i had weakness and what felt like cramping in my upper thigh - just above the knee - for months. went to a knee Dr who said I was overweight and out of shape. That was in 2019. In 2022 i had a pinched nerve BUNDLE in my hip/lower back. That caused excruciating nerve pain from mid waist all the way to just above the knee for 6 solid weeks.
The MRI that diagnosed the slipped disk/pinched nerve bundle and the physical therapists noted I had lost 40% strength in my thigh muscles because the pain I was feeling in 2019 was...yup, a pinched nerve.
They put me on Lyrica for 2 weeks and I did physical therapy for 3 months, 2 days a week.
Imaging is key for back issues.