Meralgia paresthetica in the differential diagnosis of low back pain
H. Erbay1, A. Gökçe2
1Tabip Asteğmen. 3. Komando Tugayı, 30 Yataklı Asker Hastanesi, Anesteziyoloji ve Reanimasyon Uzmanı, SİİRT (Asli görev: Pamukkale Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Anesteziyoloji ve Reanimasyon A.B.D., Yrd. Doç. Dr.)
2Tabip Asteğmen. 3. Komando Tugayı, 30 Yataklı Asker Hastanesi Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji Uzmanı, SİİRT (Asli görev: İstanbul Üniversitesi, Cerrahpaşa Tıp Fakültesi Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji A.B.D., Uzm. Dr.)
Keywords: Low back pain, meralgia paresthetica
Abstract
Meralgia paresthetica is an entrapment neuropathy arising from compression of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve as a surgical complication or diabetic neuropathy, some neoplasms or wide and heavy belt usage. It may cause complaints like low back pain and this requires differential diagnosis with other causes of low back pain. A 21 year old male patient was admitted to our hospital with low back and thigh pain. He also had a history of lumbalgia. Physical examination and radiologic studies for low back pain and siatalgia revealed no pathologic finding. Thight, wide and heavy belt usage was thought to be the most probable cause of meralgia paresthetica. His complaints disappeared by lateral femoral cutaneous blockage, removal of the belt and bed rest. He was completely symptom- free in his 45th day control. In this report, we aimed to emphasize this rare entity, meralgia paresthetica, from the point of its wide spectrum of etiology, need for a meticulous investigation of symptoms, and conservative therapy as the treatment of choice.