Is it Meralgia Parathetica if the top third of thigh unaffected?

Posted by clairewww @clairewww, Mar 24, 2023

Hi, I have ‘classic’ MP symptoms following a bad fall where I also incurred various serious injuries and lesser trauma/bruising to that knee and thigh.
The symptoms developed from mild-moderate to extreme/ severe within a few days and have not relented for 6 weeks. That thigh also has fluctuating degrees of swelling which, whatever my level of activity ( zero/ bed rest to walking around house regularly) particularly flares between 5pm and 4am although it is still severe at the other times too.

The vastus lateralis and rectus femoris are hard and swollen. Sensitivity and pain read as classic although extreme ( crying and screaming for hours and unable to hold a conversation) but also do not appear in the top third of my thigh at all.

I have been seen by a Trauma and Orthopaedic Consultant ( mainly to do with my other ongoing injuries) plus two separate Emergency Department Drs. All they could do is refer me to neurology but there is a long wait ( now into week 6 since I fell) and up the high level pain meds I am already on for a complex proximal humerus fracture and head injury - Oral Morphine 10mg ( night), Codeine 240mg (day) , Melocicam 15mg, Gabapentin 2000mg per day, acetaminophen/ paracetamol 4000mg and Baclofen 20mg.

Given the lack of symptoms from the hip to 1/3 down and the history of trauma, is this really MP as suggested by the other Drs? What else might it be?

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Hello @clairewww, Welcome to Connect. I know it's frustrating not being able to get a neurology appointment after being seen by trauma and orthopedic professionals. It's good to be asking questions which makes it even worse when you can't get any answers or treatments that help at your appointments. I did find some information that might be similar to what you describe and may be helpful.

--- Meralgia paresthetica-like syndrome may be caused by transient lumbar nerve root injury without definite compression: a case report: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21294431/
--- Delayed Diagnosis of Meralgia Paresthetica: A Case Report: https://www.thenerve.net/journal/view.php?number=153.

Have you thought about seeking a second opinion or help at a teaching hospital or major health facility?

REPLY
@johnbishop

Hello @clairewww, Welcome to Connect. I know it's frustrating not being able to get a neurology appointment after being seen by trauma and orthopedic professionals. It's good to be asking questions which makes it even worse when you can't get any answers or treatments that help at your appointments. I did find some information that might be similar to what you describe and may be helpful.

--- Meralgia paresthetica-like syndrome may be caused by transient lumbar nerve root injury without definite compression: a case report: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21294431/
--- Delayed Diagnosis of Meralgia Paresthetica: A Case Report: https://www.thenerve.net/journal/view.php?number=153.

Have you thought about seeking a second opinion or help at a teaching hospital or major health facility?

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Thanks so much for this, I’ll take a read over the weekend.

REPLY
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