← Return to Pudendal Nerve Entrapment/Neuropathy/Damage

Discussion

Pudendal Nerve Entrapment/Neuropathy/Damage

Chronic Pain | Last Active: Oct 29 9:41am | Replies (592)

Comment receiving replies
@palmorejs

I had bilateral pudendal nerve entrapment surgery done by Dr. Stanley Antolak well over ten years ago. He wasn’t practicing at Mayo. He has his own practice in Lake Elmo, Minnesota I think. I went there three times from Kentucky once per month for three months in a row and had three test injections prior to surgery. The injections were great for a few hours (I think they were. lidocaine and steroids). I had to go there for a week for the surgery and be in the hospital for a couple of days. I was so hopeful that this was going to be the answer for me. My pain also was in the rectal, vaginal, buttocks and down the back of one leg. I was taking massive doses of oxycontin and it wasn’t doing much except making me stupid and dependent. The surgery had a six week recovery time also. I worked as a commercial office space designer, general construction contractor and commercial property manager so being off work that long was a big problem. The surgery did absolutely nothing to help my pain. I went through all of that, spent a ton of money and got nothing for it but disappointment. I do think Dr. Antolak might be retired. He was pretty old when I saw him and I think it was about 2005 maybe. His clinic was only for pudendal pain and I was so excited that I found someone that could “fix” my years of suffering only to be disappointed again. I eventually ended up with an implanted drug infusion system made by Medtronic. It is implanted in your abdomen area on one side and a tube is tunneled to the spinal cord and attached there. In order to qualify for the surgery I had to get off all narcotics and stay off for six weeks. All of that was pure hell but I did it. The pump contains 20 mg (half morphine and half marcaine). The medicine is not systemic. It sits a small amount in your spine where it blocks the pain signals going to your brain. I don’t have to do anything as far as controlling it. I get it refilled about every 70 days. The pump last about 6 years and then needs replacing. I am on my second one. It has completely eliminated my pain but it has made a HUGE difference. It took me from wanting to jump off a bridge to having a life. I have found that stress is a big trigger even with the pump. When my stress is low my pain is almost nonexistent with the pump. For anyone out there that has tried many things (and I had) it is worth considering. Just be sure and find a very qualified doctor who can do the surgery and manage the refills (which are done with a simple needle stick). I go to the University of Kentucky Interventional Pain Clinic.

Jump to this post


Replies to "I had bilateral pudendal nerve entrapment surgery done by Dr. Stanley Antolak well over ten years..."

Thank u so much for this information! I recently had to quit my job because of pudendal nerve entrapment I just got my diagnosis about 3 months ago! I sit on ice packs every day when I sit down in order to be able to sit down I have to have ice packs. I have a cushion that I believe is more for someone with tailbone pain. I have been unable to find a cushion that I am comfortable with that is made for someone with pudendal nerve entrapment. I have not been given any type of painkillers I have been given gabapentin. It may or may not be helping me. As I said I’m not working now because I just couldn’t do it anymore. I also have pain in my feet on both sides on the inside of both heels and Going up and into between my legs so sometimes I sleep with ice packs between my legs to freeze the pain and make it stop. So if you have any insight on my next move or what I should do should I have hope should I try this pump that you’ve tried.? What type of Quetion do you sit on I’m curious? Have you done any injections have you done pelvic floor physical therapy? And did that work for you if so?