Introduction
A large number of nerves run along the thigh. These can be inflamed by various causes. The symptoms manifest themselves differently depending on the affected nerve and mostly in the localization of the innervation area. A distinction is made between nerves that innervate the muscles and those that are responsible for sensitivity, especially of the skin.
Causes
The causes of inflammation of nerves in the thigh are similar to those of any inflammation of nerves in other parts of the body. The most common causes are listed below. In addition, a disease of the spine can cause nerve pain radiating to the thigh and cause similar symptoms.
Inflammation of central nerves that precede the peripheral nerves of the thigh is also possible. Important diseases to be mentioned are multiple sclerosis and degenerative spinal diseases such as spinal stenosis and herniated discs. This topic might also be of interest to you: shingles on the leg
- Infection of the nerve by viruses or bacteria e.g.
shingles, borreliosis
- Autoimmune diseases including Guillain-Barré syndrome
- Nerve inflammation due to mechanical irritation or compression e.g. nerve constriction syndrome
- Injuries or traumas
- Medication or toxins, including alcohol
- Metabolic diseases like polyneuropathy in diabetes
The Meralgia paraesthetica is a nerve constriction syndrome of the N. cutaneus femoris lateralis that causes pain, numbness or tingling in the lateral thigh. Usually this is only temporary and is promoted by certain postures or circumstances. These include squatting, wearing a belt or tight jeans as well as pregnancy or overweight. All these factors lead to an impression or compression of the nerve under the inguinal ligament. If the symptoms do not disappear on their own or due to a change in posture, a doctor should be consulted.
Symptoms
The symptoms of nerve inflammation are mainly pain in the respective innervation area. This pain can be dull, burning or stabbing. In the advanced stage, when there is a complete loss of nerve function, as in polyneuropathy, the absence of pain is also typical.
Numbness or tingling of the skin indicates an inflammation of a sensitive nerve such as the lateral cutaneus femoris nerve. Nerves that supply muscles can lead to paralysis or failure of the muscles. This would indicate a cause close to the spinal cord before the nerve splits into the individual fibers, as in spinal diseases such as a herniated disc.
Infections such as shingles are usually accompanied by other symptoms such as general fatigue, fever or, in this case, a typical skin rash. In the context of MS (multiple sclerosis), other nerves such as the optic nerve are often also affected, which manifests itself in visual disorders and double vision. Polyneuropathy in diabetes leads not only to a lack of pain but also to loss of sensitivity and can be accompanied by the symptoms of diabetes such as frequent urination, weight loss or reduced performance.
Since polyneuropathy is more likely to occur in the course of diabetes, it is usually already diagnosed and treated. The pain of nerve inflammation is nerve pain. They can range from burning and stabbing to a dull pain quality. In addition, they often radiate into the course of the nerve, possibly into the lower leg.
