me after that discussion, we can often schedule it the same day or soon thereafter.
During your office visit, we will discuss your medical and family history and I will perform a physical exam. I will explain the findings of your exam and answer any questions or concerns you may have. We will discuss treatment options, and together we will create a treatment plan that is right for you.
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If you need to talk with me after your visit or procedure, please call my office. You can also e-mail me with nonurgent issues from this website whenever it is convenient for you.
For general medical advice, our Appointment and Advice line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you have urgent concerns or issues while my office is closed, you can call the Appointment and Advice line. You will be connected with a nurse who can give you immediate advice.
If you are experiencing a serious problem or an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Room when the clinic is not open.
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Coordinating Your Care
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Having all of our Kaiser Permanente departments located together or nearby, including pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, and health education, makes getting your care easier for you.
Another major benefit is our comprehensive electronic medical record system, which allows all of the doctors and clinicians involved in your care to stay connected on your health status and collaborate with each other as appropriate.
When every member of the health care team is aware of all aspects of your condition, care is safer and more effective.
If you come to an office visit
- At the beginning of your visit, you will receive information about when you are due for your next test, screening, or immunization. We can discuss and schedule any preventive tests that you need.
- At the end of your visit, you may receive a document called the “After Visit Summary” that will summarize the issues we discussed during your visit. You can refer to it if you forget what we discussed, or if you just want to recheck your vital signs and weight. You can also view it online under Past Visits.
- To help you prepare for your visit, please see additional details under Office Visit.
If I prescribe medications
We will work together to monitor and assess how your medications are working and make adjustments over time. Prescriptions can be filled at any Kaiser Permanente pharmacy. Just let me know which pharmacy works best for you, and I will send the prescription electronically in advance of your arrival at the pharmacy.
If refills are needed in the future, you can:
- Order them online or by phone. Order future refills from my home page or by phone using the pharmacy refill number on your prescription label.
- Have them delivered to you by mail at no extra cost. Or you can pick up your medications at the pharmacy. If no refills remain when you place your order, the pharmacy will contact me regarding your prescription.
If lab testing or imaging is needed
For lab tests, I will use our electronic medical record system to send the requisition to the Kaiser Permanente laboratory of your choice. For imaging procedures, we will schedule an appointment with the Radiology department. When the results are ready, I will contact you with your results by letter, secure e-mail message, or phone. In addition, you can view most of your laboratory results online, along with any comments that I have attached to explain them.
If I refer you to another specialty colleague
If we decide together that your condition would also benefit from the care of other types of specialists, our staff will help arrange the appointment(s) with one or more of my specialty colleagues.
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Convenient Resources for You
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As your specialist, I have a goal to provide high-quality care and to offer you choices that make your health care convenient. I recommend that you become familiar with the many resources we offer so that you can choose the services that work best for you.
My Doctor Online is available at any time that is most convenient for you. From my home page you can:
Manage your care securely
- View and compose secure e-mail messages.
- Manage your prescriptions.
- View your past visits and test results.
- View your Preventive Services to see whether you are due for a routine screening or updated immunization.
Learn more about your condition
- Read about causes, symptoms, treatments, and procedures.
- Find interactive health tools, videos, and podcasts to help you manage your condition.
- View programs to help you decide on or prepare for a surgery or procedure.
Stay healthy
- Locate health education classes and support groups offered at every medical center.
- Explore interactive programs, videos, and podcasts that focus on helping you stay healthy.
- View your Preventive Services to see whether you are due for a routine screening or updated immunization.
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Related Health Tools:
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