Health Organization for Pudendal Education

I have been having this problem since June2011 - I am a keen cyclist and used to commutte daily to work - however sitting on the saddle was so painful I just couldn't go on. Eventually I got to see an orthpedic surgeon - and had a couple of prolotherapy jabs - no better.

I had an xray on my hips - which came back normal. What causes me pain is sitting , what started my incident was I beleive cycling - the pain I get when on my bike is my high groin and my scrotum sometime tingles on the same side. - that why I think i have a problem with pudenal nerve.

however other things have happened which i don't beleive I related to PNE - in August I went over on my ankle spaining all the ligaments - in septembewr my knee locked up - and an Mri revealed cartilidge loss - but typical for a middle aged(48) person. I got some physio and the knee pain has improved. Although on waking and after walking a while I do begin to limp. My theory is that my knee locking up - comes from my ankle accident. Leaving PNE as the cause of my buttock pain.

My pain isn't to bad - but i am desparate to get back on my bike. The short rides I do I feel that horrible pain in my groin - i daren'r ride for longer than about 30 minutes. I beleive getting back on my bike will help my knee and ankle - as well helping with other conditions.

Questions

Is a diagnosis of PNE feasible ?

What execicises can i do to get rid of the pain

I have to sit to my job - i have thought about buying a donut cushion - and thoughts recommendations

Can I recover from this ? - or is it permanent ?

Is returning to serious cycling a feasible goal ?

Would nerve medication help ?

Cheers

You have to stop doing things that make you hurt. I would recommend giving up cycling and walking or swimming instead. Your body is sending you a message.

Definitely stop cycling and there will be hope for you. Also check out the seating section for cushion ideas. Nerve medication would help as well.

Where do you live? Have you checked out the home page list of docs who deal with PN patients. I'm sure if you gave us an idea of where you are located, someone will come up with some resources for you.

Finding a physician familiar with PN can be difficult. We will help you in whatever way we can.

cari

Where do you live? Have you checked out the home page list of docs who deal with PN patients. I'm sure if you gave us an idea of where you are located, someone will come up with some resources for you.

Finding a physician familiar with PN can be difficult. We will help you in whatever way we can.

cari

I continued riding for 5 yrs. after the pain started. That was the stupidest thing I have ever done. If I was 100 percent better today, I would not get back on a bike again, period.
My advice, don't get back on that bike.

Ray

I know for a fact that you must give up the bike riding. I injured my pudendal nerve on a bike and I will not ride again. I walk and swim now. I miss bike riding so much, but it will only further aggravate an already injured nerve. The best advice I have is to sit on cushions with perineum cut-outs, sit as little as possible, especially if it hurts to sit (even on pads) and find a doctor who knows how to diagnose pudendal disorders. If you sit on the toilet seat with no pain then you likely have pudendal nerve injury of some sort. The first therapy the PN specialist will recommend is a series of steroid shots in the areas of likely entrapment. I am going through this now. The main PN doctors are in Houston (Ansell), Phoenix (Hibner), California (Dellon) and Dr. Conway in New Hampshire. There are European doctors such as Roberts in France and Dr. Beco in Belgium. I am already considering Dr. Beco if I need surgery.

Don't even consider bike riding. You will just do more damage. Take up swimming instead, it is easier on the joints!

I wish you well sir and hope and pray for your recovery,

kone

Cyclist, what type of bike saddle are you using? I just posted a picture of the specialized body geometry bike saddle on our website (scroll to the bottom). http://www.pudendalhope.org/node/34 There are some other options listed there too. However.......

I agree with what everyone else is saying. If it's painful don't do it because you will regret it a 1000 times later. I kept weightlifting and exercising after my pain started and it pushed me over the edge. Try to find an exercise that isn't painful and then proceed with caution. If you have an entrapped nerve, there may not be any safe stretches until you know for sure what is going on.

Since you've figured out that it might be PNE pretty early, maybe if you make some temporary lifestyle changes, try some PT with someone who's knowledgeable about PNE, and avoid sitting, you might get back to being pain-free like Kris did. Have you read his story yet? You might find it very helpful. http://www.pudendalhope.org/node/70

If sitting is painful and you have to sit at work, that is a real problem. It may take some trial and error to figure out what type of seating arrangement you can tolerate but it will be worth the effort. Kris's story has some suggestions.

Violet M