Hi everyone,

I developed Pudendal Neuralgia nine months ago after a sudden and unexpected fall. As I went to sit on a fixed chair at a venue, it broke underneath me, and I crashed hard onto the cement floor. I was holding something in both hands and couldn’t brace myself, landing directly on my butt. This injury has been incredibly painful and has affected every aspect of my life. It’s difficult to explain to others due to the nature of the condition, and I often feel very alone in dealing with it. I’m in Canada, and I’ve found there’s not much awareness about this condition here, which makes things even harder.

My pain specialist was concerned about me having a colonoscopy and initially had me cancel the original appointment, the reason I was having it was because of a postive FIT test. But six months later, the hospital called to rebook, and I decided to go ahead with it, though I expressed my concerns. My husband and I met with the doctor beforehand, and I specifically asked if he knew anything about the pudendal nerves. He responded that he knew nerve blocks were given for them but assured us there was no chance I would flare because he wouldn’t go anywhere near them. My pelvic physiotherapist even sent a letter outlining my condition and concerns. The doctor was aware that my pain specialist had me cancel the first appointment, yet he brushed it off, implying that my anxiety was the real issue. It’s so frustrating that he wouldn’t listen or even take the time to do a little research before the procedure.

Recently, I had the colonoscopy, and within days, I experienced a severe flare-up. I tried managing the pain with gabapentin, tramadol, meloxicam, and Tylenol, but none of them helped much. My pelvic physiotherapist examined me and strongly encouraged me to go to the emergency room, saying I shouldn’t have to endure such intense pain.

At the ER, I met a doctor who was thankfully familiar with pudendal nerve issues—what a relief! He confirmed that the flare was likely triggered by the colonoscopy. The first dose of morphine they gave me didn’t help much, but the second shot finally provided relief. He sent me home with a prescription for morphine, advising me to stay on top of it so I don’t lose control of the pain and allow my body to get through this.

Has anyone had a similar experience? If so, how long did it take for you to recover from the flare caused by it?

Thank you for reading and for any insights you can offer.