PGAD

[Etteiluj]

Hi, do any of you have PGAD constantly?

Have you found things that helped?

[peters1]

not sure what PGAD is

[peoplezebra]

Hello, I don't write on these boards but I used to look here in the past because I suffered from PGAD 2 years ago and I still receive emails about it, and I saw your post. First, I want you to know that I absolutely don't intend to invalidate your illness so forgive me if anything I say will offend you. I just want to share my story in hope of helping somebody else that suffers and has to deal with the same thing I had.

I developed PGAD suddenly during an extremely stressful period of my life after a minor physical trigger (an orgasm) that over time became a constant sense of arousal, tightness, pain, burning, pins and needles over my genital and thighs areas that was there 24/7. I was miserable, hopless, depressed. So I want you to know that you are not alone.

I'm going to say it as it is: I completely healed myself from my PGAD by believing in the mind-body connection and how our emotional pain converts itself into physical illness. I discovered a post on pudendalhope (I think you may be familiar with that website) that was about how this person recovered from his pain by working through his traumas and emotions and I looked into it. I followed the teachings of Dr. John Sarno and bought a couple of his books. I joined the TMS forums that are filled with stories of people that healed themselves from so many different chronic illnesses, and after putting my faith 100% into this theory I healed too, completely, without ANY physical intervention OR drug. I know it sounds too good to be true, but it is and I am so grateful because I got my life back and I was utterly desperate and hopeless and I was only 22. It really makes so much sense. You don't have to pay for anything, the forums are completely free and there is a program you can follow at your own pace to get in touch with your own emotions. I wrote my own story on there too, maybe you'll find it.

I wish you all the best, there is hope out there.

[emmybaby in reply to peoplezebra]

Hi! I am just starting to dabble in the mind-body connection and have Sarno's book as well as the curable app which is based off of his work. I can't tell yet if it applies to me but I really hope it does! My issue is that some clearly patho things are what caused the initial insult--and STI infection and bacterial vaginosis is what gave me the most recent flare ups. I have pgad/ic/burning symptoms/musclecramping off and on for the past 10 years. (But have had lots of years symptom free). Also, sometimes, I am feeling good and it feels like the flareup comes out of nowhere--even when I am not particularly stressed. It makes me wonder if psychological issues are really the problem. I have had a lot of trauma associated with these symptoms, however, so that makes me think that it is possible! I would love to talk more at length about your experience and share mine! It's so wonderful to see that you are healed!

Best,

Emily

[peoplezebra in reply to emmybaby]

Your story sounds like so many stories I've heard! It's pretty common to have a physical trigger be the start of chronic pain. My memory isn't very clear, but from what I recall it's because the brain keeps interpreting pain signals from the same nerve pathways that were once used to correctly signal "pain" (or any other physical sensation like pleasure), but actually no longer physically perceive pain. Basically nothing is physically wrong in the nerves, it's the brain that's stuck in "pain mode" and the theory is that it can happen to some predisposed people. They also refer to "phantom limbs" pain and how pain occurs in specific people or situations. IE: why some people feel pain with the same injury but others don't, why don't we feel pain when a big rush of adrenaline hits. It's because pain exists entirely in the brain, the body only collects data, the brain reads it and sometimes makes it up or disregards it.

I had a friend of mine who used to play american football but injured his knee pretty bad years ago, and had to undergo many surgeries and couldn't play for months. Fast forward 2 years, he still had pain. I had just healed from my PGAD and asked him if he had current evidence of physical damage dire enough to justify his symptoms. He said no, my knee healed and the doctors are puzzled. I told him about the mind-body connection and gave him my Sarno book. Fortunately he really digged this theory and his pain completely disappeared. It makes it all the more beautiful that he's becoming a physiotherapist and will now have a broader approach in treating patients with chronic pain!

So don't lose hope because your pain once had a real trigger, it's pretty common and that's why your brain had the pain signal turned on in the first place!

"(But have had lots of years symptom free). Also, sometimes, I am feeling good and it feels like the flareup comes out of nowhere--even when I am not particularly stressed."

Yes! One of the thing about conversion pain is that it's so random, it doesn't make sense! You know sometimes it is hard to see what's bugging us especially if we are used to suppress our emotions or are trying to do so since childhood. Also, one thing that could be happening is that you may have "positive stress". Happy events such as wedding, job promotions, a new baby, moving, and so many other good things can cause us unconscious stress for a lot of reasons.

I think you're on the right path Maybe look up The Mindbody Syndrome forums to read about other people and how they dealt with it and which insights they gained. I think you can do it!

[Etteiluj in reply to peoplezebra]

Thank you for your reply, I'm so happy you feel good now.

I guess it's worth trying so I am going to research into this.

Do i need a psychiatrist?

[peoplezebra in reply to Etteiluj]

No, you won't need a psychiatrist! I do felt like I wanted to start therapy with a psychologist, but that was after I healed and I wanted to deal with the burden I was carrying around inside myself.