I just need to vent!

[Bramble2000]

Hi all, I’ve just had an appointment that I’ve waited over two years for regarding my Meralgia Paraesthetica. My thigh has been numb for over 20 years following a Cesarean section but in the last two years, it feels like it’s had acid thrown over it. The guy I spoke to said that there’s nothing they can do about it and it won’t stop burning. He told me to lose weight and asked if was depressed. Great. Just, great. 🤣

[SheffieldJane]

Good grief! Has the statute of limitations on compensation expired? Perhaps legal advice is in order?

See another “ guy” who understands the Hippocratic oath. If all else fails, alternative medicine can sometimes fill the gap. I have seen remarkable things with Homoeopathy, even in my own family.

[cycli]

Such sensitivity. A truly empathetic consultant. Does it feel like a slow burning sensation? If so I have a theory that it's the pred. wasting the muscle. I have this too in the thigh. Could be wrong, but there has to be some correlating feeling for such a significant reduction in muscle mass.

[Bramble2000 in reply to cycli]

No, it’s not Pred because I don’t take it. This is something completely different. It’s from the Femoral nerve which must have been severed during surgery. It’s agony as if it’s fire

[powerwalk]

Oh outrageous. Thats awful. Vent away. Did they try lyrica or anything like that, it might help. Failing that a decent painkiller to help. Hope you get some help.

[Bramble2000 in reply to powerwalk]

I already take pregabalin and morphine. Both take about 10% of it away

[powerwalk in reply to Bramble2000]

Thats really rough. I really hope you can get sorted sooner. I know something of this kind of pain, had second back surgery just two weeks ago for nerve problem with the leg and excrutiating pain. Let us know how you are getting on.

[Pixix]

Thry thought my Sciatica was that as the pain goes down outside of my thigh instead of back. I was told the only thing I could do was lose weight & wear loose clothing. If it didn’t get better I could have a steroid injection. But I had to choose as can only have 4 steroid injections a year & chose the trochanteric Bursitis this time as it’s worse! Next time it’s my foot or wrists, I think. But I definitely have sciatica not that! I’m trialling pain patches as tranadol has ceased to work (15 years on it). I found that the higher doses of oral steroids…8mg - 17mg helped it all, but am tapering off slowly. I realise you don’t take steroids, so guess this isn’t much help, decent painkillers, &, if he’s right with his question, anti depressants…or Pregabalin, gabapentin, which could help both?! Good luck!

[Karenjaninaz in reply to Pixix]

I found squatting helped sciatica when I had it; it opens up the vertebral spaces reducing the spasm. I found this out when I was delivering anesthetics and needed to squat to empty the patient’s urine bag. A welcome relief at the time.

[Pixix in reply to Karenjaninaz]

Interesting way to find out it helps! Sadly, I’ve tried all the exercises, unfortunately what’s good for sciatica is bad for others injuries I have! I have orthostatic hypotension, & even if I come up slowly from squatting my blood pressure drops like a stone, I feel nauseous & get very giddy! I try ‘walking up the wall with my hands’ every evening gives a good stretch, & have quite a few exercises before I get out of bed each morning! Hanks for the tip, I will try it…& come up extra slowly! S x

[Nightingales]

Oh, I will vent along with you Bramble2000! I also had the numbness for many years after multiple gynaecological surgeries. It turned into the screaming burning electric shock pain a few weeks after my Total hip replacement on the other hip, probably from different walking style etc. I had a steroid injection under US, which didn’t work. It was a private dr who didn’t seem to experienced. Gabapentin helps but gives me double vision! I am allergic to the other nerve meds. Have they suggested those for you? I got the same advice, loose weight and avoid tight clothes, neither of which apply to me. I have started physio exercises so fingers crossed.

I find a heat pad on the leg helps, ice is too painful. Sometimes a big loading dose of Ibuprofin settles it a bit. Massaging the area in the groin where the nerve is trapped helps a bit. So sorry you have this. I would suggest a second opinion. There are injections, minimally invasive surgerys to release the nerve and other surgeries that can be done.

[Bramble2000 in reply to Nightingales]

Where do I go from here? I already take Morphine and pregabalin but I’m going to try Gabapentin instead. I’ve been everything from 7 to 19 stones and it’s never made any difference. I’ve done all the exercises. It’s such a nightmare on top of PMR and Ankylosing Spondylitis. X

[sidra1968]

I assume you've tried Gabapentin? That stinks, these docs with the "you're just depressed" line, I got that once, which is hilarious because I am quite the happy person..but yeah, I was upset that I was losing so much money trying to figure out what was wrong with me and still in pain and stuck in my recliner! Vent away!

[Nightingales]

I think Gabapentin is just about the same as Pregabolin. Maybe a pain clinic would be a good next step if you haven’t tried the injections. So sorry. I know how bad and depressing the pain can be.

[Pixix in reply to Nightingales]

They are similar & I don’t think they’ve yet worked out why one works for some & not the other! It’s good to try both. They have different side effects for people, too, & some tolerate one well, while others….! I have tried them both. I couldn’t continue to take them, but had quite differing ‘qualities’!