Any success having Lateral Femoral Cutaneous fixed?

I have the same thing 3 years after anterior total hip. I've seen neurologist, ortho, back specialist with no answers. I think doctors don't know and don't want to find the treatment. Tired doctors and they don't want to investigate.

Good morning. I began having symptoms of lateral femoral nerve impingement back in the mid-1990s after spending a lot of time sitting with my legs crossed "Indian style." Meralgia Paresthetica is often used as another name for the diagnosis. The affected nerve distribution is sensory and has not interfered with muscle strength or movement ability. I had severe but intermittent pain in the outer upper thigh area, which increased to the point that I would awaken from sleep in severe pain when repositioning in bed. Lidoderm patches helped; however, the pain of removing the patch was significant.
Finally, after multiple tests and years of pain, I underwent a lateral femoral nerve clipping (through my appendectomy scar), also called a neurectomy, and a lateral calf nerve release to relieve abnormal dorsal foot sensations. The Surgeon who performed my procedure now lives in Arizona and is named Sean Wolfort, MD. If surgical intervention is the chosen way to move forward, I recommend that a surgeon who is trained in this specific procedure be located.
The pain is now mostly resolved. I do have intermittent flares of nerve discomfort, but I am mostly pain-free. I take low-dose Pregabalin at night to suppress any discomfort and use a Lidocaine, gabapentin, and Flexeril topical compound created by a local apothecary as needed. I believe that other treatments, including local medication injections, are also available. An ice pack for 10 minutes or so before bed has also been helpful.
I hope this information has been helpful. Know that you are not alone and that others understand the pain. Best of luck!

I was diagnosed with this condition after hip replacement surgery and had my lateral femoral cutaneous nerve severed on August 29 of this year. I am currently trying to recover. Prior to the surgery, I had nerve blocks to relieve the pain which were unsuccessful. My LFCN was damaged during my hip replacement surgery, which is one of the lesser known risks of a hip replacement surgery because that nerve is located just under the skin and can easily be damaged when they open up your hip and move everything around to perform the hip replacement. The pain that I experienced from this condition was hands-down, the worst pain I have ever felt in my life. It was excruciating and unrelenting. I suffered from mid April until the end of August with this pain and at times it was so bad I had thoughts of ending my life. The surgery so far has relieved some of the pain. At least at this point, there are periods where I have only mild pain, but I am not pain-free, at least not yet. Unfortunately, I think I’m going to be one of these people that it takes quite a bit of time to heal completely. If you have this condition, I feel for you because it is horrible. I’ve had three neck surgeries, one back surgery, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia most of my adult life and so I am no stranger to pain. When I tell you, this is the worst pain of my life, I’m not kidding. I wouldn’t wish this condition on my worst enemy. I hope that’s not what’s going on with you, but if it is, please find a good doctor and get some relief. I will be praying for you. Ice helps more than anything else.

@melindaheim I had this surgery on August 29 of this year and was wondering how long it took you to recover fully. My pain has been relieved somewhat as prior to the surgery. It was excruciating and unrelenting, but I still have difficulty walking and periods of pretty bad pain but again, nothing like it was before the surgery. I’m just eager to get back on my feet and was wondering, even though you still have some issues, at what point did you feel fairly good after your surgery?

Good morning! I obtained fair relief almost immediately. Some of the mild discomfort, unfortunately, continues to this day; however, I have learned to recognize it and use topical meds/ice when it happens. Maybe some gentle strength training for your lower extremities and/or stretching will help resolve your pain. Although I realize it is only a cutaneous sensory nerve distribution, I would never have guessed it could be so painful. May I ask who performed your surgery? I think that the longer a nerve has been injured, the longer it takes to recover. When I compare the discomfort now to the outright pain I had before surgery, I am grateful that I had it done. I wish you the best of luck!

I am going in for this surgery Monday after 4 years and 10 doctors. Wish me luck.

@teachdydx
Just got home. Along with cutting the the left cutaneous femoral nerve the Surgeon found a neuroma. I have had in 4 years no less than 15 -20 xrays, Cat scans, sonagrams, MRI's and even on Dec 1 25 a MRN, which almost no hospitals do; it it is a MRI of the nerves. Though they usually do with contrast and gave me an IV, the radiologist chose not to do contrast.
It is amazing that no one found the neuroma, not one radiologist from many different centers and mostly hospitals. AI says it should easily show up on a CAT scan (3 weeks ago last) or MRI and MRN . HUH?
When I see my Dr. in 2 weeks post op I will ask about that. Most of the doctors never look at the film (unlike TV med shows including the neurosurgeons on Grey's Anatomy and the Resident) and they trust the radiologist completely. They found other things like small hernia and back issues, but not this.
I pray this helps. They said it may not be immediate because the pain was so severe for so long that the nerves in my thigh may have branches that will take a while. I will keep y'all posted.
Thanks got the hugs and well wishes.

joni
btw, teachdydx means I teach Calculus

Thank you for sharing!

@teachdydx/ Wishing you the best of luck!

I am so glad I came across this thread. I also hope this ends up giving you significant relief.

I have something similar but it's the anterior femoral cutaneous nerve with me. I'm not sure how I injured it but it has been going on almost 4 years and in pursuit of a solution I have has a total anterior hip replacement, spinal cord simulator implant (both of which have been unsuccessful) as well as multiple steroid injections both spine and hip. The injections have given varying degrees of relief for varying amounts of time. I also have had numerous MRI scans of hip, pelvis, spine, all of which show nothing that could be causing this. I have been doing PT and my PT is great. He has found areas in my glute and groin (targeting the obturator nerve) that can be released manually but the relief only lasts for a day at most. The area of pain distribution is the anterior femoral nerve.

I want to give up. I'm so glad I came across this thread. Please tell me what kind of doctors/surgeons you saw that gave you answers and help! Who did your surgery, was it an orthopedic surgeons Spine surgeons? Pain medicine specialists?
I really need help knowing where to go next.

Thank you and be well!