What is meralgia paraesthetica?
Meralgia paraesthetica is a painful disorder of a skin nerve on the outside of the upper leg due to damage and/or loss of function in this nerve.

Cause
Meralgia paraesthetica can have many different causes, which are divided into two main groups:

Spontaneous meralgia paraesthetica occurs when no previous surgery has taken place. The cause is usually unknown.

Although spontaneous occurrence of this disorder is seen in all ages, it is most commonly seen between the ages of 30 and 40 and is more frequent in men.

Other causes are

Signs and symptoms
Symptoms in meralgia paraesthetica usually consist of an unpleasant tingling sensation on the outside of the thigh. In most cases it is felt just on one side. Patients complain of a characteristic burning, stabbing pain with a tingling sensation in the thigh. They usually feel the pain in the skin itself. Although pain elicited by touch is sometimes reported,most patients describe an unpleasant change of sensation rather than pain.

Symptoms can be brought on by stretching the hip backwards, by posture in general and by prolonged standing. Sitting sometimes relieves the symptoms.

Do I need additional examinations?

What are my treatment possibilities?

Medication

Interventional Pain Treatments