Major problems after hemorrhoidectomy - any tips gratefully received!

[Burford]

After the operation in 2011 I was in a lot of pain. I then had a manic type of nervous breakdown and was in a psychiatric ward for a week. I had a constant pain in my backside. A recent pelvic MRI scan showed everything was clear. The pain has now gone but it's as though I have a bag of something hanging just behind my genital area. I can sit down for a couple of hours with a doughnut cushion - and can be lying down in some positions with this sensation but without pain (about 4 hours sleep a night). Walking is limited and not pleasant.

My pain specialist believes that the nerves in the anal area are damaged and will give me an impar ganglion block on Friday this week. I wonder if anyone has experienced something similar after an operation? Any tips/advice would be much appreciated!

[Hidden]

Yes, unfortunately if the nerves have been compressed for a long time and the problem is removed, the nerves don't pop back into shape. They still behave as if the compression is still there and send pain messages to the brain. This is what they mean when they say the pain message has not switched off, hence chronic pain.

You could ask for nerve conduction studies to find out for sure. Not a pleasant experience I believe, not had it done myself.

Maybe pelvic floor exercises to strengthen the undercarriage.

Maybe a visit to a sports physio therapist. They are very good at locating and treating pain. It may be a trigger point firing off. They can show you how to release it with accupressure.

Then there's all the alternative therapies to explore. I doubt any will help the pain directly, but they might help you cope with it better, and bring relaxation into your life. They might give you techniques to switch the brain onto different wave lengths which will help you sleep for longer.

[helenlegs11 Volunteer]

You could have an issue with the pudendal nerve and more probably the branch that serves the rectum (there are 3 branches) This would fit directly with the surgery you had.

For any nerve pain a combination of anti seizure drugs and antidepressants can work well together, it is a question of experimentation as everyone reacts a little differently to some drugs.

I would agree that physiotherapy is a good idea but I would make sure they are pudendal aware and have knowledge of this area. Often pelvic floor physios will.

Cognitive therapies often help.

Hope the block helps too although if the block was more targeted i.e a pudendal nerve block it could be theraputic and diagnostic at the same time. The ganglion impar may well help the pain and symptoms but will not give a good indication where the problem is,.