Health Organization for Pudendal Education

Hello, I posted on the surgery board but I thought I'd post here too and introduce myself. I'm looking to see if anyone experienced what I'm going through. Im really regretting the surgery I had a couple days ago. Any words of encouragement would be wonderful. Here is my original post:

I have a 5 and half year history with pain from perineal nerve compression from an episiotomy that was cut at the birth of my son. The pain radiated from the bottom where the scar was, to all the way up to my clitoris. It was terrible the first year, all the time and sex was really painful. I tried everything, it seems, to help but nothing did. A series of blocks, medication, pelvic floor PT. After, I just figured surgery was my only option. After having my second baby, I decided to seek to my surgical options and decided on perineal branch removal with Dr Dellon with the promise that he would save the clitoral nerve. I had surgery 2 days ago and I know it's super new but I feel devastated at the loss of sensation on the entire right side of my vagina. I wasn't expecting it the numbness to cover such a large area. He did say the clitoral nerve was turning yellow which means it was so compressed it was dying. He said he was able to save and decompress it but now I'm completely numb there too. I feel like I made a terrible decision and am wondering if thespian was really that bad. Has anyone done this surgery and felt this way at first? Did any sensation come back? I'm so afraid that my sex life is ruined and I will never orgasm again.

So sorry to hear of your numbness and worry. I havn't had PN surgery so really have no experience with what you are going through. I was just at Dellons office last tues April 2 myself trying to get a diagnosis. You are way early with surgery and I imagine the numbness will go away with time. And email Dr Dellon. His responses may be brief but he will usually respond. Its easy to get yourself all worked up worrying but I imagine some of the numbness will go away. But feel free to vent her and tell us how you are doing. What does Dr Dellon say about the numbness?

I also had 3 perineal branches moved into my obturator muscles by Dr. Dellon. It will take time to heal. The numbness will subside. Focus on breathing in through diaphragm and out through mouth as your ribs come back together. You want to relax your nervous system now. Listen to Dr. Dellon about walking in a therapy pool. Take gabapentin and baclofen for a while until you feel like the sensation of fiberglass rubbing against you has passed. Then start dry needling and releasing trigger points with a physiotherapist to take over for the drugs and use lidocaine on the area. Don’t second guess yourself and the decision to have surgery. Move forward and believe you will get better. Accept that you are different and you will have to adjust to your new body. I had anal fistula surgery in 2014. I don’t know why I developed this nauseating burning pudendal pain. I too was not sure about my decisions but there is no looking back. You will get better but nerves take time to heal. Everyone’s story is different. There are many doctors who do not understand our situation. Pudendal pain is so difficult to comprehend if you don’t have it. The feelings we have are so embarrassing and really unbelievable. I have worked with 3 chiropractors(relief for 24 hours and then pain returned), 3 physiotherapists( each helped In different ways),acupuncturists( minimal relief), 3 physical therapists( could not relieve my pain), 2 urogynecologists, 3 colorectal doctors, Pelvic Pain specialist, videos from Pelvic Pain Specialists, 3 orthopedic surgeons( no help), 1 neurosurgeon( disappointing), neurologist( suggested baclofen pump), osteopath, Pain Specialist anesthesiologist( nerve blocks and cortisone treatment), pain psychologist( helped to understand my brain dealing with pain), pain seminar using Mosley booklet, mindfulness online program and meditation, and a Physiatrist for prolotherapy. When I put my trust in my physiotherapist to guide me I finally started to see results. Breathing and nerve gliding exercises, walking daily, not sitting too long, a wedge on my car seat and a lumbar pillow you can find on amazon, resting more throughout the day, Keto diet, and now Pilates( suggested by my physiotherapist and physiatrist) to create stability . Try to push fear aside.