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Bilateral Pudendal nerve decompression surgery

Edinsmore profile image
29 Replies

Has anyone had this surgery? I had mine on 08/26 because 2 ligaments entrapped my pudendal nerve. I did not have pain in my genital area - it just went numb after a period of about 9 months. The doctor recommended surgery immediately because the fact that I went straight to numb and didn't have the preceding pain most have. I'm now a little over a week post op. Most people spend 3-5 days in the hospital - I was out in 2. My doctor prescribed bed rest for about 6 weeks. It's been torture. I have chronic damage to my L5S1 and the immobility is reversing all the PT I had before this surgery. What I want to know is how people felt after the c surgery. I get lightheaded when I get up and move around, feel very weak and unsteady, my blood pressure tanked from 130/80 to 101/64. I feel I should be more active (I've started getting up every hour and walking the hallway for 5 minutes) but I don't want to mess up my surgery. I'm just really concerned with the potential side effects from prolonged immobility - like blood clots, muscle atrophy etc. Any insights would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! Oh, I'm a 37yo female.

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Edinsmore
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29 Replies

I haven't had the surgery so can't really help with that, but i felt really awful for about 3 1/2 weeks after my recent surgery. But then I slowly started to feel stronger, but it's a slow process. Don't rush it, be kind to yourself.

Out of curiosity where did you have the surgery done?

I hope you have a good support system around you to help, I can appreciate how hard the bed rest is. I do hope you start to feel better soon and the operation is a success. Take care. Xx

Edinsmore profile image
Edinsmore in reply to

Thank you for your response - I really appreciate you taking the time. I had my surgery done at St. Josephs in Nashua NH. I'm from MA, & we have some of the best hospitals in the country, but this surgery is highly specialized and only a few doctors in the country perform it. NH was as close as I could get and the surgeon is one of the best in his field. I've had a few surgeries in the past, but they were minimally invasive (2 L5S1 micro discectomy's and 1 nerve repair on the middle finger of my left hand). Both surgeries required you get up and moving ASAP. I've been basically bedridden since this surgery on 8/26. My BP is much lower than normal. That could be the cause of the lightheadedness. I just get nervous because I have so many issues from the chronic damage to that lumbar nerve, I can't tell if the things I'm experiencing are from that, the surgery, or both. Or if I have a complication I'm not aware of. I'm going to call my surgeon tomorrow and see what he says.

Again - I really appreciate you taking the time to respond, and thank you for the well wishes. I hope your recovery goes well too!

in reply to Edinsmore

I have pudendal nerve damage/entrapment so may indeed be having similar surgery in the future. We don't have many people who do that surgery in the UK.

Keep in touch and let us know how you get on and how you progress with your recovery.

Edinsmore profile image
Edinsmore

People come here from all over the US - and other countries - to see my doctor for this. I don't know if it would be an option for you, but just in case - the doctor that preformed the surgery is Dr. Mark Conway. He performs surgeries out of St. Josephs in Nashua - but has a practice in Merrimack, NH. If you have to have the surgery - I wish you the best of luck if you do end up having to go my route. I will keep you updated so you'll know what to expect.

r5cervelo12 profile image
r5cervelo12

When you say you have chronic damage to L5 S1. What do you mean? Is it the disk? Mine disk bad, and i had it replaced in Germany its call M5 ADR implant.

Edinsmore profile image
Edinsmore in reply to r5cervelo12

Yes. I've herniated at the same location twice in 2 years - and had 2 surgeries. The constant impingement on the nerve has caused chronic damage. I'm fairly certain I'm herniated again - but this surgery was a more pressing issue (in my estimation) so I'll have to deal with the ongoing back problems and associated weakness and muscle spasms until I recover. I'm sorry to hear we share the same issues, but I'm curious to know if the disc replacement has helped you.

r5cervelo12 profile image
r5cervelo12 in reply to Edinsmore

Its Has made huge improvements with my C-6 C-7. The implant is called M6 ADR... there is a VERY good youtube video. The surgeon in Germany, was the most professional guy I' ve been to and Ive been to a few... Im in the US. I would recommed him to any one... However my L5 S-1 disk was bad and he replaced it along with the 2 in the neck. Its not helped with my leg issues.. But I think I have a combo of problems there. Do you have Bad disks?? They can be replaced don't let any one tell you otherwise.

Edinsmore profile image
Edinsmore in reply to r5cervelo12

No one has told me I can't have disc's replaced - they just haven't offered that as a viable course of action. Yet. My legs are a HUGE issue. My right more than left. Tingling, weakness, muscle spasms, numbness in my toes and feet. Can't sit or stand in one place too long or I'll end up in tremendous pain. I'll bring up the subject with my ortho next time I see him. Thank you for the advice and for taking the time to respond!

r5cervelo12 profile image
r5cervelo12 in reply to Edinsmore

lets talk call me. Germany can give you a second opinion? If you have a current MRI?? they don't even charge you its ONZ in Germany. I gain nothing by recommending any one to them. As for me they fixed my neck its pretty much 90% I was in HELL before. They showed me my C-6 was touching my spinal cord.

r5cervelo12 profile image
r5cervelo12 in reply to Edinsmore

If you would like to talk you can call me 513-435-0978 Gary

mikette profile image
mikette

Edinsmore may I ask if the doctor cut any ligament to reach the nerve? and which approach did he use, transgluteal? did he cut your gluteus? thanks a lot

Edinsmore profile image
Edinsmore in reply to mikette

Yes he did have to cut a ligament. Two had fused, trapping the pudendal nerve. It was bilateral so I have 1 8" incision on each buttock. Recovery from just the surgery is expected to be around 6 weeks. I have 3 down so far. I am not allowed to sit at all (beyond going to the bathroom of course) or walk around much. I'm basically bedridden for the duration. I unfortunately also have chronic damage to my L5S1 and have had 2 surgeries for that in 2 years. The disc has herniated again and all of this bed rest has seriously exacerbated the back problems. I'll have to deal with that issue once I've recovered from surgery. I won't know how much feeling I'll get back for about a year.

Konagirl60 profile image
Konagirl60 in reply to Edinsmore

Hi. I am wondering how you are doing now? Are you up and able to walk around more?

I had decompression surgery in Minnesota by Dr. Stanley Antolak, on my right buttock. My surgery was performed in 2011...2.5 years too late.

I am Canadian and no specialist I saw her in Vancouver believe me or helped me. I was told by a neurologist that I had a nerve imbalance. NOT!

I had two incorrectly done nerve blocks in September and November of 2008. I was lying on my back and the Pain Specialist injected only an anaesthetic and no steroid into the inside wall of my vagina and the into my labia minora. As you can imagine, this gave me no relief and a failed diagnosis of vulvodynia.

I was forced to utilize the Net and learn about what PNE was and how to treat it. A physiotherapist told me what was wrong. She did four manual treatments inside my vagina and rectum. This physiotherapy great exacerbated my pain and left me unable to lie down AS WELL AS not being able to sit.

The surgery was finally procured once I hired a registered nurse cosultant. All the specialists here would NOT support it. They did not send the necessary consult note to the B.C. Ministry of Health ....although they said they would. My case was misrepresented. Paying and hiring the nurse is what helped me. Within four months of hiring her I was given the green light to have U.S. decompression surgery.

The burning pain is gone. I no longer wake up in the night feeling like someone is poking a red hot metal poker up my rectum. I no longer feel like my buttock is sitting on a hot stove top. I say this is success.

The residual pain I have has been caused my migrated metal Filshie clips. One was left on my rectum for nine years! I had it removed by a compassionate gynaecologist in June of 2017. I am waiting to have the other clip removed this year. Why were they not removed back in 2008?

No nerve blocks worked for me. I did eventually have them done correctly but not on time. I needed the surgery. The neurologist in Toronto who referred me to the U.S. surgeon said my case was a severe one and I definitely needed the surgery.

EffieT profile image
EffieT in reply to Konagirl60

Hello! So interesting to hear from someone in Canada where I have been going through a similar run around with no one who knows about pudendal nerves. You mentioned a neurologist in Toronto where I live. Do you by any chance have his name? I would be so happy to find someone who had actually heard of a pudendal nerve. Thank you.

Konagirl60 profile image
Konagirl60 in reply to EffieT

I’m so sorry but Dr. Allan Gordon was disbarred. One of his female patients complained that he molested her or something along those lines.

I had a pinprick analysis by him on my inner thighs, my labia, my clitoris and he determined I had an atypical pudendal neuropathy. He referred me to the best in America.

I imagine a female prude might find this sort of testing embarrassing but he didn’t molest me. He saved my life.

Who have you seen?

EffieT profile image
EffieT in reply to Konagirl60

I had heard that story about Dr Gordon as his name is still on a Pudendal help website and tried to contact him.

Thank you for your reply and Dr Peng.

mikette profile image
mikette

I wish the best for you!

Determine12 profile image
Determine12

Omg same problem as u I thought I was the only person in the world I am on my 11 th since my abdominal hysterectomy that caused this horrible nightmare.I think I finally found the right doc . But I was wondering was your numbness internal ????

Edinsmore profile image
Edinsmore in reply to Determine12

Both. Internal and external numbness.

Konagirl60 profile image
Konagirl60 in reply to Edinsmore

I have external and internal numbness of my anus, internal and external anal sphincters. I often lose stool and don’t even feel it.

Determine12 profile image
Determine12

Internal for me . That is what has got ever doc I have seen think it wasn't that. Is there awa to personal message u . I would love to talk more . I feel like I found my twin.I did research this doc about a yr ago he was out had hand surgery ???

Edinsmore profile image
Edinsmore in reply to Determine12

It took me over a year to get someone to listen to me because they kept insisting that it was "extremely rare" and occurs more often in men than women. My nerve was sandwiched between 2 ligaments. And it was, according to my surgeon, due to my anatomy. A lot of doctors look for some sort of trauma first. And I had some trauma too. I had a bad fall right on my tailbone about 10 years ago. Then after I had my daughter, I had to have a D & C about a month later because they didn't get all of the placenta. Then I had to have surgery to remove adhesions in my uterus and fallopian tubes - again, more trauma, more scar tissue. Keep at them until they listen. What they need to do is give you a focused MRI on your pelvis and an EMG to test the nerve function. It's not pleasant - but it gives them the right info to determine if that's your issue. And they need to take it seriously because if that nerve stays impinged - you could ends up losing bowel and/or bladder function. A lot of people first experience pain. I went straight to numb - which is actually more concerning because it means the nerve is deadening. That's why he had me in surgery so fast. Now - if we compare this scenario to my back issues - I had severe sciatic pain. After surgery, I had immediate relief from the PAIN. But my toes are still numb and it could be years before I get the feeling back - if I get it back at all. So in the pudendal nerve entrapment case - I didn't have pain - I had loss of feeling. So it's going to take about as long as the back before I find out what, if any, feeling I'm going to get back. Nerves regrow about a centimeter a MONTH. So it takes time. I'm more than happy to discuss this privately with you - I'm not sure how to privately give you my email. ...

Determine12 profile image
Determine12 in reply to Edinsmore

I am not sure how to privately send u my e mail first time on here so glad I found u. Going to look at the settings .I am def calling my new doc with your story tomorrows out of town but he was waiting for my mri report sadly I fought for 2 yrs to get one but every doc dismissed results off pudendal nerve

Determine12 profile image
Determine12 in reply to Edinsmore

i am going to call your doc and see if they will allow me to give u my e mail and phone # i am sure even w out your name are case is so bizzare they will fig it out right . my name is kim so if u get a call from them it is me . cross are fingers . going to get kids on bus and will try to contact them in a little while

Konagirl60 profile image
Konagirl60 in reply to Edinsmore

My nerve was trapped between the ligaments to. I’m glad you had the decompression surgery.

Determine12 profile image
Determine12

How are u doing now and improvement yet. Did they find what caused your entrapment' s I know mine was from hysterectomy because up till the ni)5 b4 surgery this was never a problem. I was devastated and have no answer and n one like me so I has been a he'll off almost 3 yrs and scared if it don't get fixed it will be permanent. If not already. I am too young .

Edinsmore profile image
Edinsmore in reply to Determine12

I'll be 6 weeks post op this Wednesday. You cannot sit AT ALL for the 6 weeks following this surgery as it very intensive and you might damage the nerve. I'm not doing terribly well at the moment - but that's because I have severe back issues too and being immobile for 6 weeks has totally screwed me on that end. My wounds are completely healed and closed and I'm starting to get MINIMAL sensation. - which is encouraging this soon. But I'm by no means even close to having the feeling I had before this mess

Claudia26 profile image
Claudia26 in reply to Edinsmore

Dear Edinsmore, how are you doing currently? I am really curious on your progression after the decompression surgery. Hope you are doing well!

Determine12 profile image
Determine12

How are u doing?

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