Please help my wife - any suggestions welcomed!

[mattw]

Hi everyone,

After watching my wife go through another day of absolute pain my endless search for her cure lead me to this site.

I would really appreciate any feedback you might be able to offer re her situation and if a pudendal nerve could be to blame.

Here's the story:

18 months ago my wife gave birth to our first child. The birth was an emergency cesarean as after 18 hours of labour with at least half of that time our son was on the brink of popping out. He was stuck right at the edge and just could not get passed the final bit. During labour my wife had 2 spinal taps (the first didn't work). Note also that in the final month of pregnancy my wIfe suffered from terrible back pain.

2.5 months later my wife and I attempted to resume love making. The next morning my wife was in pain complaining of burning and general soreness. The saga starts from here...

We have seen several gynocologists, several dermatologists, pain management specialists, sexual health specialists, allergists and are now on the wait list to see a neurologist. Phsycologists has also been recommended. All manner of creams have been used without help.

My wife was diagnosed with thrush which has been treated and has not been detected in fortnightly swabs for 3 months. However, the pain is still there. My wife complains of burning and dryness within the vagina, around the outside of the vagina and rectum. Lyrica is taken daily for pain but offers little relief if any.

If anyone could provide any alternative ideas or approaches to explore please do let me know.

We are based in Western Australia but happy to travel worldwide to find a solution.

Yours sincerely,

Matt

[helenlegs 11]

Hello Matt,
The burning sensation that your wife describes could be due to a pudendal nerve issue. There was no mention of any skin degeneration to cause this 'burning' just dryness? so if a that is the case this could point even more strongly to PN. I think it is definitely worth checking out.
Take a look at the home pages here, there is a wealth of info, although it can all be very confusing at first as there are so many different symptoms that can be associated with PN.
Just being involved with this forum may help her rule PN in or definitely out but it's great that you are both aware of the condition as a potential diagnosis.
I know there are a few people who can help in Australia, again check out the home pages http://www.pudendalhope.org/node/56 and http://www.pudendalhope.org/node/59
Childbirth is one of the main culprits for PN so you may well be on the right track here.
Let us know how things go and how you progress. There is help out there, hopefully your wife won't have to do the rounds of different specialists for too much longer.
Take care,
Helen

[Violet M]

You might want to contact Dr. Vancaillie's office in Sydney -- he's on the list of Australian docs that Helen posted. His office might know of a doc in Western Australia who they could recommend for a possible diagnosis.

I agree with Helen that you could check out the PT's listed -- at least for an evaluation and possible treatment. I was originally diagnosed by a pudendal neuralgia knowledgeable PT after some docs were not able to figure out a diagnosis.

In the meantime, ice is a great painkiller at least for some temporary relief. Some women freeze water balloons and insert them vaginally. She could also use ultrasound gel in the balloons which isn't quite as intensely cold.

Take care,

Violet

[Bobby]

I would strongly recommend Physical Therapy, she has to stick with it though to get results. Quick fixes are almost always to good to be true. Gotta put in the work but it will be worth it to be pain free. Been dealing with Chronic Pelvic Pain for 5 years now and last December I started Physical Therapy and have been steadily seeing results. Eventually she can learn to do the therapy herself as I did. I still go to my PT but only about twice a month. Ask the PT about pelvic floor dysfunction. Good Luck!