Question:
Seeking Others Who Experienced Post Op Leg Numbness

Beginning the second day post-op, still in the hospital, I experienced some numbness on the outside of my left leg just above my knee that felt like burning, then pins-and-needles. At the time I associated it with a shot they gave me in my left leg a few hours prior that burned, and the feeling went away. It came back a couple of days ago (now I'm at home) and went away. Now it's back, and it isn't going away. I'm just wondering if this is something typically related to surgery, or if it is unrelated.    — Colleen M. (posted on July 25, 2003)

July 25, 2003
Its from the surgery. A nerve that runs down there got cut off a while during surgery and its trying to wake itself up, thats why the pins and needles. I saw a neurologist and had tests done just to find out that there's nothing that can be done for it. I had it for 3 or 4 months after surgery. Just when you cant stand it at night anymore, it'll be gone.
   — Monica H.

July 25, 2003
It's called meralgia parasthetica and should go away....It's the nerve in your groin area that runs down your thigh being compressed...Capaisin cream helps ease the discomfort.
   — jennifer A.

July 25, 2003
I too had numbness (burning & pins and needles) in my left leg just about in the outter thigh area. It started about 3 days after surgery. It would come and go usually when I was laying down. It scared me, but my surgeon said it was a nerve reaction from the way I was positioned during surgery and it would eventually go away. It took about 3 to 4 weeks until it stopped.
   — ckreh

July 26, 2003
Colleen, I've got a slightly different idea of what you might have. I too had horrible pain in my left thigh starting the second day after the surgery. I thought someone had stuck a knife in me. The thing is, I'd also had a bit of the same types of pain in previous months as long ago as a year, but not as intense. It would be a very slight pain, but more like a discomfort. And I'd notice that the outside of my left thigh felt "numb" to the touch, like the nerves had been "put to sleep." This feeling was from the knee up about halfway to my groin. I asked my PCP about is after I got out of the hospital. His thought is that it's a common aliment known as ITB. You can read about it at: http://www.ucls.uchicago.edu/Activities/sports/girls_track/articles/ITB_syndrome.html. They do have "bands" or wraps that have been used by many in the miltary to help eliminate the nerve pain. Though I haven't tried one yet and am not endorsing this product, you can find one such item at: http://www.fabrifoam.com/p-pattstrap.html
   — Robert Neff

July 26, 2003
MERALGIA PARESTHETICA..."Nerves must pass over, under, around and through your joints, bones, and muscles. Usually, there is enough room to permit easy passage. But swelling, trauma, or pressure can narrow these openings and squeeze the nerve. When that happens, pain, paralysis, or other dysfunction may result. A painful, burning sensation on the outer side of the thigh may mean that one of the large sensory nerves (lateral femoral cutaneous nerve) to your legs is being compressed. This condition is known as meralgia paresthetica Signs and Symptoms Pain on the outer side of the thigh, occasionally extending to the outer side of the knee A burning sensation, tingling, or numbness in the same area Occasionally, aching in the groin area or pain spreading across the buttocks Usually only on one side of the body Usually more sensitive to light touch than to firm pressure Diagnosis During a physical examination, your physician will ask about recent surgeries, injury to the hip, or repetitive activities that could irritate the nerve. Restrictive clothing,recent surgery and weight gain are two common reasons for pressure on a nerve. Treatment Treatments will vary, depending on the source of the pressure. It may take time for the burning pain to stop and, in some cases, numbness will persist despite treatment. The goal is to remove the cause of the compression. This may mean resting from an aggravating activity, losing weight, wearing loose clothing, or using a toolbox instead of wearing a tool belt. In more severe cases, your physician may give you an injection of a corticosteroid preparation to reduce inflammation. This generally relieves the symptoms for some time. In rare cases, surgery is needed to release the nerve."
   — jennifer A.