Health Organization for Pudendal Education

I have pudendal neuralgia, and I am sick of not being able to go on dates with my husband. By god, one way or another, I'm going to figure out a way to go to movies in a theater. This weekend, we will be seeing The Hunger Games (because I'm crazy-excited to watch it and refuse to miss out on this opportunity), and my current plan is to get aisle seats in the very back with my husband, and then to stand if/when my cushions and pool noodles don't work. (I suspect I'll basically be standing for the whole movie.)

I feel a lot of anxiety about going. I think if anyone gives me guff for standing, I'm likely to either burst into tears, or unleash a ton of rage on them.

Anyone have any good coping strategies for going to movie theaters? Anyone have any bad experiences with movie theater staff or patrons?

Hi Meepmeep,
Yeah movies are challange, I like your idea of going to the very back, and standing. I can't imagine why anyone would bother you if you are not in their way. Just tell them you have a bad back. If it were me, I would take a vicodin when I got there (takes the edge off for me, and doesn't put me to sleep) and then bring your cushions as stated, and also bring several Instant cold ice paks. When there is a lot of noise, activate the pak, and get a little relief. I have to have my ice.

Everything is a trade off with PN, have a tolerable day, and you do more, and then you pay for it.

I hope you decide to go, and give it a try.

Good Luck,
Debbie

Hi meepmeep,
I love going to the movies and refuse to stop going because of my PN.I basically lie on the seats......some cinema seats have side arms that fold up-that makes it easy.I take a cushion and side lie down and ret my head on thecushion.If the side arm doesnt fold up, I curse[!] then curl up around the arm-it is posiible-I turn to the other side every 20 mins or so.I usually do this at the side or back,no one has ever complained.Going to the theatre is more problematic-I cant lie on the seats at a crowded theatre to see a play at the sydney theatre company.I sit on my pool noodle cushion-which is hellish after a while as my legs go numb and it digs in; so i wriggle around alot and pray for interval!Still-anything is better than pn pain.Good luck, and try lying on the seats.
Miandamolly

I havent been to the movies for many years as the thought of sitting in such a small seat is not appealing.
I did go to the theatre a few years ago and bought back of the theatre seats so that i could stand up when I needed.
This was working fine for me until the staff insisted that i had to sit down as they considered me a fire risk in the event of an evacuation. i did protest during the interval and after the performance, however my night was ruined and I wont be returning there again.

I can't go to the movies either. We just wait until they come out on DVD and rent them from redbox and I can be in the comfort of my own home. There are definitely movies that I wish I could have seen in the theater, but at least we don't miss out on them all together. The last movie I ever saw in the theater was Chocolat in 2000.

Emily B.

I went to see a movie yesterday and halfway through I started paying for it. I'm in a fair bit of pain now so I guess going to the movies again won't be an option for me.

It's not like I'm a very frequent movie-goer, but it takes away another option for date nights.. Guess I'll just have to start renting them..

Good for you Doubleedgedsword for going to the movies even if you are paying for it ever since.
I like to watch a good movie, and while my screen is not too large, i like to turn off the lights, and phone and turn up the sound to pretend im in the cinema.
At least that way I can hug my ice and lie down and enjoy the movie.
We all certainly have lost many of the enjoyable things we used to do before we had PN/E.