at the upper front hip area Apply heat, ice, or electrical stimulation Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for 7–10 days Remove hair in affected area (shave) Lidocaine patches (after shaving area) Titanium dioxide patches to interfere with the electrostatic effect of the nerves on the surface of the skin Pain may take significant time (weeks) to stop and, in some cases, numbness persists despite treatment. In severe cases, the physician might perform a local nerve block at the inguinal ligament, using a combination of local anaesthetic (lidocaine) and corticosteroids to provide relief that may last several weeks. Pain modifier drugs for neuralgic pain (such as amitriptyline, carbamazepine or gabapentin) may be tried, but are often not as helpful in the majority of patients. Persistent and severe cases may require surgery to decompress the nerve or, as a last resort, to resect the nerve. The latter treatment leaves permanent numbness in the area. See also Medical concerns due to low rise jeans References External links Meralgia Paresthetica at eMedicine.com Neurological disorders Neurocutaneous conditions