Medically, burning thigh pain is referred to as meralgia paraesthetica. The condition is caused by compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve which supplies feeling to the upper leg. It can start as slightly uncomfortable, but grow to become extremely painful and debilitating. Many brush off the feeling as something they get when they wear something tight or overdo it. However, it is important not to ignore the symptoms, but to have them checked by expert and experienced orthopedic specialists like those at Colorado Center of Orthopaedic Excellence in Colorado Springs, Colorado. If the diagnosis is late or missed entirely, pain can keep increasing, and leaving it untreated can lead to permanent disability.

OVERVIEW

Meralgia paraesthetica is a condition that causes tingling, numbness, and burning pain in the outer thigh. It is also known as lateral femoral cutaneous nerve entrapment. “Meralgia” means “pain in the thigh,” and “paraesthetica” means “burning pain, tingling or itch.” One might also hear it referred to as Bernhardt-Roth Syndrome. Burning thigh pain is relatively common, but it is frequently misdiagnosed. Although spontaneous meralgia paraesthetica can occur in any age group, it is most frequently seen in those 30 to 40 years old. Symptoms are typically on one side, seen in about 78% of cases, but it may be on both sides.

ABOUT THE LATERAL FEMORAL CUTANEOUS NERVE

Nerves are like cables that carry electrical impulses between the brain and the rest of the body. The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve branches off the lumbar plexus, a network of nerves that connect the spinal cord in the lower back with the motor and sensory nerves of the legs and lower body. It provides sensation to the front and sides of the thigh. This is a pure sensory nerve and does not operate any muscles.

WHAT IS BURNING THIGH PAIN?

Meralgia paraesthetica results from the compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN). The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve is susceptible to compression as it courses from the lumbar plexus, through the abdominal cavity, under the inguinal ligament (a set of 2 bands that connect the oblique muscles of the abdomen to the pelvis, deep in the groin) and into the subcutaneous tissue (the deepest layer of skin made up mostly of fat cells and connective tissue) of the thigh. For nerves to deliver information from the surrounding environment to the brain, they must pass over, under, around, and through the joints, bones, and muscles. Usually, there is enough room to permit easy passage. In meralgia paraesthetica, swelling, trauma, or pressure can narrow these openings and squeeze the nerve. When this happens, it may cause many symptoms and even lead to paralysis or other dysfunction.

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