Tight Jeans Cause Nerve Damage
TGIF Friday, June 5, 2009
So, yesterday I had a tease about tight jeans: "Dr. Minazad says tight, tight jeans can lead to a leg-numbing condition called meralgia paresthetica, also known as "tingling thigh syndrome." I know many of your minds were working overtime & you were laughing away!!!!
Anyway, I was looking for another health story I had seen on TV when I ran into this one: Jeans and high heels cause nerve damage? Well, I can't wear heels due to my flat, wide & bunion feet.... it is hard enough to find workout shoes that fit! BUT, that skinny jean thing caught me since I had already heard about how bad high heels are already! OK, I can't wear skinny jeans either because my short & muscular body does not fit in them nor do I look right in them. Don't you have to be at least 5'8" & a size 0-2 to look good in these anyway???? By the look of the models in tight jeans - and don't forget you look 10 pounds heavier on TV - these models are thinner than thin! Jeez, if they are 10 pounds thinner than they actually look... HOLY CRAP!
Anyway, I digress. The article stated:
Women have been known to suffer for beauty, but would you risk your health? When you wear certain types of clothes - like jeans - a tight fit might be fashionable, but it could also lead to painful, even permanent condition.
Whether it's designer or discount -- it's all about the fit.
"I have long legs I want them to go all the way down. If I am wearing flats or if I am wearing boots I want them snug," said Sylvia Vega. Forty-four-year-old Sylvia Vega owns her own business, so her jeans dress code is sleek and snug. "There's a difference between snug and painted on," said Vega. But when I ask her if she ever struggles to get them on, she avoided the question. "Ha, next question," said Vega.
"I agree with suffering to look good, but there's a limit to that," said Dr. Yafa Minazad, neurologist. Dr. Minazad says tight, tight jeans can lead to a leg-numbing condition called meralgia paresthetica, also known as "tingling thigh syndrome. You can have symptoms such as burning, tingling sensation and numbness on the side of the thigh. And it can last days, weeks if not months and it's very painful and uncomfortable," said Dr. Minazad.
The culprit tight jeans that put prolonged pressure on the femoral nerve. It runs through the front of the legs starting near the hips. The femoral nerve provides sensation to part of the thigh and lower leg. "When the nerves are not getting enough circulation, they tingle, they stop working then you feel numbness and then you have neurological symptoms from that," said Dr. Minazad.
And pairing tight jeans with sky high heels could be asking for more trouble. Experts say when you're standing on your tippy toes it changes the position of your body and could possibly put you at more risk. "Basically the position of your pelvis and your body and back in relationship to each other changes so you just may put that nerve more at risk of compression," said Dr. Minazad. Dr. Minazad says constant compression could lead to permanent damage. But if you wear looser pants, the pain will eventually go away. "I don't recommend constantly insulting the nerve. If you have symptoms you should not be doing it every day," said Dr. Minazad.
Sylvia doesn't want to compromise her health, but she still says looking good doesn't always mean comfort. "Whether shaving or waxing we always suffer for beauty," said Vega.
In terms of which styles are less likely to cause tingling thigh syndrome, Dr. Minazad says it depends on your anatomy. High waist jeans could pose a problem; however, low rise jeans might cause more constriction around the hip area.
OK, what do ya think?? Are ya catty & want to say those skinny people deserve what they get? Are you a skinny jean wearer & will you continue to wear them OR will you "cut back" & only wear them sometimes? Are you concerned? Do you even care & are just reading this for the humor of it all? Are you gonna wear them for the "tingling sensation"?
I want to know who you are!!!!I must admit that I wish I was even tall enough to pull them off & as much as I know about those high heels, since I can't even wear cute shoes due to me feet, I wish I could at least wear them now & then!!!! BUT, I certainly don't want to do anything that keeps me from my workouts. OK, I had to throw that in cause I love my weights AND, yes, I do the cardio too whether I like it or not!
Throw your thoughts my way OR any other thoughts about the crazy styles out there! OR, are you a slave to the newest fashions? Picture from shopstyle.com
OK...you asked so I'll tell you Jody!
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You ARE a size 0-2 silly!! haha! ; - )
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Well...I am on the other side of this spectrum. I love skinny jeans. I love high heels. In fact, I am wearing a pair today with flats. I wear both as often as I can. I have long legs and have found it very hard to find jeans that don't make me look like I'm ready for a flood or an extra in the movie Revenge of the Nerds. I never once have had the numbing/tingling sensation that the article claims. So to sum it up I am Pro-Skinny Jeans - not the super super I-don't-know-if-they're-painted-on tight, but the normal snug fitting type. They are right up my alley.
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Amanda, I love to hear this side of the story! Hey, more power to ya if you can carry them off! I wear snug jeans at my short height but not the skinny look & not painted on! As for heels, as I said, I wish I could even wear them sometimes!!! Sneakers, workout shoes are what I wear. My feet are so bad that I can't get in any of the cute shoes (heels or flats) without pain! AND, I wish I had some long legs but not in the genes!!!You go girl!
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LOL! This reminds me of the study where they found wearing a tie for men decreased blood flow to the brain!
One advantage of being a surgeon is we get to work in loose fitting pajamas
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that tie thing explains a WHOLE lot!! lol
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Oh the things we'll do to look good! I'm glad that my job as a personal trainer requires me to pretty much live in comfy LuLuLemon wear! I don't know how women wear heels everyday!
I'm on the fence about the skinny jean thing. I guess it depends on who is wearing them. I'm pretty short (5'3") so I don't know if they'd be for me.
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Patty, I am not sure if I would wear them super tight but if I had the height & long legs, I might wear things I don't do now. I read Amanda's response & it puts a different light on this. Although I do think people are a slave to fashion at times, especially those crazy ones & people wear them anyway!
OK, sis, I am a size 2 only when they run large, otherwise a 4-6. BUT, I am not 5'8" or taller!!!
Dr. J, I had not heard that tie thing. Too funny!
Shauna, love that LuLu stuff but not in my budget right now. I have bought stuff on sale for others though for gifts!
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Ya I know what you mean! I love the clothes but to be honest I usually buy the majority of my stuff at Costco and Walmart. I've actually found that the Costco pants last just as long and look almost as good and are about 80% cheaper. Can't beat that!
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I am there!!!!!!!!!!! PS: You will be mentioned on my blog post Saturday.
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Haven't heard about this nerve damage thing before when it comes to tight jeans. Scary
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Women have reported tingling sensations in their legs and -- in some cases -- full-on numbness. The symptoms are temporary and when you take off the jeans things should return to normal, but still -- kinda creepy!
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