Neuropathy caused by ilioinguinal nerve entrapment

Posted by seanivor @seanivor, Mar 9, 2019

Hi my name is Sean, I have been struggling with Neuropathy, Small fiber Neuropathy and Ilioinguinal nerve entrapment / compression since an inguinal hernia mesh repair in 2009 .
I was pretty much incapacitated until October 2012 when I had a spinal cord stimulator installed, with time It helped me get back to work after almost two and a half years.
Unfortunately I had a set back a few months ago and am back to square one again.
The unusual thing is that I can get up in the morning feeling perfect, but once I get up and start walking and standing and putting weight on my groin & pelvis area, I start to feel soreness on that same specific point on my left groin, like a nerve is being compressed or pinched.
It is obviously inflammation at this point, I sometimes use an ice pack inside my pants which keeps the inflammation down and keeps me on my feet longer.
With continued walking and standing I get coldness and numbness down my left leg, (I think the small Fiber Neuropathy diagnosis of 2012 takes effect) with a very painful shin and leg, the feeling becomes debilitating with nausea and headache and a general feeling of unwellness.
Bed and rest are the only antidote to date, and the cycle begins all over again.
I have a very short window, maybe an hour or less on my feet, before the symptoms kick in.
I can’t wear a pair of denims with the past few weeks due to the unease and un-comfort caused.
This problem is really starting to get me down, I have no quality of life with these past few months, it is so frustrating not being able to work, go for a walk, I can’t do anything really and I’m beginning to get desperate.
I believe my problem is compression on either the ilioinguinal, genitofemoral or Obturator nerve in this area causing the inflammation and contributory problems.
I have not had any success with nerve blocks to date, I now have to look at surgery for long-term relief, I would consider neuro ablative techniques such as chemical neurolysis, cryoablation, and pulsed radio frequency (PRFL) ablation, what are your thoughts?
My one saving grace is that I was very good with the help of the stimulator and being careful from March 2013 up to my most recent mishap in November 2018, but I didn’t have this debilitating soreness and repetitive inflammation on my left groin.
I am currently doing myofascial release to free tight fascial tissue, not sure if its going to be any benefit.
This description best describes my symptoms
Obturator nerve entrapment
The main complaints in obturator nerve entrapment include difficulty with ambulation and the development of an unstable leg. In an anterior branch entrapment, symptoms can consist of exercise-related pain or groin pain. The patient may describe a deep ache in the region of the adductor origin at the pubic bone that increases with exercise; the pain may radiate down the medial aspect of the thigh toward the knee. An athlete’s ability to jump may be reduced. The weakness in these patients usually worsens with exercise.

Thank you for reading, Sean 

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I have been experiencing constant severe burning and stabbing right groin and thigh crease pain for over a year following inguinal hernia mesh repair surgery in August 2025. I have tried medications including gabapentin, lyrica and cymbalta. I have had 2 nerve blocks in the genitofemoral and ilioinguinal nerves and finally had a mesh removal and ilioinguinal neurectomy in May 2026. Nothing has helped. I cannot walk drive or basically do anything that causes movement in the groin area. My pain specialist is going to apply for Medicare approval for a PNS trial but give it only a 50% chance that it will provide meaningful relief. I spend my days on the couch with an ice pack in my lap. I am house bound and am open to any suggestions anyone might have. Thanks, Frank

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