PrognosisHealing
There are numerous known risk factors that favour the development of the disease. These should first be eliminated to relieve the nerve. Often the complaints then improve spontaneously.
If this is not the case, an infiltration therapy can be carried out (see above). In rare cases only a surgical intervention can help. However, the prognosis of the disease is good. In nine out of ten patients, these measures result in a significant improvement in symptoms.
Diagnostics
In order to be able to make a diagnosis of Meralgia paraesthetica, it is first necessary to take a medical history, which should be followed by a good physical examination. In addition to the characteristic pain in the circumscribed area on the outer front side of the thigh, a pressure pain is often also noticeable somewhat in the middle of the anterior superior iliac spine, the point where the nerve passes through the inguinal ligament. Passive lifting of the stretched leg in the supine position also frequently increases the pain (reverse Lasègue sign). In addition, pathological SEPs (somatosensory evoked potentials) can be inferred in some patients, which are conspicuous by a prolonged latency. In exceptional cases, it may be useful to have an MRI performed to assess the structures around the inguinal ligament and nerve.
Differential diagnosis
An important differential diagnosis of Meralgia paraesthetica is a radiculopathy, i.e. a symptomatology caused by damage to a nerve root. The decisive difference is that in the case of radiculopathies (e.g. a prolapsed intervertebral disc in the lumbar spine), motor impairments exist in addition to the sensitive ones.
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