16/09/2025
What is Meralgia Paresthetica?
1.Meralgia paresthetica, also called lateral femoral nerve entrapment, is a condition that appears when a major sensory nerve in your leg, the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN), is compressed.
2.Your LFCN runs from the spinal cord to the pelvis and thighs to innervate your hip flexors and leg extensors [1], plus allow for feeling in the anterolateral (front and outside) regions of your thigh.
3.Because this nerve is strictly SENSORY, and not a MOTOR nerve, the compression does not affect the way you move your muscles [2].
It does, however, affect sensation in the region, and its effects can be quite unpleasant.
Common Symptoms
The symptoms of meralgia paresthetica can vary in sensation, but they all show up in the same region of your leg – the front and lateral region of the thigh, or the area innervated by your LFCN.
-HCPC
