uhh i need help- weird problem

so i was on vacation this past week and had a great time. first vacation since 2009 because of my long flare. well, a few days ago at the pool, i was laying on a lounge chair for about 3 hours or so. i switched positions a few times and when i stood up, my left thigh from my hip to knee was numb. it was that feeling when your foot falls asleep but after you shake it or walk, it goes away. well, it has been CONSTANT since thursday, 7/17 at around 1 pm. it is like a numb, tingling pain and it hurts when lightly touched. i can't wear pants because of it.

i googled for about 5 seconds "outer thigh numbness" and the first thing to come up was meralgia paresthetica. it's a compressed lateral femoral cutaneous nerve in the groin area under the inguinal ligament. it causes the exact problem i'm having. i figured it could've been from sitting in that horrendous lounge chair because it was not comfortable.

anyway, i also have a big bruise on my lower back. i didn't hit anything but i think it's from that stupid chair.

so i went to the doctor (PCP) today because i assumed it would be gone by now and it's not. he said he is pretty sure it's shingles and gave me a prescription for valtrex. he said it can start anywhere from the spine and branches out into a nerve and causes burning, tingling pain.

i am so annoyed and confused. just not sure what to do. i feel it ALL THE TIME and i need to wear pants but the sensation of fabric on my skin makes it burn. i just started a new job and i go back monday and i can't go pantsless.

can any of you genius people help me. should i see a neurologist?? it's hard since i just got a new job and i don't wanna take time off and look like i can't hold a job- as usual. but at the same time, i cannot live with this numbing, burning pain. it's hard to drive and even brush it against any surface.

If you don't trust your PCP's analysis then maybe the ER would be the place to go. That's their job, to figure out what symptoms indicate, maybe run a few tests to eliminate possibilities. When you go to a neurologist they will only look for problems in their specialty (when you got a hammer everything looks like a nail).

If it were me I'd feel better knowing it wasn't a blood clot (DVT) or something serious.

Sorry to hear about this. Sounds painful.

Keep us updated.

Have you started the Valtrex? Because if it is shingles, you're really going to wish you started it right away, as it can substantially lessen the symptoms/ duration.

I had shingles on my face, and I couldn't bear having a single strand of hair touch that area of my face, as it caused so much pain. A week of shingles was basically constant pain interspersed with bouts of even more pain. If fabric brushing against your leg is causing pain, I'd not be surprised that it is shingles. (Shingles often is triggered by stress ... like starting a new job?)

Eleventyseven is right. If it is shingles you need to start the Valtrex yesterday. It works great if you start it immediately after shingles is active. If you wait too long then it will do absolutely nothing and you will be very sorry. I still question the diagnosis though.

I hate to scare you either but from your original post I would pick blood clot over shingles, but it is very possible you just damaged a nerve somehow.

Ok. I will keep track of any rashes. I will drop off the script tomorrow so i have it.

If its a blood clot, wouldnt i be dead already? I mean, the pcp examined my leg and didnt mention it. My heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen were all normal. He didnt do any blood work because i begged him not to. I get too much from my gi already.

My dad had a blood clot in his arm. Swelled it up. I know blood clots in the legs can cause swelling also and sometimes people can get them on long plane flights just from sitting too long. Maybe it's a good sign if there is no swelling but a blood clot can stay somewhere for a while and then move to a more dangerous area as Judy says. My main thought is you have damaged a nerve somehow, no blood clot and no shingles but you really should get this checked out ASAP because it could be something extremely dangerous.

so my question B-girl = if the darn chair was so uncomfortable, why the hell did you stay in it for THREE hours ?

;-)

er I suppose would be best - just keep an eye on those dolts !

Since it sounds like you already have a plan I will just add one more thing... your mom should get the varicella vaccine! It can be administered to adults as well as children and it's way easier to do that than live through a first bout of chicken pox as an adult.

No harm in starting the Valtrex... to me it doesnt NOT sound like shingles...
Def get that pill in you... it can start helping so quickly!

As for the magical pants... eek... no idea! GO PANTSLESS! :D

hey guys.

still no improvement today. i'm gonna call a neurologist tomorrow for an appointment. i still haven't developed a rash yet.

i just don't feel like it's shingles. seems so random for it to only start after i was laying down for so long, but i don't really know how shingles works anyway. don't think it's a blood clot since there is no redness, hard spots, or swelling anywhere. i will still drop off the valtrex prescription today so i have it in case i see a rash.

i'm off wednesday so i hope i can get in to see someone then. i really don't want this to cause permanent nerve damage since it's such a huge area of my body.

it's so odd though. i have bruises all over the outside of my thighs and back. i was examing for a rash today and noticed bruises everywhere.

the plastic chairs were very uncomfortable but i really wanted a tan. i feel stupid now!

Erythema nodosum:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erythema_nodosum


EDIT: Some people seem to describe quite a bit of pain with this as well... similar to what you describe.

Post Edited (Canada Mark) : 7/20/2014 12:09:03 PM (GMT-6)