Femoral nerve compression

[cyclop]

Long story short,picked up a femoral nerve compression,probably disc related,leaving me incapacitated.Can,t walk or bike but can function day to day,driving,cooking etc.Anybody else had this.Recovery time?Surgery? more conservative treatment? Any experiences welcome.

[John100]

Could do with a bit more info - symptoms, how did it happen, when did it happen, who has said it's a femoral nerve compression, ditto re disc, have you had it in the past, have you seen a physio/GP?

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Not sure what that is, but have suffered from nerve pain in mostly one leg for about 20 years.
Physio daily helps and riding too for me, had to take a third tablet this year of anti-inflammatory when it nags and cant fix it.
Keeps me awake at night.
Burning itching and pain front of thigh, fortunately riding my bike relieves it instantly so does walking, mine might be minor compared to you.
Phisio Daily has helped more than anything else, every time I mention it to GP they just give me a blank expression.
I have smaller thigh muscles in affected leg, whether that's because of nerve problem I don't know

Also suffer Facet impingement in spine which gives you radial pain, had it several times but did not know what it was, bad attack left me in agony in my hip, laid on floor for two hours gritting teeth, got up and went to toilet and on returning the pain had moved to a different place in a second..................then you know its a nerve trapped thing.

Then a month a go did some ten pin bowling, pain in arm after second throw, still have it and struggle to get to sleep.
Stinging patch on elbow pain all down arm mainly later in day, laying on it is better than not in bed.
I permanently dislocated my collar bone in 80's so my shoulder is not supported well hence the pain I have now, an op at the time might well have improved it.
It gets depressing after a time as any nerve pain cant be touched with meds.
I was on anti-inflammatory meds for several years but it never improved physiotherapy exercises mean I don't live with pain all the time and remain active.
Naproxen will relive inflammation but its not a long term solution.

Are you under a physiotherapist at the moment?

[cyclop]

ok,short story long.Whilst installing loft boards,I "tweaked" my back,something I,ve done a few times in an active,strenuous,working life.7-14 days if past experience told me and,fair enough,a week later I felt 90%,did a 1.5hr road ride which did cause some pain the day after.2 days later,I started a ride in the woods,easy trails and within 2mls,I had serious pain and weakness in the quads,only just making it back home.
4 gp visits and a visit to the spine consultant resulted in a diagnosis of lumbar compression,to be confirmed via an mri next week.Doing many searches,the symptoms of weak quads,numb medial lower leg all pointed to femoral/saphenous nerve compression.
Without a firm diagnosis,the only exercises I,m doing are half squats,supported on the arms of a walker ,trying to maintain muscle tone.The turbo is a no,inducing pain the next day.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Wait for scan, Don’t do anything else yet.
After the scan you will be advised what to do or what they will do, good luck.

PS edited, exercises off any description need to come from a qualified physio.
Doing exercises without diagnosis via physio Its pointless, as you have no idea what muscles you are trying to target.

[Cyril Haearn]

Agree with NA, best to wait, avoid too much exercise or strain, many disorders right themselves with time

And form your own opinion, the docs could be wrong!

[John100]

Agree await scan. Keep active within limits of your pain.

[cyclop]

All good advice and quite correct.Spinal specialist advised half squats against a wall,not easy at all so adapted to half squats with support ,this being about the only exercise with no bad after effects;up to about 200 a day. Docs. can be wrong ;they don,t have my physiology with at least 100,000miles of running,cycling,walking and several million feet of ascent invested in its building.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
I can be proved wrong and have been about myself too, tread carefully and good luck.

I am in agony at times of the day with my arm, I need to bite the bullet and seek advise, maybe ask docs first before referring myself to phisio.
I did that once and it ended up being shingles, no ones fault just process of elimination.

[cyclop]

Really,just an update.I,m back to near where I was pre injury.Rides up to 4hrs,a little slower for sure,hardly surprising with the vastus medialis much reduced(fortunately, not a major cycling muscle).Hill walking manageable though only to keep walking muscles viable.Two visits to a sports therapist resulted in a new awareness of posture as well as a set of exercises which I,ve found very helpful.
The ct scan merely confirmed a diagnosis of bulging disc as well as bony growths.All rehab has been done by myself with the help of a private therapist.No nhs physio has been forthcoming,despite being on the list.
I feel lucky in that I,m pain free and able to do pretty much what I want within reason.The whole episode has,for me,been a salutory lesson in not taking health and fitness for granted and I,m not only talking about our cycling but simply being able to perform everyday tasks.Enjoy it whilst you still have it.