Pins and needles in thigh/ meralgia paresthetica

[Tigermum2022]

Hi!

I’m 13 weeks and over the past month have developed a really annoying and uncomfortable tingling/ burning sensation in my outer right thigh. The physio thinks it’s a compressed nerve from the pregnancy.

I’m just wondering if anyone else has experienced this and if so, what did you do to treat it? It’s driving me mad!

X

I've actually had a bit of this at exactly the same place: outer right thigh! I'm 20 weeks and have noticed it a few times. It's sort of feels a little numb like I can suddenly feel my jacket touching the outside of my thigh and wonder why and then when I touch the thigh I realise I can't feel it 100% it's like it's slightly numb. It's an odd one but isn't constant thankfully.

I've had this since around 12/13 weeks (currently 25 weeks) in my upper left thigh. It's worse at night and when I lie on it; it usually starts off numb and then progresses to pins and needles and eventually burning. If I stretch in certain ways it feels like someone is pouring cold water down my thigh - very weird!

I spoke to the midwife about it and she basically just shrugged. I've found keeping active helps - it's generally better when I've done some exercise recently - and I try to avoid lying on the same side all night.

I am currently 30 weeks pregnant with my second child and in both pregnancies from very early on I’ve suffered with something that sounds like it could be similar, ‘Restless Leg Syndrome’.

It feels like pins and needles and feels like you need to shake your leg.

Mine mainly just comes on at night/when I am lying down in bed.

In my first pregnancy I tried all of the ‘tips’ to help such an drinking tonic water etc but nothing helped. This pregnancy I am just getting on with it, knowing that last time as soon as I gave birth it stopped straight away.

Hopefully you are able to get some treatment for it but if not, if it is anything like mine was, it won’t last forever.

A good leg rub from the husband of a night helps before I try to go to sleep x

I had this in my first pregnancy and have started getting it again in my second (I'm 15 weeks). It's on my outer left thigh and mainly bothers me at night when I lie on my left side. It's like a numb, pins and needles sensation that gets worse with increased pressure. I went to the doctor last time and was told to try hot and cold treatment - it didn't work for me but might be worth trying? The only thing that helped me was trying to tilt my hips in bed so that I wasn't lying on that particular spot. It meant I was slightly on my front, but it didn't seem to do any harm to the baby!

@2AutumnBabies

I am currently 30 weeks pregnant with my second child and in both pregnancies from very early on I’ve suffered with something that sounds like it could be similar, ‘Restless Leg Syndrome’.

It feels like pins and needles and feels like you need to shake your leg.

Mine mainly just comes on at night/when I am lying down in bed.

In my first pregnancy I tried all of the ‘tips’ to help such an drinking tonic water etc but nothing helped. This pregnancy I am just getting on with it, knowing that last time as soon as I gave birth it stopped straight away.

Hopefully you are able to get some treatment for it but if not, if it is anything like mine was, it won’t last forever.

A good leg rub from the husband of a night helps before I try to go to sleep x

This sounds exactly like it. So good to know it went away when you gave birth. Thank you!

@alliser

I had this in my first pregnancy and have started getting it again in my second (I'm 15 weeks). It's on my outer left thigh and mainly bothers me at night when I lie on my left side. It's like a numb, pins and needles sensation that gets worse with increased pressure. I went to the doctor last time and was told to try hot and cold treatment - it didn't work for me but might be worth trying? The only thing that helped me was trying to tilt my hips in bed so that I wasn't lying on that particular spot. It meant I was slightly on my front, but it didn't seem to do any harm to the baby!

Thank you! I'll try ice packs!

I had this both times! Midwives just shrugged and didn't believe me (injecting insulin in my thighs was agony) even though I knew the needle didn't hurt. Totally bizarre. I explained it as numb/ pins needles and electric shock type plains like you get when a dead arm is coming back iyswim. Really stopped me driving etc as I could only do so long before my legs went nuts as a passenger let alone driver!

Mines has actually got worse now and is now an aching pain down my outer thigh in addition to the numb feeling. It's not that sore but it aches a bit when I'm walking. Definitely seems to be nerve pressure. I'll try some hot or cold treatments to see if that helps

I got my husband to massage my glute and that seems to have really helped! And a heat pack on my back. I had the first night without hardly any symptoms the other night. Last night the pins and needles were back with a bit of stinging but not too bad.

Glad that's helped @Tigermum2022!

Mines seems to get bad after a period of sitting (e.g. at the desk working) or a long period of walking

Incase this helps, I found these clam shell and lunge exercises to help ease the pain (attached)

I can really feel the ache when starting on the lunges but after doing a couple, it feels fine.

@Trytowin20 can't believe the midwife just shrugged... very helpful!

It does seem to be something we'll just have to put up with until baby is here or it naturally eases.