Health Organization for Pudendal Education

I had left sided nerve decompression surgery 8 weeks ago with Dr Hibner. I was his second patient to have the nerve wrapped in umbilical stem cells.... well, I still have numbness in the perineal area. Also, I am still having a lot of pain. I removed the on q pump 21 days post op. Can anyone advise me on how long this numbness will last? It is only on the left side but it is very hypersensitive as well. Will the numbness ever go away? I did not have any numbness pre op. I need some hope that I will start to feel better soon.....I started physio this week and the pain increased, so depressing. I am on a Fentanyl patch 25mg and take tramadol for break through, also on Cymbalta 30mg. Using coconut oil in the numb area. Had a massage today as well. What else can I do to help the pain at this point?

It can take quite awhile for things to settle down from surgery. Just listen to your body and do not over due. That is probably the biggest thing is patience. It took me almost 6 months before I could tie my shoes after my surgery.

Hi Laramarie,
The increased sensitivity and numbness will subside over the next few months. I had that, too, after my surgery.
NYT's suggestion of not over-doing is not easy, but really is the best possible advice you can give someone. Recovery isn't something you can push yourself through.
If PT is increasing your symptoms, you may have to give your body a little more time to rest and heal.
Please keep us posted on how you're doing and feel free to ask as many questions as you like.
Kind regards,
Karyn

Hello,

I did not have this operation but I had labral tear repair. At some point activities that my PT did with me started to significantly increase pain. I tol d it PT and she changed strategy. You do not have to tolerate pain increase without discussion about it. Tell it to you PT. He or she can have different approaches and different speed of activity. More than likely something could be done differently. Severe increase of pain is a sign that something is not done right.

Sorry I do not know more about this operation. I am preparing myself to go though it.

I wish you the very best with your recovery and I wish you would not have to endure this level of pain and discomfort.

Love,

Helen

Thank-you all for your help....
Nyt: how did you know when you were ready for the other side pne surgery?
Dr Hibner said he is hoping that my other side will settle down but I may need the right side done as well.
I have never felt the pain on both sides, my pain was only in the middle pre op and now it is only on the operated side.
How long after the first surgery did you go for for the other side? I honestly do not ever want to go through that surgery again. I had a really hard time the first few weeks. Hoping and praying this will be it for me and I can have some sort of quality of life again. Take care, Lara

I think Dr. Hibner likes patients to wait for 6 months between sides. My first pudendal surgery was in May 2011 and my left side was schedule for February 2012. However, I was just about back to my baseline when my left side was suppose to be done and wasn't feeling up to having the left side done. I called and rescheduled for September 2012 which is when I had my left side done. My left was never as bad as my right side except for the rectal problems have always been worse on the left. I debated about not even having it done but because when I had pudendal blocks bilateral versus just my right side I did so much better than just the right side both Dr. Howard and Dr. Hibner felt like I really needed both sides done for optimal improvement. Therefore, I went ahead and had the left side done.

Good luck and with time things will settle down. You don't have to make the decision now about your other side.

Thanks for the reply Nyt, much appreciated. I will take it easy and try to heal from this surgery. One day at a time! Take care.

I am now 3 months post op... Wondering if anyone had an increase in pain from physiotherapy? I have been going for 4 weeks now (as per Dr Hibner's post op instructions) and I am having so much more pain after each visit! My pain is very sharp in the perineal area. Is my nerve coming back to life? I still have numbness in the area and the incision area. I am not having any internal physio, only external very hard rubbing.... I am very bruised all over the areas that she is rubbing. Is this normal? Thank you to anyone that can offer advise or thoughts on this?

Lara

If the PT is increasing your pain and your are getting bruised she is being too aggressive. Whatever pain increase you get from PT should last no more than a couple of hours. If it is lasting longer than that she needs to really back off. This is not, "no gain no pain." If the PT won't back off then find yourself a new PT that will listen to you.

The first pelvic floor PT I saw every time I saw her she made me worse and was worse each time I saw her I was worse than the prior visit. I went for about 8 weeks and then the doctor told me to quit going because I was so much worse. Took me almost 2 years to recover from her over aggressiveness and not listening to me. It isn't worth it and you might be better off with no PT than with someone who is too aggressive. It might be worth giving Dr. Hibner's office a call and see what they say.

Hi Nyt
Thanks for responding.... I agree 100 percent with you. I went for physio Monday and for the past 3 days have had horrible pain. The pain is now very sharp. Almost like electricity zaps. I have been taking my breakthrough meds like candy. My husband says it looks like my body has been beat up with all the bruises. I am going to call Dr H 's office and see if I can talk to someone. I am thinking I need to take some time away from PT and try someone new.
When did you start physio after surgery and has it helped?

Take care