I had my first ever nerve block today. I found the whole process awful, partially due to the staff rudeness and the whole thing not being explained.
I had the injection on my lower right side just under my hip bone, it bloody hurt!
I then went on to have a poor recovery, dizziness and vomiting and one of the worst endo flares of my life (instant swelling, screaming in pain) they wanted to admit me to gynae but it’s not new pain and at that point they hadn’t given me anything so I wanted the comfort of my own home and meds.
I’m home now, less sick but still feeling bad endo pain and pain from the injection (which I thought would be numb?) really disappointed.
Has anyone else been through this?
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Ash24601
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Where are you located? What city? I ask because a nerve block given under hip bone for endometriosis is...well...let's just say medically it makes ZERO sense. I worked in medical facilities in Manhattan for many years and I have endometriosis terribly and I can't possibly think of one reason an injection into a hip bone would help. So do you live in the middle of nowhere? Or is this something new treatment? I'm having a surgery for my endometriosis with the best and most compassionate doctor on Earth, Dr. Micheal Hibner in Phoenix (look him up right now!). He is my saviour, I tell him this all the time. Not only is he a wonderful surgeon but he cares, no he really does! And the hospital he works out of is like a freaking spa resort...St. Joesphs. I HATE hospitals because I have worked in them and I know how shitty and rude staff can be...but this place is amazing! Nice smiling nurses, people actually asking if they can get you anything! The hospitals in Manhattan we're a horror show, I have PTSD from them. What doctor did you see? My guess is the shot didn't work at ALL and u just had a really bad period. I've had nerve blocks and they work instantly and I have no pain for 48hrs but those are pudendal nerve blocka. Question is what nerve was he blocking on you?
I believed it would be pointless to begin with as my pain seems to be related to a bowel surgery and not specifically pelvic. That’s the short story.
Here’s the long story. Where I live (U.K.) my nearest specialist centre is in the next city, so I am under them for surgery. They removed lots of endo and then I waited for a surgery with them and colorectal surgeon to removed endo from the left and right side of my bowel (the left being closer to the rectum, the right side being high up on a major blood vessel, this is where most of it was but it was just superficial) prior to that my issues were left side pain and obstructions. Post surgery (since day one) I’ve had rightside pain (even a lump at one point) and I seem to be getting backed up from there. They’re taking another look to check, they don’t know what it is but at least they’re honest (I know if it’s adhesions there’s a risk of more but at this point I am getting blockages so I think it could literally be narrowing my bowel).
As the waiting list is huge I am currently under my local hospital endo pain team. This consists of gynae, anaesthetist, psychologist and physio. They tried to talk me out of surgery (but at this point they don’t even have my notes from the other hospital so I’ll leave that decision between me and my specialist), the psychologist said I already do relaxation techniques she was going to suggest. The physio left me in more pain (and kept mentioning painful sex which I don’t have) and now this. I think they’re going through the motions for pelvic pain without really listening to my history and current issues.
I totally get what yours saying as I swear I have ptsd from my local hospital, and the attitude on the staff stinks! I work in private healthcare and all our nurses understand the importance of talking patients through the procedures, helping them relax and breathe etc. They even had some done themselves (nothing intrusive) and realised how panic inducing it can be without someone supporting you.
Yesterday I had severe nerve pain so I rang the number they gave me. They literally said “your procedure was yesterday so it’s not our problem, you should have called last night”. No one told me what to expect, I have no idea if this pain is normal which is why I tried to sleep on it, had I know otherwise I would have rang sooner!
Fortunately my go agreed to call and suggested that they may have pringed a nerve and I may just have to ride it out. They were also disgusted with the hospitals attitude. I’m
Seems like you got cut off at the end of what you wrote. Last I can see you you said "They were also disgusted with the hospitals attitude. I’m". So if there is more, repost.
First, let me say I am SO sorry for what you are going through. Chronic pain is so awful and this world is not at all sympathetic to what they can not see. I live with chronic pain everyday for the past 10 years. It's taken it's toll, I'm a very different person now.
Okay back to you, I'm pretty good figuring out these things as I've had over 40 surgeries. Bowel resection...you name it Ive had it. What alarmed me is that you said after a surgery on your bowel you had pain day ONE post operation. Is it possible he injured your pudendal nerve?? Have you had an MRI with dye contrast of your pudendal nerve? It's the only way to diagnose this. This is what happened to me, so I just want to rule that out with you.
Second, can you describe your pain? Shooting? Burning? Constant? Worse with activities? Is it in pelvis? Vaginal? Back? Only intestinal? Does the pain only come with periods?
Third, this is the best advice I will ever give you. DO NOT TRUST ANY DOCTOR. Not one!!!! Do your own research and TELL THEM what you want done. I was in pain for years before i finally researched so hard I fell apon pudendal nerve entrapment and what it felt like and I said "damn sounds just like what I'm dealing with". I asked my colon/rectal surgeon if it was possible he "nicked it" during surgery. He said "yes" (to my shock & horror). FYI this guy is Dr. Milsom, head of colon surgery at NYP in Manhattan and I paid him cash $40k for my surgery because he didn't take insurance and I was going to die. So..anywho.. I made the doctor write me for an MRI of it and a week later I read the report to myself and couldn't believe I actually diagnosed my own problem. You sound like you are in a similar boat. Like you don't know what exactly is wrong with you. Are you?
What is your next surgery? What is the technical definition of what he is going to do in the next surgery?
If this is a bowel blockage then that is incredible painful! I mean WOW I don't know how u stand it. How do you know it's a bowel blockage? Have you had an MRI? I know the UK has some kind of universal healthcare and surgery is not easy to get but can you get MRIs?
Sorry, I was going to say that I work in a healthcare centre. The staff there are fully aware how important support is, they guide patients through their procedures (they had a non invasive “fitting” themselves and realised how scary it is without someone talking to you)
The pain since surgery is like a sharp, tennis ball sized rightside pain, it is worse during my periods and I sometimes question if it is my bowel or ovary, but it’s also all month long. I feel like there’s just something there that needs to be pulled out to relieve pressure. It’s worse with exercise (and the bloating is major!) I’m recently trying to avoid direct core work and that seems to be better for me.
I’ve never really experienced nerve pain until this nerve block (and oh boy!) I don’t think that my usual pain is like that (but I will ask about it).
I manage my digestion by eating soft small meals, avoiding fibre and taking a lot of laxatives. I’m beginning to think I have some sort of intestinal dismobility.
I guess we are used to diagnosing ourselves lol I knew I had endo way before any dr (even had to change gp)
The only thing I can suggest is a natural laxative ....Kefir. I had pudendal nerve entrapment. The rectal portion of my right pudendal nerve was being compressed by overstretched, overused, ‘ juxtaposed’ ligaments. I was loosing so much stool that I stopped eating solids and lived on water, smoothies, protein shakes etc.
Only now, seven years post decompression surgery am I trying to eat solids again. The stool incontinence is finally abating. I still have to be very very careful how I move my body.( no heavy lifting, minimal bending over my groin etc, ). Kefir is the product that has helped to normalize my digestive system. I tastes awful but it works.
The only thing that minimized my neuralgia pre-op was capsicum pain patches applied to my right buttock and rectum all day long.
At present I still require a sleeping pill for sleep, Nortriptyline for nerve pain modulation, Hydroxizine Hydrochloride to decrease histamine release, CBD oil and THC oil. Opiates did not help with this neuralgia nor did fentanyl patches. It really HURTS. Good luck.
"When you say you feel like you have a foreign object in you that needs to be pulled out", that is exay what a damaged Pudendal nerve feels like. You really should have an MRI of your pelvis and another one to focus on colon.
Nothing has helped me. LoL well I shouldn't say that. I was at a point of pain that was so bad I could hardly stand it. So I tried to find a surgeon who could deal with my nerve damage and shockingly only 3 surgeons even did this surgery in the whole USA. None of them were in Manhattan but luckily one was in AZ and I have family there. So I went out to AZ and had a (u ready for this?) "Right Pudendal neurolysis w/transposition of nerve, activated platelet plasma" surgery in 2011. Basically he cut open my right but cheek and took the injured nerve and tried to cut it away from the scar tissue compressing it. I've been through a lot of pain but wowsa! Was that a bad one! I was in the hospital for a week on a morphine pump. Anyway it took me till about four years ago to be brave enough to come off my pain meds (they are worthless after a while anyway). So today I still live in pretty bad pain. The surgery helped but it actually created a different kind of pain where my skin is hyper sensitive now. You know the funny thing is that the only thing that works with my pain is a weird patch my neighbor gave me! She heard that I lived with chronic pain so she gave me this little tattoo looking thing. She said it works on your "body's energy", so I threw it in my drawer and said this lady is nuts and forgot all about it for a year. About 6 months ago I bumped into her walking her dog and she found out I never tried it and she gave me two more and I stuck one on my hip bone and one on my pelvis (kind of under my belly button) sat down and about two mins later it was like WOW this is really weird, my pain went from a 9/10 to a 4/10. Anyway thought I'd mention those to you, they can't hurt, there is no medication in them and they are like 99¢ each so give it a try may help ease the pain a bit.
Justapatch.com is the website.
Anyway after all this time, it's finally time for me to deal with my endometriosis, so I have a surgery on September 10. Do you have endometriosis in your bowel? I've read about that but that would cause obstruction...just nausea & pain. I feel bad for you, intestinal issues are far worse than anything. If you ever need a pick me up chat you can email me anytime. 4mycalanderonandroid@gmail.com
We need to stick together and help each other. Chronic pain is something that only others experiencing it can understand.
I have the feeling there is something in my rectum that should be pulled out to relieve the pain! I have had this feeling for more than 13 years. Now as time progressed I have pain every where a saddle would touch if on a horse. I am interested to know where you can buy the patches for .99. Are there others who have used these patches such as testimonials? I have used all types of patches, both homeopathic and medicinal. Nothing has ever helped. My skin is so sensitive that I can not hold a rolled ice pack around the painful areas. I can use heat and the warm shower feels good. Ice is good for inflammation and I try to use ice as close as I can. I feel I have no other choice than to have a steroid injection to try to stop the cycle of pain, but I don't know how I will stand the additional pain afterwards. Any thoughts on what to do?
Have you had the opportunity to be properly diagnosed? Has a neurologist or neurosurgeon done the pin prick test on your genitalia, buttock and inner thighs?
Have you had a pudendal motor latency test?
Pudendal nerve entrapment is SO painful. The nerve has theee branches however it seems that if the rectal branch is the one being compressed, then it feels like a foreign object is in your rectum.
Do you wake at night to urinate ( pain free on the toilet ) and then go back to bed and be in agony when your buttock hits the mattress! This happened to me for three years and it felt like someone was shoving a RED HOT POKER up my rectum. It burned. It pulled. It was torture!
I pray you see a specialist that can release the nerve for you. It may not be too late. You know what is best for you though. Goody luck.
I have had some verification that it is PN. When I wake during the night to urinate, I usually back to sleep soon. It does not wake me at night. It used to feel better when I sat on a toilet seat, but now my hips hurt and the pain has progressed as the years passed so that is no relief now. It is more my rectal branch effected, however the entire area hurts now with the burning, pulling, feeling heavy throughout the private area, electric shock, and throbbing. Yes, it is very painful. Thanks for your reply. Best wishes to you and all.
I hope you can see a reputable neurosurgeon and neurologist who will believe you and get you the proper treatments stat. This nerve stretch injury disabled me.
Konagirl you have recommended neurosurgeon or neurologist to me. Dear one, I have been down that route. I just cannot find anyone suitable. What treatments have you found useful? What have you heard is proper treatment? I notice you have used Capsicum patches which has helped with pain. (never tried these-yet) I thought I had tried everything but surgery. Fortunately, I have never been to a doctor who seemed to disbelieve me, they just don't know anything else to do. Therapy, therapy! Would you advise nerve release surgery by one of the doctors who tout their abilities? Dr Hibner or one of them? I am just so worried that the surgery is not perfected? Thank you so much for the help you give me and others.
I would recommend surgery if you are unable to sit, move, lift and have sexual relations.
The surgery outcome depends on how long the nerve has been pinched AND which branch or branches are in trouble. For me, only the rectal branch was in the intraligamental grip.
I HAD TO have surgery as I react badly to medications and I prefer not to take them. They are not good for our bodies long term. Seven nerve blocks did nothing. I am grateful for surgery because another four months I would have died from sleep deprivation. ( I had no proper sleep for three years ......I developed an organic brain disease. )
I wasn’t afraid. I knew I needed it. I had to hire a registered nurse consultant because no doctor here would advocate for me to get it done. They purposely hid that metal clips used from one of my previous surgeries had migrated to my rectum and ileum bowel. They were worried about a law suit and protecting the surgeon. No doctor where I lived cared. Not impressed with doctors where I live. I was neglected and my care was incompetent.
I cannot sit but minutes at the time. I can lift light weight things, nothing over 10 pounds I would say. Can't have sexual relations, can't lie down without lots of pain. I do not take opioids as they do not really help neuropathic pain. I have tried them, many, to no avail. I take 1800 mg Gabapentin daily spread out every few hours. That doesn't help much I don't think. I never tried to come completely off, too afraid! However I did come down from 2400 to 1800 mg daily. I take the medical marijuana at night to help with sleeping. I can't be in control when I try to take any kind during the day. I take the occasional Naproxin (so?) when my low back hurts bad enough from issues there. Other than that I take low dose Klonopin when my anxiety is really bad. Of course that seems to help the pain. This pain all started about 13+ years ago getting progressively worse as falls continued. One of the first falls broke my pelvic bone and that threw my gate off and as years have passed caused issues as well.
It is terrible that you had the metal clips migrate and cause such terrible distress, and the pain it all caused. Some doctors don't really seem to care about the best for their patients.
Going to leave the computer for the evening. Chat later.
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