Meralgia Paraesthetica: Do Not Ignore The Symptoms Of Pain
The term ‘meralgia paraesthetica’ refers to thigh pain that can present in different ways. Although there are different symptoms that can appear, such as general thigh pain, pins and needles in the thigh, a burning sensation and so on, it is important not to ignore the symptoms, but to have them checked out by an appropriate medical professional.
Primarily this is due to the fact that meralgia paraesthetica is not the underlying cause of the pain; in effect it is a symptom. What has happened is that a nerve has become trapped within the thigh and this has resulted in the meralgia paraesthetica. It is important to ascertain what caused the nerve to become trapped in the first place and this can only be done by a healthcare professional.
The difficulty with self diagnosing a condition such as meralgia paraesthetica is that although the condition can heal itself, when the trapped nerve is ‘released’ if you simply ‘hope’ that the nerve will somehow release itself, the condition will simply remain present, unless the pressure on the nerve is inadvertently relieved. However continuing to undertake activities that could exacerbate the pain and the damage to the nerve will certainly not help the condition. Thus it is important to get to the root cause of the pain.
Differing Symptoms
It is also very important to rule out other conditions that may be causing the pain. That is not to suggest that if you think that you have meralgia paraesthetica, it will probably turn out to be something more sinister or longer term, but it is important to be sure that the condition is not a symptom of another disease, that may require greater investigation and treatment. So seeking medical assistance is important.
Causes Of Meralgia Paraesthetica
There are many causes of meralgia paraesthetica, but if you have a condition such as diabetes and think that you may have meralgia paraesthetica, it is still important to ascertain if the nerve damage is due to diabetes or whether something else has caused it. Sometimes people can get meralgia paraesthetica through carrying a toddler round for a long time, or cycling for a long period of time. So assuming that what caused the meralgia paraesthetica was a known medical condition could lead to you continuing to do the activity that caused the paraesthetica, which in turn could well make it worse.
Due to the different causes of meralgia paraesthetica, there can be slightly different symptoms, so make sure that you give an accurate description of the pain, when it is at its worst and what (if anything) seems to alleviate the pain. This can simply help ensure that the root cause is diagnosed as soon as possible.
Treatment options for meralgia paraesthetica focus on non-invasive treatments and when accurately diagnosed, it can respond well to treatment. But it is vital to seek medical advice and not to assume that the condition will get better of its own volition or to attempt a cure through alternative therapies alone.