Can lumbar stenosis cause meralgia parasthetica?

Question

I've had pain and burning in my thighs severe enough to go on long term disability from my job. (I stand 10 hrs a day there, and standing makes it worse) I had an MRI which said I had congenital lumbar spinal stenosis and arthritis in my spine. I was sent to an ortho-surgeon. The ortho dismissed the stenosis since i'm relatively young - in my 30's - before even looking at the mri. After looking at it, he back-pedaled a bit, but still stood his ground saying it wasn't bad enough to cause that much pain. He ordered an EMG, which came back normal since the lateral cutaneous nerve, the problem nerve, isn't checked in the test. The doc who did the EMG said it was likely meralgia parasthetica in the report.
When I went back to the ortho for the follow-up, he spent all of 2 minutes with me and said he was referring me to a physiatrist since meralgia was a MUSCLE problem!
Should I trust him or get a second opinion on the stenosis? Can stenosis cause the meralgia?

Answer 1

Stenosis could cause the meralgia. Get a second opinion, this time from a neurologist. Still, your doctor may not be totally wrong, it would be a good idea to see the physiatrist as well. I have severe lumbar problems as well, and at my neurologist's office I met a woman who suffers from meralgia the doctor believes is caused by stenosis, but is aggravated by a muscle problem. Unfortunately, it took years to figure out her problem. Hopefully you have a handle on yours.

Answer 2

You post really interests me, because for three years I have had severe burning in my thighs. This year, the burning has decreased and it has turned to numbness and tingling. I've never had an MRI on my back, but I too have wondered if its spinal stenosis or a bulging disc causing my thigh pain. I seriously doubt you have a muscle problem. If they did a CK blood test and it was normal, then its not your muscles. Burning pain is nerve related.