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Any success having Lateral Femoral Cutaneous fixed?

Posted by notsureabout @notsureabout, Apr 20, 2025

My left outer thigh feels on fire, sharp sudden stabbing pains, constant numbness, tingling and prickly feeling.
They have done X-rays, MRI and what they called ‘nerve test’ yet no one said what’s causing the discomfort for years, the Orthopedic has concentrated on lumbar issues and recommended Physical Therapy of which is causing more pain.
I found the term Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment on line and it describes and shows pics of exact location of the discomfort in my thigh.
I’m wondering if anyone has had any success in finding help to fix a Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment, and what type of Specialist diagnose the issue?

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teachdydx | @teachdydx | Mar 26 9:14pm
In reply to @teachdydx "@teachdydx Just got home. Along with cutting the the left cutaneous femoral nerve the Surgeon found..." + (show)
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@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

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@teachdydx
Update 6 weeks post op.
Hi, I wanted you all to know I had my 6 week visit this week with my doctor and I am doing very well. The majr nerve pain seems to be over. I have occasional twinges and they may continue some time as I heal fully, but I am much much better. I hardly even take a Tylenol and only occasionally use the 5% lidocaine patch. I am beginning to believe the surgery worked. I am very tired, but still healing and also not used to being able to walk or stand. I see him again in 2 months.
I am however, starting to have deep resentment for the many doctors I saw who dismissed me when I suggested that my condition was meralgia paresthetica. All the drugs they suggested and injections I actually had......the PT, all of the pain....... and I was right.
Good luck to all. BTW my surgery was covered by insurance, Medicare.

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teachdydx | @teachdydx | Mar 26 9:31pm
In reply to @laurenthewise1 "I am so glad I came across this thread. I also hope this ends up giving..." + (show)
Profile picture for laurenthewise1 @laurenthewise1

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!

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@laurenthewise1 My tenth ( and hopefully final) doctor is a neurosurgeon. I gave him my four year history in detail and he was sure it was meralgia paresthetica and that only surgery would help as I had tried everything else. He said it was rare that it went on this long and it is a rare surgery. I am much better after only 6 weeks ( First two to three were a b*tch). Lauren, you can message me and I will give you more info.
Good luck. joni

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