When I read your post I immediately thought "parasthesia". I have had numbness, tingling, and burning pain on the outside of my right thigh (from my knee to my hip) for several years. I have had sciatica as well and you are right that is a very different pain, it radiates/shoots down the leg, so I know the difference.
I have fibromyalgia and low back paid due to two bulging discs at L4 and L5 and a swollen nerve root at L5, S1 which is what causes the nerve problems on my right side.

I have taken medications for the parasthesia (topamax, neurontin) and they have not helped at all. The treatment that finally helped to significantly reduce the symptoms was a Rhyzotomy on my lower right back. The pain and tingling are gone. The area of numbness is a lot smaller than before. Prior to the procedure, it used to hurt so bad that I couldn't even sleep on my right side and god forbid if I bumped into something. I still get pins and needles in my foot occasionally.

You may want to do some research and talk to your Dr. about parasthesias and rhyzotomy's. While the rhyzotomy was done to treat my low back pain, they were also able to help me with my parasthesia. My pain Dr. is also an anesthesiologist.
I hope this is helpful.