Lidocaine for vulvodynia and vestibulitis

[sobs1962]

Has anyone here had this problem and used lidocaine to help with the pain particularly associated with penetrative sex. I don't know if it's a skin or nerve problem but if I have virtually constant pain some days are worse than others and the skin breaks easily and gets extremely painful and I have had a 3 month course of Vagifem and still use vaginal moisturisers but nothing seems to help much. Any advice regarding natural creams or ointments would be most welcome or any words of wisdom from anyone who has suffered with this debilitating condition. Also worth mentioning I have severe mental health problems and not sure if they're a contributing factor.

[Carlettejaque]

I had this condition for 2 years and it was driving me crazy. I eventually had it cured with acupuncture. Creams and lidocaine made it worse for me. I tried everything. I found a wonderful lady acupuncturist who combined eastern and western practise. She put a line of 5 needles down my stomach from belly button to pubic bone and a needle either side of both ankles and one in each shin. It took 4 sessions but I could feel the difference straight away. I had top ups every 5 months. During the lockdown when i couldnt get it done, i discovered a treatment of my own. I use Dermovate steroid ointment ask your doctor for this one, it's strong but good and very soothing. Use once a day. And, and this is very important, every time you go for a pee rinse the urine off yourself immediately. I keep a little jug of water by the toilet, warm if possible. I just sit back on the seat and pour the water down and over myself. Dab dry. If I go out I take a small bottle of water with me in my handbag so if I need the toilet I still can rinse. You mustn't miss doing this though. If it's bad then pour the water while you pee to dilute the urine. It seems to me that it's in part a sensitivity to uric acid in your pee. I know this sounds a nuicance to do but it does help a lot. Try this before getting the dermovate as it will help. Let me know how things go.

[sobs1962 in reply to Carlettejaque]

Thanks for reply. Regarding the pouring water over myself, I do this religiously every time I pee and only miss if out and have to use toilet and I know I should take a bottle of water with me but I don't like using a handbag most of the time unless it's really necessary and don't have a handbag big enough to accommodate a bottle of water anyway. I was using vaginal moisturisers and was given vaginal pessaries to use due to vaginal atrophy. The problem isn't inside my vagina it's the entrance to it and I believe it's a condition called vestibulitis and it may require input from a specialist vulva clinic, there is one near me. The last time my husband and I had sex, for a week afterwards it felt like I'd given birth all over again. Acupuncture may work but it's very expensive and I am on benefits so doing that would be very difficult for me. Thanks for your advice but wonder whether our conditions are completely different and I have been diagnosed with contact dermatitis of the vulva and anal regions. I'm beginning to think that I am just destined to suffer with no solution. How much of this is down to my mental health problems?

[Carlettejaque in reply to sobs1962]

It's really difficult isn't it. People don't really understand. For the 2 years I had it my partner and I only had sex once and afterwards it fell like I'd been penetrated by a red hot poker and the burning continued for 24 hours. The acupuncture might work for you even though yours is a bit different to mine. I'm on benefits too but managed to scrape together the £38 per session once a fortnight. It's a great pity we can't get it on the NHS. Luckily, I don't suffer with atrophy. I do use Vagifem twice a week though. I can't tolerate any types of creams or moisturisers and I've tried loads and can only use the Dermovate. If I need to moisten myself for sex which isnt often becausd I'm 71 then I just use water.

[sobs1962 in reply to Carlettejaque]

Not having sex is definitely having a detrimental effect on our relationship but my husband doesn't pressure me into anything but it's making me feel much less of a woman, thought about sex without penetration but it's just not the same. Do think the fact I have bpd is definitely affecting the whole thing as I already hate myself as it is and I feel like a massive failure,having hypothyroidism is also another factor that is contributing to the problem, but you try getting a doctor to agree with you on that one!! Suppose just have to soldier on and hope I get some help, will definitely mention Dermovate to doctor when I go in a couple of weeks, I am 59 but have only had this problem since going through the menopause, it's just so unfair that women have to suffer so much.

[Carlettejaque in reply to sobs1962]

I have a thyroid problem too. I had Hashimotos syndrome which attacked my thyroid. It has shrivelled to nothing now. I take levothyroxin I also has severe IBS, arthritis in my fingers and knees , an immune condition requiring steroids, neuropathic skin pain for which I take a high dose of gabapentin, I have muscular back pain hot feet syndrome and RLS and to top it off i have developing cateracts. I think i need a new body. But we cope dont we, we have to. My partner still expects dinners cooked, sewing done and sex.

[sobs1962 in reply to Carlettejaque]

I also have Hashimotos, was diagnosed with IBS and treated for years and appeared to go away, now looking at possible diagnosis of coeliac disease and was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia but refused to allow it to wreck my life. I'm sorry to hear your partner expects sex especially if it's so painful for you. I'm lucky my husband would never expect me to do anything I wasn't comfortable with and would never force sex on me as he knows how painful it is,he is also the one who does most of the cooking,so I don't have to worry about that either. It sounds like you don't have a very happy life or relationship and for that I am truly sorry. My husband has had to put up with decades of my severe mental health problems and it surprises me that we're still together but he tells me he loves me "for better, for worse". Hope your life and relationship improve but feel free to message me anytime, if it helps you cope day to day.

[Carlettejaque in reply to sobs1962]

Sounds like we could both do with new bodies! It's not as bad as it sounds. The acupuncture dud work and provided I keep using the Dermovate and always rinse after going to the loo, there is no pain or discomfort. My biggest problem at present is the hot feet and Restless Leg Syndrome. I'm coping with that though by keeping my feet cold with a pet cooling mat and ice water soaks. As you get older we tend to get less healthy with arthritis etc, my partner of 20 years is older than me and has problems of his own. He does understand my problems and he does try but after all he is a man. What can I say😁.

[sobs1962 in reply to Carlettejaque]

My husband is currently in agony due to osteoarthritis of his knee and desperately hoping they'll give him a knee replacement and soon as he's off work sick and desperate to get back. I think unfortunately when you have a lot of inflammation in your body,like you and I it tends to be one thing after another and the fact I have depression, anxiety and bpd only makes the whole situation at least appear worse than it actually. Still we just have to soldier on and cope with whatever comes our way, the best we can.