please help-sharp needle pain under outer labia and mons

[calluna]

Rosemary, I've just read your post. I too have this problem, skin changes due to nerve damage. Sometimes it itches like nobody's business, quite uncomfortable.

The best thing I've found is from the baby section of a local supermarket - I can't remember if you are from the UK? Anyway, if you are, it is from Waitrose and it is called Baby Bottom Butter. Just four ingredients. Olive oil, hydrogenated olive oil, camomile oil, vanilla. Very soothing.

Vit E sounds like a good thought, do let us know if it helps.

[Jeanne5]

Thank you everyone for your latest comments! The support means a lot to me. As for anything topical, I don't think I can as the bumps are like nodules and burn no matter what I put on it. But I do hope to see a vuvlovaginal dermatologist to take a look at it again. I have considered trying nortriptyline to see if that helps. I'm wondering why all the other meds didn't help and my guess is that if the muscles or clitoral hood is constricting it, then why would the pain stop? That's just a guess of mine.

[Rosemary]

Rosemary, I've just read your post. I too have this problem, skin changes due to nerve damage. Sometimes it itches like nobody's business, quite uncomfortable.

The best thing I've found is from the baby section of a local supermarket - I can't remember if you are from the UK? Anyway, if you are, it is from Waitrose and it is called Baby Bottom Butter. Just four ingredients. Olive oil, hydrogenated olive oil, camomile oil, vanilla. Very soothing.

Vit E sounds like a good thought, do let us know if it helps.

Thank you so much Calluna - i am in uk and Waitrose have recently opened here - i will get some to try.

Rosemary x

[Rosemary]

I have considered trying nortriptyline to see if that helps. I'm wondering why all the other meds didn't help and my guess is that if the muscles or clitoral hood is constricting it, then why would the pain stop? That's just a guess of mine.

Jeanne

I find the nortriptyline a bit less sedating than the amitriptyline.

A combination of nortriptyline and gabapentin is said to be better than taking them separately - apologises if you already know this.

I have been told by a pain consultant that it can take time for the pain to stop - 6 months or for as long as you have had the pain - i am not there yet - just keep trying to find effective levels.

Rosemary x

[Jeanne5]

Thank you Rosemary for the info on the meds. I hope your meds kick in soon and help you. I've also read that coconut oil can help soothe skin. As far as the urine stinging me, I find that the more water I drink, the more diluted it is and it stings less I think.

Jeanne

[Rosemary]

I've also read that coconut oil can help soothe skin. As far as the urine stinging me, I find that the more water I drink, the more diluted it is and it stings less I think.

Jeanne

Thanks Jeanne

I have read about coconut oil but have never tried it.

I have been told by a gynaecologist to drink 4 pints/2litres a day (8 mugfulls for me) to dilute the urine and also in order to stay hydrated to help the nerves - also told not to drink tea (because of the tannins) and coffee and not to eat spicy food. I do slip in the odd caffe latte though as i miss it so much.

Have you looked at the Vulva Pain society website they have some self care advise on there ?

Rosemary x

I have edited this pm as i originally wrote 8 pints - hope you haven't read this before i thought again - 8 pints is rather a lot to drink !

[calluna]

Jeanne - nodules really does not sound like skin changes due to nerve damage, not at all. It does sound like papillomatosis. Why it is inflamed and hurting you so very badly is best dealt with by the specialist, I'm sure. Anything topical that is available over the counter is not likely to help very much....

With regard to urine burning, I'm sure that you've got it right with regard to keeping things dilute and - just a thought - perhaps trying to make the urine less acidic? Have you tried a teaspoonful of bicarb in a glass of water, a couple of times a day? Its a very old cystitis remedy of course - and I know you haven't got cystitis - but maybe it might help the stinging a bit? That's bicarbonate of soda, used in baking. Not baking powder. I don't know whereabouts in the world you are, so terms do vary.... here in the UK, the pot says Bicarbonate of Soda, we usually just call it bicarb.

After you pee, instead of using toilet paper to dry yourself, you could try washing very gently with cotton wool and warm water, and then just dabbing dry with cotton wool. Just a suggestion. (I've had horrible problems in the past with anal fissures, you don't want to know the painful details, but the practice nurse suggested this and honestly it saved my sanity.)

Are you on any meds at the moment? I'm doing really well on pregabalin and topiramate, early days but it is looking very promising indeed at the moment.

And something you said that I don't understand what you mean - could you explain? - has the pain stopped???

my guess is that if the muscles or clitoral hood is constricting it, then why would the pain stop?

[Jeanne5]

Hi Rosemary and Calluna,

Thank you Rosemary for the water tips. I have been drinking water with a tea bag in it, (because I don't like water too much) but will stop. Hi Calluna. Just as a side note, I live in Washington which is the northwest corner of the United States. No, I'm not on any meds right now (I'm glad that your meds are helping!) but have tried 4 meds in the past and all they did was make me really sleepy and dizzy-like. I will look into the ones that you're on. What I meant when I said "my guess is that if the muscles or clitoral hood is constricting it, then why would the pain stop?" was if my problem was that my nerves in the clitoral hood are being strangled, then how could any medication take away that pain (if it continues to be strangled as the underlying issue). Thank you both for your suggestions and input!

Jeanne

[calluna]

Ah, I see what you mean now Jeanne. You're quite right, of course.

Just wondering - how long have you had the clitoral pain, and the stuck clitoral hood?

[Jeanne5]

Hi Calluna,

I mostly have clitoral pain around the clitoris, not directly on it. But sometimes I do feel painful clitoral spasms (if I'm really stressed or tense) and those are not fun! But I do leg stretches and breathing until they calm down. Around the clitoris I have the needle pains (and throughout the vulva). It was about 6 months ago when I noticed that the hood wouldn't move up at all. Sometimes I feel like there's a pebble in there and every time I take out my hand mirror, I'm unable to move it up to see what's in there. I do plan (once my pain level goes down hopefully) to work on unsticking it, but that will take time. I don't know if tension or an adhesion or substances are keeping it shut.

Jeanne