I often get patients complaining of sciatica…but in the front part of their thigh?
This is a condition known as MERALGIA PARASTHETICA. it is caused by compression of the Lateral Femoral Cutaneous nerve. This nerve provides sensation to the antero-lateral part of the thigh. It often gets trapped under the inguinal ligament (although root impingement is also possible in manifesting symptoms) and produces pain and/or numbness in the front, outer part of the thigh.
Common causes for this impingement is being overweight, wearing tight jeans, carrying objects in front pocket, prolonged sitting, leaning against counters, etc.
By passively extending the hip or forcefully flexing the hip one should feel an increase in symptoms, this is do to traction and compression on the nerve.
Treatment entails the removal of compression on the nerve. One might start by loosening their belt, reduce their weight, avoid a prolonged sedentary position, remove objects from their front pocket. The use of Active Release Techniques has shown to be very successful, by stripping the inguinal ligament and allowing the Lateral Femoral Cutaneous nerve to pass underneath it without being compressed. Sometimes Cox decompression therapy is needed to remove the impingement at the nerve root itself.
17 Comments
I have found this information really helpful as I had a fall back in January and sustained a compression fracture and ever since I have had a sciatica type pain in the front/outer part of my right thigh. This is the first I have heard of this diagnosis and I am keen to start the three initial exercises.
Thank you
What are the exercise
Hi Todd,
Try these
https://youtu.be/KN2oLhfQTbM?si=bri9jXhxRZm_SRTD
I have pains in the front of my right thigh. sometimes it shoots to the right side of the knee where I have a knee replacement. Sometimes it shoots to the inside of my right thigh near the spot where I had a hysterectomy. And sometimes to the top of my thigh at the spot where I had an tube inserted for an operation to place inserts into my heart valves that were plugging up,.
I noticed sciatic pain in my front left thigh for the first time. The pain started in my rear and hip area and then into my left thigh area. I sit most of the day at my job as a receptionist. I try to get up every 30 minutes or so. This is the first time I've had really bad pain like this. I do some of the physical theraphy stretches which help. I hope this pain goes away soon.
I had a sledding accident in January 2021 which led to sciatic nerve damage, that has been over two years ago and still to this day 2/10/23 my right Botox and inside of upper right thigh along with the bottom of my right heel is still numb and hasn’t improved any, with several chiropractor and doctor visits still the same numbness from the time it happened, so today I was walking, and we got a teddy bear, puppy dog, and I almost accidentally stepped on her so to prevent it, I took an extra stride of a step in a awkward position and instantly fell to the ground with a sharp excruciating burn pain in the middle front area of my right thigh, any info about this would be greatly appreciated so very much, I’m layed up with my leg spread out and my thigh, front &back is twitching also my shin, pain level 1-10 is a solid 7.5.
Sorry for the late response Blake.
Try finding a chiropractor that is certified in Active Release Techniques and has a Flexion-Distraction table.
Hi drangelini.ca admin, Excellent work!
Thank you.
Thank you so much for this info. I think the cause for me is my weight gain and the last few months of sitting and laying around and being inactive. The pain I've had this last week is a real eye opener I will do anything to be free of the sleepless nights and unbearable pain. The pain I have starts near my pelvis and feels like a pinching pain, when I go to stand from sitting my leg feels like it's going to pop out of place and it's a very sharp stabbing feeling, even when I walk it feels like my leg is about to lock and I can't move it. When laying down to sleep it doesn't matter if I'm on my side, back or front it hurts regardless, ice packs or heat packs don't work either. I can't go to the hospital in the country I currently live in because of the horrible hospital bills/waiting lines. This info helped so much thank youuuuuu!!!!
You are welcome. Is there chiropractors in your country? A chiropractor can definitely help and is cost effective.
Try these home exercises in the meantime.
https://youtu.be/KN2oLhfQTbM?si=bri9jXhxRZm_SRTD
Awesome! Thank you for providing this important information. I heartily recommend visiting this website in order to learn more about a foot solution.
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https://calgarypodiatry.ca/
Thank you. What are the exercises for MERALGIA PARASTHETICA ?
Hi Anne-Marie,
Here is a good youtube video to follow.
https://youtu.be/KN2oLhfQTbM?si=bri9jXhxRZm_SRTD
I suffered a herniated disc, this gave me chronic sciatic pain and the front of my thigh felt like I had been kicked and punched,even standing was a struggle, reading about the damage and doing the exercises has helped, though its taking a while, I feel its defi
nitely helping
I'm suffering with sciatica in the front part of my leg. My doctor says they can't give me anything what I've had is not working. I have been in a lot of pain Which I can't stand much longer I also have asthma and COPD. I'm getting stressed with this.
Sorry to hear that Rosemarie,
contact a chiropractor, we are excellent at fixing these type of problems. Make sure they are Active Release Techniques providers and have a Flexion-Distraction table.
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