How Do I Relieve Femoral Nerve Pain?

Femoral neuralgia refers to pain along the femoral nerve distribution area, that is, along the groin to the front of the thigh, the inside of the knee joint, and the inner ankle of the calf. Femoral neuralgia is seen in L3, 4 nerve root lesions such as lumbar disc herniation or pelvic inflammation or mass compression, iliopsoas myositis, and diabetes. Treatment depends on the condition.

Femoral neuralgia refers to pain along the femoral nerve distribution area, that is, along the groin to the front of the thigh, the inside of the knee joint, and the inner ankle of the calf. Femoral neuralgia is seen in L3, 4 nerve root lesions such as lumbar disc herniation or pelvic inflammation or mass compression, iliopsoas myositis, and diabetes. Treatment depends on the condition.

Chinese name

Femoral neuralgia

Also known as

Wassermann sign

Etiology and pathogenesis of femoral neuralgia

Femoral nerve stimulation can produce femoral neuralgia, also known as Wassermann sign. It is common after injuries to the femoral nerve and its branches, such as gunshot wounds, stab wounds, surgical injuries, fractures, poisoning, diabetes, infectious diseases, tumors and inflammation, varicose veins, and so on.

Clinical manifestations of femoral neuralgia

The clinical manifestations of femoral neuralgia are mainly intense neuralgia and hyperalgesia in the front of the thigh. Put the patient in a prone position, and the examiner lifts his lower limbs, and pain occurs in front of the thighs and in the groin; if the patient squatting on the heels can cause pain and need to be straightened, this is the Wassermann sign

Femoral neuralgia diagnosis

1. Clinically visible pain in the groin area or prefemoral area is mainly characterized by pain in the inner groin and prefemoral area innervated by this nerve and radiating to the inner side of the calf. If the lumbar plexus is damaged, pain will also occur in the lower abdomen and perineum. There is also pain in the upper back when the root is damaged. The pain radiates to the inside of the calf and the front of the thigh, and worsens when coughing, sneezing, and lower back movement.

2. The femoral nerve distribution area is allergic or diminished, jumping and squatting are difficult, the muscles in this area are slightly atrophic, and the knee tendon reflex on the affected side is weakened.

3. There may be tender points in 1/3 of the inguinal ligament, lateral femoral artery, medial knee, posterior medial malleolus and medial edge of the foot. In the case of root lesions, the tenderness near the spinous process of the upper lumbar spine is obvious, it radiates to the groin, and the back muscles are tense.

4. Prone position straight leg hip extension test, knee flexion test were positive, root pain began in the upper waist, neck flexion test was positive.

5. To further find out the reason, imaging examinations such as lumbar spine and pelvic X-rays or CT should be taken according to the specific situation.

Femoral neuralgia treatment principles

1. Femoral nerve block: The patient lies supine, 1 cm below the midpoint of the line between the anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic tubercle, and the puncture point is outside the femoral artery. Make a hillock, touch the femoral artery with the index finger of the left hand, hold the needle with the right hand, connect the syringe filled with local anesthetic, and pierce vertically along the outside of the index finger of the left hand. Inner calf). If there is no abnormal feeling, you can perform a parallel puncture to the deep part of the inguinal ligament until the abnormal feeling is detected. Aspiration is bloodless, and 10 to 15 mL of local anesthetic is injected.

2. Treatment for the cause.

3. Drug treatment: narcotic analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, B vitamins, vasodilators, and hormone drugs if necessary.

4. Other: such as acupuncture, physiotherapy, etc.

Femoral neuralgia medication safety

The disease is more common in young and middle-aged men, and more often unilaterally. The degree and duration of pain are often related to the etiology and onset of onset.

1. You should rest in bed properly, your body position is not restricted, it is more suitable to sleep on a hard bed. Especially in the early stage of intervertebral disc herniation, the patient rested on a hard bed for 3 to 4 weeks, and some patients resolved on their own.

2. Drug treatment: analgesics, vitamin B family, short-range corticosteroids can be beneficially restored by oral administration.

3. Continuous or intermittent traction of both lower limbs during bedridden. The treatments include local massage, physical therapy, acupuncture, massage, etc., which are all effective. Drug treatments such as oral anti-inflammatory painkillers.

4. Nerve block therapy is one of the most effective methods. The injection of analgesic fluid can act around the sciatic nerve and exert a therapeutic effect. Usually once a week, can be repeated once a week.