Femoral nerve dysfunction

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Femoral nerve damage

Neuropathy - femoral nerve; Femoral neuropathy

Your doctor will try to identify and treat the cause of the nerve damage. In some cases, no treatment is required and you'll recover on your own. In that case, any treatment is aimed at increasing mobility and independence while you recover.

Supportive treatment is usually given if the symptoms come on suddenly, if there is only minor sensation or movement changes, no history of trauma to the area, and no sign that nerve function is getting worse.

Other treatments include:

• Corticosteroids injected into the area to control obvious swelling or inflammation.
• Pain medication, if necessary. Various other medications can reduce the stabbing pains that some people experience. The benefits of medications should be weighed against any possible side effects.
• Some people might benefit from surgical removal of tumors or other growths that press on the nerve.

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Physical therapy may be helpful to maintain muscle strength. Orthopedic appliances such as braces or splints may help in walking. Your health care provider might recommend vocational counseling, occupational therapy, job changes or retraining, or similar interventions.

If the cause of the femoral nerve dysfunction can be identified and successfully treated, it is possible to recover fully. In some cases, there may be partial or complete loss of movement or sensation resulting in some degree of permanent disability.

Nerve pain may be quite uncomfortable and can continue for a long time. Injury to the femoral area may also injure the femoral artery or vein, which can cause bleeding and other problems.

When there is a loss of feeling (sensation), a potential complication is repeated and unnoticed injury to the leg. When there is muscle weakness, falls and related injuries may occur.

Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of femoral nerve dysfunction.

Review Date: 12/21/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).