Leg Pain Archives - Foot Palace

Has that pain in your outer thigh made you unsure of your balance and afraid to take a step? What you are experiencing may be a condition called meralgia paresthetica, and with a few adjustments, you can be firmly on your feet in no time.

yourfootpalace.com gathered information about meralgia paresthetica, its symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and how to treat it.

What is Meralgia Paresthetica

Meralgia paresthetica is a medical condition resulting from the compression of either the right or left lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN), a sensory nerve to the skin on the outer thigh.

Meralgia Paresthetica Symptoms

While the symptoms of meralgia paresthetica may vary from person to person, the following are common indicators of the condition:

• Pain or discomfort along the outer thigh, sometimes extending to the knee
• Stabbing, burning, aching, tingling, or numbness in the thigh
• Shakiness or instability when standing after long periods of sitting or lying down
• Worsening pain after walking or standing for long periods
• Worsening pain when the thigh is lightly touched
• Pain occasionally spreading to the groin and buttocks

While meralgia paresthetica can occur on both the right and left sides of the body, it occurs most commonly on only one side or the other.

Meralgia Paresthetica Causes

This condition is caused when the right or left LFCN has been compressed or squeezed. Compression of this nerve can occur due to:

• Obesity or weight gain
• Wearing a heavy utility or tool belt
• Scar tissue from injury or surgery near the inguinal ligament
• Wearing tight clothing like belts, corsets and tight pants
• Pregnancy
• Complications from diabetes
• Accidents or injuries involving the hip area
• Seatbelt injury from an automobile accident
• Exposure to lead paint
• Age (those between the ages of 30 and 60 are at higher risk)

This nerve usually passes from the spine, through the groin area, and to the upper thigh without trouble. But when the LFCN becomes trapped – often under the inguinal ligament, which runs along the groin from the abdomen to the upper thigh – meralgia paresthetica can occur.

For most, retracing steps and actions to pinpoint the cause of a physical ailment is a crucial step to prevent its reoccurrence. With meralgia paresthetica however, this may not be so easy. Compression of the LFCN may not be felt immediately, and symptoms may slowly increase in intensity.

Meralgia Paresthetica Diagnosis

In the majority of cases, your primary care physician can diagnose meralgia paresthetica by performing a physical exam and evaluating your medical history. You may be asked to describe the pain and identify the affected area of your thigh.

The following tests may be administered to rule out other causes of the symptoms:

• Reflex testing
• Strength testing
• Imaging studies
• CT scan or MRI (when a tumor is suspected)
• Electromyography (measures the electrical discharges produced in muscles)
• Nerve conduction study (electrodes are placed on the skin to stimulate the nerve)
• Nerve blockade (involves an anesthetic injection into the thigh)

Once correctly diagnosed, a focused treatment plan can begin.

Meralgia Paresthetica Treatment

In most cases, meralgia paresthetica symptoms will ease after 6 to 8 weeks. During that time, treatment focuses on relieving nerve compression by:

• Losing excess weight
• Wearing loose clothing
• Using OTC pain relievers (as suggested by a pharmacist or primary care physician)
• Avoiding strenuous exercises
• Avoiding long periods of standing or walking

If symptoms persist longer than 8 weeks or the pain is severe, treatment may include:

• Corticosteroid injections that reduce inflammation and temporarily relieve pain.
• Tricyclic antidepressants. This type of medication might relieve pain.
• Gabapentin (Gralise, Neurontin), phenytoin (Dilantin), or pregabalin (Lyrica). These are anti-seizure medications that might help lessen painful symptoms.

Surgery is rarely performed to decompress the nerve and is only considered for people with severe and long-lasting symptoms.

Leg Pain and Meralgia Paresthetica

Leg pain caused by meralgia paresthetica can make you second guess your upright stability and increase the chances of injury by falling.

In this article, you discovered what meralgia paresthetica is, how to identify its symptoms, understand its causes, how doctors reach a diagnosis, and how to treat it.

Your procrastination to see a doctor when you experience severe or debilitating leg pain puts you at risk of exacerbating not only meralgia paresthetica but any underlying and potentially grave illnesses or conditions.

Sources:
https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/9417/meralgia-paresthetica
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17959-meralgia-paresthetica
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/meralgia-paresthetica/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355639

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Don’t ignore the pain in your legs, it could be a ticking time-bomb! Leg pain is often an indication that a grave health issue is developing.

When you have pain in your legs while resting or lying down for no apparent reason, this may be an indication that something is wrong in the nervous or vascular system. Sudden, severe, or persistent pain such as this should be evaluated by your physician before it evolves into a full-blown emergency or worse.

yourfootpalace.com gathered information about leg pain, its causes, threats, and treatments, then answers several frequently asked questions.

My Legs Hurt

Unless it’s the morning after leg day at the gym, stiffness and pain in your legs is not a good sign. When the following happen frequently, it’s an indication that should lead to a conversation with your doctor:

• Regularly waking up in the middle of the night with leg or foot cramps.
• Numbness or muscle pain in your legs in the morning.
• Discomfort or pain in your legs after sitting for a while.
• Rapid loss of leg muscle definition accompanied by pain and/or discomfort.
• Spontaneous bruising on the legs and/or feet.
• Frequent or lasting numbness of any portion of the legs or feet, and especially the toes.

Any of these symptoms appearing spontaneously and for no apparent reason are cause for great concern.

Leg Pain Causes

Leg pain may occur from:

• Dehydration.
• Natural wear and tear.
• Injuries to bones or joints.
• Injuries to tendons, ligaments, muscles, or soft tissue.
• Overuse (prolonged strenuous activities).
• Stress.
• Vitamin deficiency.
• Neuropathy (nerve damage)
• Problems in the lower spine.
• Use of tight or heavy belts.
• Sciatica.

Sciatica is shooting pain that runs from the lower back, through the buttocks, and down the back of the leg. Pressure on the sciatic nerve is one probable cause and is commonly seen in men who carry large wallets in their back pocket. The pain will often subside by relieving the pressure on the nerve.

The following causes are generally associated with poor circulation:

• Varicose Veins
• DVT or Deep Vein Thrombosis (blood clots forming in veins deep within the body and not always accompanied by symptoms).
• PAD or Peripheral Artery Disease (the narrowing of peripheral arteries that serve the head, stomach, arms, and legs)
• CAD or Coronary Artery Disease (the hardening or narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle)

Both PAD and CAD can be caused by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is an accumulation of cholesterol plaque along the walls of arteries. This accumulation causes the obstruction of normal blood flow, and when these plaques rupture, they can cause an acute blockage of the artery.

When pain and discomfort in either or both legs are caused by varicose veins, DVT, PAD, CAD, or a combination of them, immediate medical treatment should be sought.

What Can Leg Pain Lead to?

Sudden, severe, or persistent leg pain should never, ever be ignored. If left untreated, leg pain may lead to:

• Blood clots traveling to the lungs.
• Stress on the heart.
• Fatigue.
• Amputation.
• Stroke.
• Potential heart failure.
• Death.

While the majority of leg pain experiences are passing in nature, they should never be ignored.

Leg Pain Treatment

In cases of leg pain due to exercise, overuse, injuries, or neuropathy, the following may offer some relief:

• Avoid wearing constrictive clothing.
• Keep yourself well-hydrated.
• Get a massage.
• Apply cold compresses.
• Get some rest.

When the pain is sudden, severe, or persistent, seek immediate medical attention. Ignoring this type of leg pain may lead to serious health consequences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Is leg pain a sign of cancer?
Answer: Possibly. If bone cancer is the cause, the pain may cause a dull or deep ache in a bone region like the pelvis, ribs, arms, and legs. In this scenario, weight loss and fatigue will often accompany the pain.

Question: Can a person die from peripheral artery disease?
Answer: Yes. PAD can cause kidney failure, lead to foot or leg amputation, and because of atherosclerosis, many people suffering from PAD will die from a heart attack, sudden cardiac arrest, or stroke.

As PAD often shows no symptoms, mature adults should be tested during regular medical checkups.

Question: Can a vitamin deficiency cause leg pain?
Answer: Yes. Some symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency may include fatigue and muscle aches or weakness.

Question: Does magnesium help aching legs?
Answer: Potentially. Another common cause of leg cramps and pain is magnesium deficiency. A primary symptom of a magnesium deficiency in the body is cramps, spasms, pain, and aches in the legs and feet.

Seek medical advice before adding or removing dietary supplements from your diet.

Question: What is restless leg syndrome (RLS)?
Answer: Restless leg syndrome or RLS is a condition which causes an uncontrollable urge to move your legs when resting. RLS can be treated by medication prescribed by your primary care physician.

Pay Attention to Your Aching Legs

Frequent or severe leg pain when resting may be an indication of a severe internal medical condition and should not be neglected.

In this article, you discovered what causes leg pain, the threats it may represent, some treatments for it, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Ignoring the sudden, sharp, or persistent pain you feel in your legs may lead to serious medical issues including chronic fatigue, amputation, stroke, or death. This type of pain should be addressed immediately, as part of successful treatment depends on early detection.

Sources:
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Restless-Legs-Syndrome-Fact-Sheet#3
https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/when-walking-makes-your-legs-hurt
https://www.seniorliving.org/health/causes-leg-pain/
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/ischemic-heart-disease
https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/what-is-cardiovascular-disease/coronary-artery-disease
https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/coronary_ad.htm

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