Definition

Noun A condition characterized by pain, tingling, or numbness in the outer thigh, caused by compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve.

Usage

Meralgia is a medical term used specifically to describe a type of neuropathic pain. It is most commonly seen in its full form, meralgia paresthetica. - The patient's primary complaint was meralgia, with a burning sensation along the right thigh. - Tight clothing or obesity can sometimes lead to meralgia.

Advanced Usage

• Meralgia paresthetica: This is the full clinical name for the syndrome. The term alone is often used as a shorthand in medical contexts.
  • The diagnosis was confirmed as meralgia paresthetica after a neurological exam.

Variants and Related Words

• Meralgic (adjective): Relating to or suffering from meralgia.
  • She described a meralgic pain that worsened when standing.

Synonyms

• Lateral femoral cutaneous neuralgia
• Bernhardt-Roth syndrome (a specific eponym for meralgia paresthetica)

Notes on Meaning

Meralgia refers exclusively to pain originating from the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. It is not a general term for any thigh pain; pain from muscular, skeletal, or vascular issues in the thigh would not be classified as meralgia.

Noun

1. pain in the thigh