meralgia paresthetica

[tagg]

On day #2 of a week-long section hike in September, I lost all feeling in the outer part of my thighs. My legs were competely functional, but you could have put a branding iron on either leg and I wouldn't have felt it. After I got home, my doctor said I had developed Meralgia Paresthetica, a condition caused by the compression of the nerve that supplies sensation to the skin in the upper leg. I was told it would take a few months to get the feeling back in my legs because nerves heal so slowly. It has been two months and I still have no feeling in my outer thigh. It was incredibly annoying at first, but I've gotten used to it now. I know that my pack wasn't adjusted properly the first day (my hip belt was too low), and I think that may have been the cause. Has anyone experienced the same thing?

[Jester2000]

I had a similar thing happen to me on the AT in 2000, at least the symptoms you mention were the same. I figured it had something to do with my hipbelt and made adjustments and the feeling gradually came back. It didn't take months, though.

[john gault]

I've had similar problems from hiking and biking; it's almost natural.

[skinewmexico]

Mine only happens in one thigh, comes back pretty quickly.

[bigcranky]

I have this in my right thigh. Almost no feeling at all on the outside of the thigh. I noticed it in the middle of a hike in May '08.

My doc also told me it would take a few months to get back to normal. That was 18 months ago, no change. I've mostly gotten used to it.