Hello everyone. I was diagnosed with Pudendal Neuralgia earlier this year. I feel for everyone out there with this horrible and poorly understood condition. I am wondering if anybody out there on this board has a herniated disc in their lower spine and also has PN. I have established a link between my lower back problems and my PN. Two neurosurgeons have suggested that my symptoms (extreme pelvic pain, urinary frequency, pain after ejaculation or bowel movement, strange sensations of arousal and bilateral leg pain are coming from my spine. I have also talked to two people now that have told me that their PN symptoms cleared up after a spine surgery. A year ago I had a massive disk herniation in my lower spine (l4/l5). It pushed out onto the nerves and causes foot weakness and leg pain. 6 months later I regained muscle strength and leg pain went away. Now a year later I developed this horrible pelvic pain problem. The neurosurgeon isn't positive but he believes there is so much inflammation around the l4/l5/s1 disk that it is causing these issues. I now have a chioce to under go spine surgery next month. A two level fusion. It's a huge risk so I am trying to see if there is anybody else out there with back problems and pudendal neuropathy. I truly believe they are linked. Please share any insight you may have.
Steve.
Link between PN and herniated disk
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DakotaGirl
- Posts: 74
- Joined: Thu Oct 16, 2014 9:18 pm
Re: Link between PN and herniated disk
I too Believe there is a strong link with PN and degenerative disc disease. My l4/5 and higher are all dessicated , protruding, bulging with some narrowing. Also my pt thinks the same thing , that the back is probably contributing to my symptoms at l5-s1.
I won't have surgery at this point because with arthritis like mine, I would be headed for a long road of revisions ahead of me. Sometimes the Spine surgery can be very successful if you are in the right hands and are having it done to correct the spinal problem and not having it just to cure pn because you may be disappointed.
I don't have a fix nor any answers. I also have a labral tear in my hip with fai impingement which I also will not consider surgery for, because the outcomes are not that successful.
So yes it most likely is a contributing factor. Best of luck with your surgery. Post results! DG
I won't have surgery at this point because with arthritis like mine, I would be headed for a long road of revisions ahead of me. Sometimes the Spine surgery can be very successful if you are in the right hands and are having it done to correct the spinal problem and not having it just to cure pn because you may be disappointed.
I don't have a fix nor any answers. I also have a labral tear in my hip with fai impingement which I also will not consider surgery for, because the outcomes are not that successful.
So yes it most likely is a contributing factor. Best of luck with your surgery. Post results! DG
Re: Link between PN and herniated disk
Hi Steve,
You have asked a very tough question. An orthopedic surgeon told me that some MRI's look normal and the person is in terrible pain while some MRI's look really bad and the person has minimal or no pain. I don't know...some herniated discs cause symptoms and some don't so it's really hard to say with certainty whether the herniated disc is the source of your pain. Have you had an MRI since this most recent pain started and is it showing that the herniation is impinging on the nerves? Maybe a reasonable approach to take would be to try conservative treatments first before moving to a very invasive surgery. Sometimes the right kind of PT and exercise can relieve a herniated disc. Also maybe you could find out from your surgeon how many of these surgeries he has done and what the success rate is. It might also be a good idea to try to get a second opinion from another surgeon. I understand your feeling of needing to do something -- even trying a risky surgery. The symptoms you are describing, especially PGAD, are not fun at all. I wish you the best in making your decision.
Violet
You have asked a very tough question. An orthopedic surgeon told me that some MRI's look normal and the person is in terrible pain while some MRI's look really bad and the person has minimal or no pain. I don't know...some herniated discs cause symptoms and some don't so it's really hard to say with certainty whether the herniated disc is the source of your pain. Have you had an MRI since this most recent pain started and is it showing that the herniation is impinging on the nerves? Maybe a reasonable approach to take would be to try conservative treatments first before moving to a very invasive surgery. Sometimes the right kind of PT and exercise can relieve a herniated disc. Also maybe you could find out from your surgeon how many of these surgeries he has done and what the success rate is. It might also be a good idea to try to get a second opinion from another surgeon. I understand your feeling of needing to do something -- even trying a risky surgery. The symptoms you are describing, especially PGAD, are not fun at all. I wish you the best in making your decision.
Violet
PNE since 2002. Started from weightlifting. PNE surgery from Dr. Bautrant, Oct 2004. Pain now is usually a 0 and I can sit for hours on certain chairs. No longer take medication for PNE. Can work full time and do "The Firm" exercise program. 99% cured from PGAD. PNE surgery was right for me but it might not be for you. Do your research.
Re: Link between PN and herniated disk
Hi!
Yes, after almost 4 years of pain & suffering myself, I believe there is a link. If the herniated disk presses nerve roots somewhere - the whole body is affected. Maybe it takes some time for one problem to create others but the body is not balanced (working in harmony). Surgery seems to be the last option. Nucleoplasty (coblation therapy, minimally-invasive surgery) was offered to me by a few neurosurgeons and orthopedists. For almost 4 years I tried everything else...and it has not worked. Cancelled (postponed?) nucleoplasty because the surgeon said it would not improve my lower back pain or pain when sitting - only might help with the strange sensations along my legs (but that is NOT PAIN only strange sensations - I can live with that).
I really understand how you feel and wish could offer more practical advice.
Mia
Yes, after almost 4 years of pain & suffering myself, I believe there is a link. If the herniated disk presses nerve roots somewhere - the whole body is affected. Maybe it takes some time for one problem to create others but the body is not balanced (working in harmony). Surgery seems to be the last option. Nucleoplasty (coblation therapy, minimally-invasive surgery) was offered to me by a few neurosurgeons and orthopedists. For almost 4 years I tried everything else...and it has not worked. Cancelled (postponed?) nucleoplasty because the surgeon said it would not improve my lower back pain or pain when sitting - only might help with the strange sensations along my legs (but that is NOT PAIN only strange sensations - I can live with that).
I really understand how you feel and wish could offer more practical advice.
Mia