Pudendal Nerve Entrapment/Neuropathy/Damage

Good feedback. Thanks.

My wife's situation has one added symptom that I don't see in any of these discussions and that is swelling in the area of pain. The question would be does a compressed/irritated/entrapped nerve cause swelling? The other condition that my wife experiences is the level of pain varies. Most of the time it is a 7 or 8 while other times it is a 2, 3, or 4. We try to look back to see what she did different but never can put a good case together as to the cause. Any ideas? Different muscle tensions?

Saying that everything is connected together is good information. I notice that massaging of muscles in the hip area and upper buttocks area gives a lot of help to her and these areas are far removed from her areas of pain. I understand that there is a sacrotuberous muscle in the buttocks that is directly involved with the pudendal nerve and if it is tensed up it will compress the nerve and cause the type of pain that is being discussed here. Usually it takes an experienced therapist to massage this properly to relieve the tension.

@bkruppa I'm sorry to hear about there being so much pain. Yes, nerves can promote swelling. They can also affect vascular supply to areas, too. However, swelling can also be from poor venous or poor lymphatic return (and even that can be affected by nerves or for other reasons).

It is quite possible that your wife's pain is actually generated by the areas above the pain as "referred pain" (and tension) can travel far. One thing to consider is self massage with a Rollga roller (there is both a Pro and a soft Rollga model). These are curved foam rollers (rather than flat ones) and are a little easier to work with than rolling on massage balls in case you think some of the pain is from myofascial (muscular) tension compressing the nerve. These work well all over the body including legs, glutes, upper back, etc. They helped me get rid of tight IT bands and other areas of tightness I had in my legs and glutes. They are sold on Amazon and there are instructional videos on the web (youtube; you just don't roll on the lower back as that can trigger spasms). That way you can do self massage regularly rather than relying on massage therapists. You can vary how much pressure there is if you use these - so massage can be gentle or aggressive and you can also dwell on an area of tension to get rid of "trigger points". One thing too - the therapist I'm working with for the injury massage I get (described in my prior posts) mentioned his opinion after 28 years - if pain changes with time it probably is not structural (i.e. not bones and ligaments). For instance, my lower back pain comes and goes - but since I started doing TRX suspension core workouts and certain stretches I haven't had a back ache since Christmas. Which leads me to think my back pain is muscular. I'm still trying to get rid of some sitting pain - that causes tension near the tuberosities for me. Ultimately, a pinched nerve somewhere (somewhere in the lumbosacral region) is probably causing that. Also, stretching and whatever movement that is tolerated sometimes helps (walking, recumbent bike, ellipticals, etc., if able). Good luck. If massage helps, I would recommend the Rollga.

I read your post and it made me cry for you. I tried everything I could possibly try including an extensive surgery. My pain was so bad I considered suicide just to end my pain. Finally, after years of narcotics, invasive physical therapy, failed spinal cord stimulator surgery, lots of other drugs, and lots of doctors, I got a Medtronic Implanted Drug Infusion Pump. This pump does NOT provide systemic medication which is the advantage. I had gotten up to a dose of oxycontin that was so big I couldn’t increase it anymore and function. I was also taking percocet for breakthrough pain and gabapentin. The pump is surgically implanted in the side of the abdomen and tubing tunneled to the spinal cord where it is attached to the spine. The pump holds 10 mg of morphine and 10 mg of marcaine and that amount lasts about 70 days depending on your settings. It delivers a tiny amount of medication into the spine per day where it blocks pain signals going to the brain. The BIG positive is it does not distribute systemically thus eliminating the side effects of narcotics. The pump lasts about six years before it needs to be replaced and the only maintenance is a quick visit to have it refilled every couple of months. There is no exposed part or control that you have to deal with although getting used to having the pump in your stomach takes some getting used to. Adjustments are made by the doctors office. I am now on my second one so I think I have now had it for about ten years. I cannot tell you the difference it has made in my life. I will say it does not completely eliminate the pain and my pain is in a very personal area but it helps so much that I can function and have some normal life. Sometimes I barely notice my pain and sometimes it flares up but nothing like it was. I can tell you that stress will flare it up so it is important to try to keep your stress down. It is manufactured by Medtronic and you can check it out on their website. If you decide to consider it find a reputable pain management doctor. Preferably at a large university medical center pain management department. I go to the University of Kentucky Interventional Pain Management Clinic.

I have pudendal nerve damage from giving birth to a frank breech baby vaginally..Fecal incontinence occurs when stool is not sufficiently solid. Things have progressively become worse as the 45 years since that birth have passed. Several years ago a doctor wanted me to go to Philadelphia to have a trial sphincter implanted. Didn't go. Has anyone experienced this nerve damage?

@darlingtondoll Let me know if it works ,so far I haven't found anything that is lasting

I have had Pudendal Neuralgia for over 4 years and it has gotten much worse over time, but very slowly until a couple 2 months ago. I have tried just about everything that I've heard on this forum except for the surgery. The implanted pump sounds promising to me. Was your pump implanted at the UK Interventional Pain Management Clinic?

I have pudendal nerve damage from giving birth to a frank breech baby vaginally..Fecal incontinence occurs when stool is not sufficiently solid. Things have progressively become worse as the 45 years since that birth have passed. Several years ago a doctor wanted me to go to Philadelphia to have a trial sphincter implanted. Didn't go. Has anyone experienced this nerve damage?