painful skin surface

[Mike]

For the last week, I have had pain on my right leg, located primarily on the thigh area.  The skin there feels like it would if it had been chaffed by clothing...yet there is no visible rash or redness in the area.  It is remarkably uncomfortable!  Long pants are not my friends of late because of the contact with my skin.

The painful area seems to move about...it started on the back of my thigh...one day it was on my calf area...not it seems to have taken up residence on the front of my thigh.  But it is consistantly there.

I should also mention that I had a small area of redness about the size of a quarter on my right butt cheek.  It looked like poison ivy would.  And it is clearing.  I'm not sure if/how it's related.

[tscottdowns]

A related discussion, painful skin was started.

[Mike]

Thank you for putting me at ease.  Over the course of the weekend my problem cleared up and I feel more or less normal.  This is a great board, I appreciate the help.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Mike:

I'm drawing a blank.  I don't know of any medical conditions which behave just the way you describe.  Some people get a sore patch on the outside of the thigh, but that stays in one place and tends to be chronic.

On the positive side, I would say that this sort of symptom - fleeting itch or burning - can appear for no apparent reason, last a while and go away.  I would get some topical anesthetic lotion (pramoxine is over-the-counter) and apply it as needed to the areas which trouble you.  I predict that in 2 or 3 weeks, the condition subsides.  If not, you should show your doctor, or perhaps a neurologist.  But I bet you won't need to.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff