Guide to identify a femoral nerve impingement

Our lifestyle is increasingly sedentary. Often, and unfortunately, work involves little movement and excessive stress, which affects our health, our muscles, bones and nerves.

Damage to a nerve is known as mononeuropathy, and it occurs when there is damage to a specific nerve. On the other hand, there are systemic disorders, that is, they affect the whole body, as occurs in multiple mononeuritis. Therefore, damage to the femoral nerve can be caused directly or indirectly.

What is the femoral nerve?

The femoral nerve is one of the most important in the lower trunk. It is a mixed nerve that comes from the spine. It is very long and has many sensitive ramifications. It emerges at the lumbar plexus, traverses the psoas, and travels down the hip to supply motor innervation to most of the thigh. Then, move down the inner edge of the calves to the big toe. Its sensory branch, the saphenous nerve, provides sensation to the front and medial aspects of the knee, the medial aspect of the lower leg, the arch of the foot, and the big toe.

Symptoms of an impingement

Any injury or compression of this nerve can cause pain or discomfort. We need the help of a professional to help us detect if these discomforts originate from the femoral nerve or are derived from other nerves, such as the sciatic nerve, which has a similar route.

Among the most frequent symptoms are:

• Increased tenderness in the thigh, knee, or leg, or numbness or tingling in this area.
• Muscle weakness in the knee or leg area.
• Tingling sensation in the foot.

Usually, symptoms are relieved when the hip is flexed and moved out.

treatment and prevention

As we mentioned, the treatment will depend on the causes of the impingement, which must be detected by a professional who evaluates the case, since it may be due to trauma, prolonged pressure on the nerve, retention caused by other diseases that may put pressure on the area, or even because of diabetes.

Once the cause is detected, and following the treatment that the doctor has prescribed, it is important to check if any aspect of the routine is causing the problem.

Changing day-to-day habits can help improve many pathologies. For example, spending long hours sitting can cause muscle imbalances in the back and hips, it can inflame the area and put pressure on certain nerves, causing pain.

If we already suffer from muscular discomfort, it is important to take breaks during our working day, not only changing the sitting or standing position, but also maintaining an active posture and stretching or walking whenever possible. For this, it is important to work in a space that allows us to move without having to pause our work.

Remember: your office is your best work tool.