When my colleague Marianne sent me an email saying “okay, you have to blog this…,” I knew I was about to click on something juicy considering we’re in the business of storytelling. What I didn’t expect was something that would cause me to completely rethink my denim choices!

Photo Credit: Pascale PirateChickan via Flickr

Watch out skinny-jean-loving ladies! Most of us have embraced the “pain is beauty” motto whether suffering at the hair salon as the dye burns  the hair dye sets fire to our scalps, strutting in the blister cursed pumps too pretty not to wear or lugging around the magical Mary-Poppins-fits-everything bag that causes scoliosis…but tight jeans? Who would have thought they could cause health problems beyond a stomach ache after a big dinner (which is usually solved by unbuttoning)?

Photo Credit: *lemonade* via Flickr

The condition caused from too-tight-jeans, meralgia paresthetica, occurs when the sensory nerve that runs along the outside of the pelvis and through the thigh is compressed. It causes tingling and numbing of the thighs. Apparently, pairing skinny jeans with heels increases the likelihood of upsetting the nerve. Health experts have seen a number of cases emerge over the past several years (probably since shortly after the trend was revived), but say there is little risk for permanant damage. Check out the original story from MSNBC for more details.

I’m no expert, but I imagine stretchier denim is a safer route if you want to be cautious, but don’t want to give up your favorite skinnies. Coincidentally, slouchy, looser-fitting skinny jeans are on trend at the moment, which I’m currently loving with my Current Elliotts.

Has this ever happened to you or anyone you know? What are your thoughts on skinny jeans?

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