Successful Block?

[Lernica]

Paul,

Just wondering how you're feeling now after your second block.

Back to my normal pain levels with no change unfortunately!

Thanks for asking! How are you making out these days?

My PN pain seems to really be centralizing on the left side of my perineum/anus, where it feels like I am being stabbed with a knife 24/7 (unless I'm drugged). I have begun thinking about going for a pudendal nerve block. I feel what I really need is a big shot of lidocaine down there. If my pain were relieved there, I could handle all the other residual pain in my sacrum and hips, which is nowhere near as bad as the perineum.

Dr. Gordon told me once, a long time ago, that some people recover from PN after receiving a series of pudendal nerve blocks spaced several weeks apart. But that doesn't seem to be the experience on this forum. I'm beginning to think, however, that it might be worth a try. I'm also thinking more seriously about surgery. I just can't see myself living with this stabbing pain in my perineum for the rest of my life.

Other than that, things are great! I see Dr. Gordon tomorrow and will let you know what he says. Did you like Dr. Peng? (He administers the blocks.)

[donstore]

Lernica,
Good luck with Dr. Gordon. Let us know what he says. As for the blocks..... most people have had them with no permanent negative effects and as Celeste once said, it allows you to make the case that you have tried everything when you make your case for surgery. Aren't there lidocaine patches ?

Don

[Violet M]

Hey Paul, I hope things have calmed back down after your nerve block. Dr. Beco is a very nice guy and if you go that route I wish you success.

Lernica, I'm sorry to hear you are still out there without improvements. Eventually the pain starts to take a toll doesn't it? I wish you luck with whatever you choose to do next.

Paula, I'm very sorry to hear about your mom and hope that things have calmed down since her nerve block. Ice can be very helpful in calming things down after these blocks or sometimes alternating ice and heat, whichever seems to help the most. Please give her a hug from all of us.

Violet M

[Faith]

I do not know about all PN surgeons, but Dr. Hibner considers any relief of pain for any amount of time to be a "successful" block as referenced in his 2010 article in The Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology

Yes, post-block "flares" are normal for most people. It typically took 1-2 weeks for me after a block to get back to baseline. I never had any long term relief from blocks.

The thing I don't understand is if my whole perineum area was numb wouldn't that mask most the nerves in the area therefore not pin pointing the exact nerve?

Where did they do your block? At the ischial spine or alcock's with CT guidance? It is possible that other nerves get blocked during the pudendal block especially if done at the ischial spine. The two most common being posterior femoral cutaneous nerve and the sciatic. But if those got blocked too then you would have had some numbness/weakness in the legs (no farther than the knee with the PFCN and maybe evne further down with the sciatic). Have you looked at this article?
http://www.pudendalhope.org/sites/defau ... NTubbs.pdf

[kat]

I have had 3 nerve blocks the last 3 months in a row. I get one in each pudendal and one in the left obturator.
They don't help with nerve pain, but they do help with my stamina and restroom issues. I'm able to feel when I need to use the restroom and am able to use the restroom without help usually with the blocks. I am also able to do an hour of activity like sitting. I can walk for half an hour without needing to rest, though I walk with a cane and very carefuly with rest here and there.

However, I started bruising very easily, having nose bleeds and have had menstral bleeding since 2 weeks after my first round. I didn't make a connection so I went to the doc and had my blood tested. I have no health problems and I'm thinking the steroids thinned my blood too much. I talked to 2 other women who said they had some bleeding after their shots, but they only had one treatment each so the bleeding ended quickly.

I'm schedulded for another round of 3 in December and am scared to go since the bleeding is getting worse. I just drip blood from my nose and female parts.
Sorry this is graphic, I just don't want to stop the injections since they help with the muscular issues, but the bleeding is scaring me.

Any thoughts?

[PaulSa]

I have had 3 nerve blocks the last 3 months in a row. I get one in each pudendal and one in the left obturator.
They don't help with nerve pain, but they do help with my stamina and restroom issues. I'm able to feel when I need to use the restroom and am able to use the restroom without help usually with the blocks. I am also able to do an hour of activity like sitting. I can walk for half an hour without needing to rest, though I walk with a cane and very carefuly with rest here and there.

However, I started bruising very easily, having nose bleeds and have had menstral bleeding since 2 weeks after my first round. I didn't make a connection so I went to the doc and had my blood tested. I have no health problems and I'm thinking the steroids thinned my blood too much. I talked to 2 other women who said they had some bleeding after their shots, but they only had one treatment each so the bleeding ended quickly.

I'm schedulded for another round of 3 in December and am scared to go since the bleeding is getting worse. I just drip blood from my nose and female parts.
Sorry this is graphic, I just don't want to stop the injections since they help with the muscular issues, but the bleeding is scaring me.

Any thoughts?

In speaking with different doctors the 4th shot is called a top up and is normally used on people that are finding great relief from the injections. The norm is 3 injections per year but there are doctors that will do more. How long do the injections help you with your muscular issues?