What is Pudendal Neuralgia?

Pudendal neuralgia is chronic pain related to the pudendal nerve.

BOTH MEN AND WOMEN SUFFER

 Your pudendal nerve runs from your lower back, along your pelvic floor muscles, out to your perineum (pubic bone and tailbone).

Pudendal neuralgia can occur when your pudendal nerve undergoes trauma, or the nerve is irritated/compressed by bulky pelvic floor muscles or tight ligaments.

This can be a severely painful and disabling and usually leads to pain in the clitoris, vulva, perineum, and rectum.

I suffer from Pudendal Neuralgia when my pelvic floor muscles become too tight.   

 Causes can include:

• Sitting on a hard surface for prolonged periods of time

• Trauma to the nerve from a fall or injury

• Exercise (Avid Cycling)

• Childbirth

• Surgery

• Biomechanical dysfunction

Symptoms are commonly one-sided.

Pain can be described as a burning, stabbing, pins and needles, stinging sensation as well as a foreign body feeling in the vagina, perineum or rectum (levitator ani syndrome)

The onset of symptoms is usually gradual.

Unfortunately, this syndrome if often unrecognized by many healthcare providers. 

Luckily Pelvic Floor Therapist know how to assess the pudendal nerve and treat the symptoms.

I was lucky enough to get my Pudendal Nerve irritation under control and at a manageable level trough pelvic floor therapy.

Here is some information that I found extremely helpful when navigating my journey through PN.

Dr. Michael Hibner, MD, PhD, FACOG, FACS

https://www.glowm.com/section_view/heading/pudendal-neuralgia/item/691

https://pelvicpainrehab.com/low-tone-pelvic-floor-dysfunction/1893/pne-your-questions-answered/