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DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 71-year-old female who’s in fairly good health. I only take a statin for high cholesterol and have been diagnosed with spinal stenosis. In April, I began experiencing a burning pain that circles my upper left leg. The pain is constant and never wavers. I had blood tests and a hip X-ray done, which didn’t show a reason for the pain.
A neurologist suggested an ultrasound with an injection of antibiotics into the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. Do you agree that this might stop the pain, or might it do more harm? I can live with the pain but would rather not. -- B.M.
ANSWER: Pain from compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve is called meralgia paresthetica. It’s common, and there are several risk factors, especially certain conditions that predispose people to local compression of the nerve: obesity, pregnancy, tight belts and waistbands, compression from a wallet, and a recent surgery in the area.
The typical symptoms are pain and numbness in the area of the nerve (the upper outer thigh). The pain is often described as burning or stinging, sometimes with the “pins and needles” sensation of a limb falling asleep after remaining still for a prolonged period.
If you mean that the pain makes a complete circle around your thigh, this would be very atypical for meralgia paresthetica. Spinal stenosis can cause similar symptoms, and the exact distribution of the pain and numbness is critical for making a determination of the likely cause. Sometimes a nerve conduction study can be performed to be sure that this isn’t nerve compression from spinal stenosis.
If there’s an underlying condition (such as wearing a thick wallet in one’s front pocket) that can be reversed, this may stop the symptoms, which are temporary for many people in many cases. Since yours has been going on for months, an injection into the nerve can be performed by an anesthesiologist.
However, I think you must’ve misunderstood the treatment. It’s not antibiotics that are injected, it’s an anti-inflammatory drug (a steroid) or a combination of the drug with a local anesthetic agent. It’s effective at relieving symptoms with this condition, often for the long-term future.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I keep getting recommendations from my pharmacy to get a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine. Do I really need this? — F.P.
ANSWER: RSV, like influenza (“the flu”) and COVID-19, is a respiratory illness that’s capable of making people quite ill. It’s most risky to older patients (over the age of 75), newborns, and people between ages 50-74 with chronic diseases.
Chronic disease can include lung disease (like COPD or at least moderate asthma); heart disease (blockages in the arteries, heart failure, or congenital heart disease); diabetes on insulin or with complications; severe kidney or liver disease; and people with immune deficiencies, such as those with HIV or people who are on medicines that suppress the immune system.
In these groups, a single lifetime dose of an RSV vaccine provides protection. Booster vaccines aren’t indicated at this time. This isn’t a complete list, so people with other serious chronic conditions should check with their doctor. Newborns can be protected by giving a pregnant woman the vaccine between week 32 and week 36 of gestation.
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu. (c) 2026 North America Syndicate Inc.
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