This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow View responses
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Parmar, M. S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Parmar, M. S.
Related Collections
Right arrow Other neurology
CMAJ • January 7, 2003; 168 (1)
© 2003 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors

Letters
Correspondance

Hiphuggers' tingly thighs

Malvinder S. Parmar

Medical Director, Medical Program, Timmins & District Hospital, Timmins, Ont.

Pressure on a sensory nerve can cause pain and paresthesia in the nerve's area of distribution. Entrapment of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel is the commonest example of this problem, but other nerves can be affected. The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve can be compressed as it passes under the inguinal ligament, which results in pain and paresthesia in the lateral aspect of the thigh, a condition commonly known as meralgia paresthetica.

I recently saw 3 mildly obese young women between the ages of 22 and 35, who had worn tight "low-rise" trousers (also called hiphuggers) over the previous 6 to 8 months. All presented with symptoms of tingling or a burning sensation on the lateral aspect of the thigh (bilateral in one case). The results of a physical examination were unremarkable, except for mild local tenderness at the anterior superior iliac spine in 2 patients. These 2 patients also had Tinel's sign, whereby a reproducible tingling sensation was elicited when the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve was stimulated by finger-tapping close to the anterior superior iliac spine. One of the women was concerned about multiple sclerosis and requested MRI but was reassured by my explanation of the origin of her symptoms. In all 3 patients, the symptoms resolved after 4 to 6 weeks of avoiding hiphuggers and wearing loose-fitting dresses.

Meralgia paresthetica has been described in association with various garments and accessories (such as wallets and tight jeans) causing compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. Now that hiphuggers are back in fashion, physicians can expect to see more patients with tingly thighs. Simple observation of the patient's mode of dress may give a clue to the diagnosis and prevent unnecessary investigations.

References

  1. Dyck PJ. The causes, classification, and treatment of peripheral neuropathy. N Engl J Med 1982; 307:283-6.[Medline]
  2. Orton D. Meralgia paresthetica from a wallet [letter]. JAMA 1984;252:3368.
  3. Boyce JR. Meralgia paresthetica and tight trousers [letter]. JAMA 1984;251:1553.



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 CMAJHome page
H. L. Low and G. Stephenson
Lawnmower neuritis: an unusual occupational hazard
Can. Med. Assoc. J., May 10, 2005; 172(10): 1273 - 1273.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 BMJHome page

BMJ, April 12, 2003; (2003) 3030008.
[Full Text] [PDF]

eLetters:

Read all eLetters

Theory on Gangsta jeans clients
Danica R. Griffith
CMAJ, 29 Jun 2006 [Full text]
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow View responses
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Parmar, M. S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Parmar, M. S.
Related Collections
Right arrow Other neurology