Stuck in the Denial Stage

[Carnation]

Hello,

I’m one year post-op hysterectomy

I have a lot of PN symptoms but it happens when I stand up. Sitting is not so bad, laying down relieves it.
Is this familiar to anyone else?? It’s keeping me in denial.

Help?

[April]

Hi Carnation,

That is familiar to me. Sitting does not increase my pain (in fact, sitting is sometimes better than standing), and lying down helps it a bit. I think lying down helps because I'm relaxing the ligaments. Hibner said that some people with a small pelvis might get relief when they sit because it opens up the ligaments a bit. I had decompression surgery six years ago, and my pain gradually declined after that. But I still have flares and this pattern---with sitting not being a problem--still holds.

Have you seen a doctor about this? What treatments have you tried?

April

[Carnation]

Thanks for you help April,

I’m on doctor #6 right now who thinks it’s PN
I don’t do well on meds so
I’ll be starting PT this month
Not being able to stand up for longer than a few minutes is extremely disabling
I almost feel normal when I’m laying down What a life!

So happy to see that you were helped
It gives me hope
Thanks

[April]

Yeah, most of us have cycled through a lot of doctors, but 6 in a year is a lot even in these circles. Are they urogynecologists? Yes, it is hard to be on meds. I was very glad when I got off of them. Have you tried ice and/or heat to deal with the pain? did pt (only external) for years and it did relax my muscles, and I learned a lot from my pt, but it didn't create any long-term benefit I think because my nerve was entrapped. But some people do benefit from it. Let us now how your pt appointments go.

April