How To Effectively Treat Meralgia Paresthetica
Meralgia paresthetica occurs when the nerve that allows the thigh's skin surface to experience sensation becomes compressed, leading to burning pain, numbness, and tingling in the outer thigh. There are a few common causes of the condition, including obesity, pregnancy, and tight clothing. Meralgia paresthetica may also occur because of diseases like diabetes or local trauma. Risk factors include being obese or overweight, since this can increase pressure on the nerve. A nerve injury related to diabetes can also lead to meralgia paresthetica. Pregnant women are also at an increased risk. The risk is also heightened for those between thirty and sixty years old.
There are a number of conservative measures patients can take to relieve discomfort, though further treatment measures may be necessary for patients with severe cases. Learn about the options for treating meralgia paresthetica now.
Lose Excess Weight
The symptoms of meralgia paresthetica tend to go away after a few months. To treat the disease, doctors focus on relieving nerve compression. One of the conservative measures patients can take is to lose excess weight, as losing weight keeps the nerve from being compressed. In addition, healthy weight loss can help reduce the risk of developing other health conditions in the future. It's important for weight loss to occur in a healthy manner. Individuals can lose weight by making changes to their diet and exercising more regularly. It's also important to stay hydrated. Supplements to lose weight are often less healthy than being overweight in the first place.
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Wear Loose Clothing
Wearing tight clothing causes the nerves in the legs to become compressed. This is particularly true when it comes to clothes like skinny jeans, which don't have a lot of stretch. One of the simplest fixes for meralgia paresthetica is to wear loose clothing. The changes in wardrobe don't have to be drastic. If an individual is a fan of tight jeans or skirts, they can consider the same styles in just a size or two up. This allows them to preserve the style without causing themselves pain.
This measure won't always relieve all the symptoms. It's best used in cases where the nerve compression was caused by clothes rather than another circumstance. If the compression was caused by being overweight or a nerve injury, patients may need additional treatment.
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Corticosteroid Injections
Some meralgia paresthetica patients may benefit from corticosteroid injections. Corticosteroids are artificial substances that mimic cortisol, a stress hormone created by the adrenal gland. Like cortisol, the steroids reduce inflammation in the nerve and provide temporary pain relief. There are a few potential side effects like pain around the site of the injection, nerve damage, and joint infection. When the medication is administered, the needle injects it into the 'tunnel' the nerve travels through. Steroid injections are done on a short outpatient basis. Patients may have them performed in a clinic, hospital, or surgery center. After a few minutes of monitoring, the doctor will clear the patient to return home. Patients will also be given information on how to relieve potential side effects.
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Anti-Seizure Medication
The use of anti-seizure medication may help to lessen pain linked to meralgia paresthetica. The most commonly used medications are gabapentin, phenytoin, and pregabalin. Gabapentin is a medication used to treat both epilepsy and nerve pain in adults, and it may be a good choice when treating meralgia paresthetica caused by diabetic neuropathy. The medication stabilizes electrical impulses in the brain and affects the way nerves send the brain messages. Phenytoin is usually used to treat seizures, but it can also be used to help with nerve pain. It works by decreasing the amount of electrical activity in a patient's brain. Pregabalin is used to relieve pain from nerve damage, and it decreases the number of pain signals the nerves send to the brain, causing patients to experience less overall pain. In addition to treating nerve pain, pregabalin is sometimes paired with other medications to treat seizures. It's used for the treatment of fibromyalgia.
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Tricyclic Antidepressants
Tricyclic antidepressants have the potential to help relieve pain in many medical conditions, including meralgia paresthetica. Different medications have slightly different side effects, but some typical side effects include constipation, dry mouth, and drowsiness. These medications affect the levels of neurotransmitters in the body, which are created by nerves to help send messages to other nerves throughout the body. A tricyclic antidepressant increases the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the body. In addition, they block acetylcholine, an additional neurotransmitter. Acetylcholine causes the contraction of muscles and allows the nerves to send pain signals. By blocking and reducing the amount of acetylcholine in the body, the nerves fail to send as many pain signals as usual. Doctors may pair one of these antidepressants with an anticonvulsant medication to further reduce pain.