Expert: Dr. Timothy K. Durnin - 7/5/2007

Question
I am 31 weeks pregnant with my second child and have suffered since 20 weeks with Merlagia Paresthestica (as I did with our first child). This time around it is alot worse, the pain is unbearable at some stages of the day, especially as I have a 20month old duaghter to look after. Last pregnancy it was a burning and tingling sensation, this time it is more like someone is stabbing me in the leg and running a lit match along it.  The pain is incresing rapidly, is there anyhitng I can do to fix or at least ease the pain until delivery? Last time the condition disappeared immediately following birth, fingers crossed it does again, but in the meantime I am in alot of pain and can't see how I am goign to last another 9 weeks.

Many thanks for your time.

Answer
Hi Erin,

There are many things you can do, I would take a warm moist towel and rap an ice pack in it. Put it over the inguinal area next to the groin, it will cool rapidly and relieve the inflammation. Leave it on for 10 or so minutes.
Taking ibuprofen may help, the main thing is getting it stretched, this is done by laying on the stomach and having a D.C. or physical therapist pull up on the front of your thigh while your knee is flexed. This lengthens the muscle allowing more slack in the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve.
It is actually called yeomans test if you are checking for sacroiliac lesions but used as a stretch for MP, it works quite well. The trick is laying on your stomach; there are tables Chiropractors have that enable full term patients to lay prone. They have a break away section for your abdomen, they are very comfortable.
Since you probably haven't laid prone in a long time, your low back probably could use the break.
Most of my full term patients don't want to get off the table because the position is so comfortable. Try those things since steroids are out of the question.

Good Luck!
Dr. Timothy Durnin
drs.chiroweb.com