How To Effectively Treat Meralgia Paresthetica

Corticosteroid Injections

Some meralgia paresthetica patients may benefit from corticosteroid injections. Corticosteroids are artificial substances that mimic cortisol, a stress hormone created by the adrenal gland. Like cortisol, the steroids reduce inflammation in the nerve and provide temporary pain relief. There are a few potential side effects like pain around the site of the injection, nerve damage, and joint infection. When the medication is administered, the needle injects it into the 'tunnel' the nerve travels through. Steroid injections are done on a short outpatient basis. Patients may have them performed in a clinic, hospital, or surgery center. After a few minutes of monitoring, the doctor will clear the patient to return home. Patients will also be given information on how to relieve potential side effects.

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Anti-Seizure Medication

The use of anti-seizure medication may help to lessen pain linked to meralgia paresthetica. The most commonly used medications are gabapentin, phenytoin, and pregabalin. Gabapentin is a medication used to treat both epilepsy and nerve pain in adults, and it may be a good choice when treating meralgia paresthetica caused by diabetic neuropathy. The medication stabilizes electrical impulses in the brain and affects the way nerves send the brain messages. Phenytoin is usually used to treat seizures, but it can also be used to help with nerve pain. It works by decreasing the amount of electrical activity in a patient's brain. Pregabalin is used to relieve pain from nerve damage, and it decreases the number of pain signals the nerves send to the brain, causing patients to experience less overall pain. In addition to treating nerve pain, pregabalin is sometimes paired with other medications to treat seizures. It's used for the treatment of fibromyalgia.

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