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The pudendal nerve is a major nerve in the pelvic area that has both motor and sensory functions. It runs through the pelvic floor starting at the back of the pelvis and extending to the pubic bone and external genitalia. If this nerve becomes inflamed or irritated, it can cause disabling pain along with problems such as diffi Symptoms may include:culty going to the bathroom or having sex. Pain, discomfort or numbness in the pelvic region may be a sign that you need pudendal neuralgia treatment.
If you’re looking for a pudendal neuralgia specialist in the New York City or New Jersey area, look no further than Dr. Dmitriy Dvoskin at Neuro Injury Specialists. Dr. Dvoskin has extensive experience in many different neurological conditions including pudendal neuralgia, primary and secondary headaches, neuropathy and radiculopathy.
Pain in any of the muscles or organs in the pelvic area is the main symptom of pudendal neuralgia. This is a rare condition that can cause pain in the rectum, anus, vagina, clitoris, labia, penis or scrotum.
Symptoms may include:
The perineal area may feel swollen. The pain caused by pudendal neuralgia may be stabbing, burning or aching and some patients experience bowel or bladder incontinence. Symptoms may develop suddenly or gradually.
Pudendal neuralgia is triggered by anything that traps, irritates or damages the pudendal nerve.
Possible causes of this condition include:
This condition affects women slightly more often than men. The pudendal nerve is sometimes inflamed or damaged during childbirth, particularly if labor is difficult or prolonged. In some cases, there’s no known cause.
To determine if pudendal neuralgia is the cause of your pelvic pain, your doctor does a physical examination and runs diagnostic testing such as an MRI and an electromyography test. Pudendal neuralgia treatment aims to minimize symptoms, but the condition can’t be cured.
Treatment options include:
New treatments for pudendal neuralgia focus on using neurostimulation that delivers electrical impulses to the nerve to disrupt pain signals between the spinal cord and the brain. Dorsal root ganglion stimulation is a procedure that became available in the U.S. in 2016. It’s done by implanting a device that delivers electrical impulses to reduce pain signals from the pudendal nerves. It’s less invasive than decompression surgery.
Certain things can worsen the symptoms of pudendal neuralgia, and these things should be avoided or modified.
Your pudendal neuralgia specialist may recommend that you avoid things like:
Alternate sitting and standing to avoid sitting for long periods of time. When seated, use a donut shaped pillow to reduce pressure on the pudendal nerve. Learning relaxation techniques may help reduce discomfort.
If you’re having persistent pelvic pain, don’t delay seeking an evaluation from a medical professional. Early treatment is most effective, and if left untreated, the pain may continue to get worse and progressively limit your day-to-day activities.
Chronic pelvic pain can be disabling and severely affect your quality of life. When looking for a pudendal neuralgia specialist near me in NYC or New Jersey, contact Dr. Dvoskin at Neuro Injury Specialists. He has extensive experience in treating nerve pain and is the best pudendal neuralgia specialist in the NYC and New Jersey area.