Health Organization for Pudendal Education

I know what you meant Helen . And yeah Karyn who knows about the bike but you're right, it does sound like that too could exacerbate the symptoms.

Yes it is very encouraging to read your post Lernica. Must be exciting to get back to work. In my uneducated opinion your buttocks pain may indeed be hip related. It was my buttocks pain that got my PT to recommend I see a OS. My surgeon did in fact say that buttocks pain is a symptom of hip issues. Both sides of my buttocks ache when sitting for extented periods and it doesn't matter which way I lean or squirm so I know what you mean. I hope for all of us that you're a model of whats to come for those of us that get hip surgery. But I also hope very hard for you because you seem like such a good and positive person Lernica. Keep rocovering!

Has anyone experienced increased PN symptoms after a hip injection? On the 17th, I had a marcaine injection into my left hip (the bad PN side) and ever since then, I've had an awful PN flare. I'm terrified, and my PTs don't know what's going on.

It did not happen to me but it seems to be pretty common with plenty of other people. Injections irritate some people but not others for whatever reason. But it may also be more proof that your hip is the culprit to your PN pain

Hi Elmwood,
I have been reading your posts and I wanted to share my experience with hip surgery. I had a procedure called hip resurfacing three years ago and it really made a difference for me. I am on my feet all day because of my job as an x-ray tech and even though I am 60 years old when I had the surgery I wanted a procedure that would allow me to have a hip revision should I live that long. This procedure is controversial and has gotten some bad press lately due to the all metal components involved. The biggest advantage is that it allows a revision down the road because it conserves bone in your femur. This is particularly important because of your age. When your cartilage is gone there is nothing that will bring it back. When I was researching my problem I found that none of the doctors in the Boston area were performing this procedure. The closest specialist to where you live would be Dr. Edwin Su at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. It is very important to get a surgeon who is experienced and has done many of these procedures to avoid complications down the line. A great resource for this problem is the website surfacehippy.com. This procedure completely solved my standing and walking problems although my sitting problems remain but two out of three ain't bad. I was completely recovered six weeks after surgery. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. I am a real expert on this topic since I had no choice.

Don

Hey Don.

Thanks for the post and Its great to hear you've found some relief from your issues. Was it mostly the hip pain that it helped or some of the other PN pain as well? After your post I did a bit of research and it looks like resurfacing may be the preferred method of the future. Maybe they just need to get a few kinks worked out. Sounds promising thats for sure. It also looks like there are several places in the Boston area that do it. Brigham and Womens where I got mind done does it (although my surgeon does not) as does Mass. General Hospital and Newton/Wellesly Hospital. My surgeon said he did the arthroscopy with the hopes of buying me 5 to 10 years until the technology catches up so maybe he was referring to the resurfacing. I'll have to ask next time I see him.

Hope to hear back

Hi Elmwood, My hip surgery only resolved the pain in my hip which had made it almost impossible for me to stand or walk towards the end. The cartilage in my hip was gone and I had no choice but surgery. My pain is almost completely scrotal and I also have burning in my sit bones if I sit for a long time. Unfortunately it is aggravated by ejaculation which is a depressing correlation to say the least. As it says in my signature Lyrica and oxycodone have minimized my pain significantly. I'm fortunate that I am able to tolerate fairly high doses of both.

Lernica, I have been off the site for a while. It is great to read that you have found some relief.

Best wishes, Don

Hey Don.

I have some of the same PN issues that you do so I can sympathize. Lyrica used to work for me but I came off of it at one point and now that i'm back on the Lyrica it doesn't work for me anymore. And I even upped the dosage. Don't know the reasoning behind that

Hi Elmwood, Have you tried doing a higher dosage of Lyrica? I am currently on 800 mg per day and tolerate it quite well. I worked my way up from 150 mg. per day. And of course the oxycodone helps as well. Besides a mild buzz I really don't have significant side effects. My current theory is that maybe I have some sort of occult inguinal hernia and I am currently waiting to see a hernia surgeon to explore this possibility. This would certainly be easier to fix than a damaged pudendal nerve. I have already had a dynamic standing ultrasound without any findings so convincing a doctor that this is my problem will require all my powers of persuasion. But what the hell I've got health insurance and nothing but time here. Here's hoping that you have a successful recovery. Sounds like your surgeon does not believe in the resurfacing. Hope you feel better. If you don't it might be a good idea to consult with a surgeon that does perform the procedure. One thing I found out about doctors is that no matter how sincere they are they usually don't recommend something that they don't do themselves. There are no absolute answers here. Like with PN you have to do the research and weigh the pros and cons for yourself. Let me know how you're doing.

Good Luck, Don

Hi Don,
It's nice to have you back! Very glad to hear you're doing better!
Could you please explain what your hip diagnosis was, and what's the difference between the procedure you had done vs. Elmwood?
Kind regards,
Karyn

Hey Don and Karyn.

Karyn, Don actually had a hip resurfacing which is a sort of hip replacement. I just had surgery to shave off some offending bone and try and scrape over some cartilage to an area that at the time of surgery was without. At some point in the future I will most likely need a replacement.

Don, my pain specialist only goes as high as 600mg on the Lyrica. I'm currently on 450 and might just come off and see if anything changes. I was feeling pretty good (but far from 100%) before getting on the lyrica and there hasn't been any changes since being on so I might just see what happens if I come off again. Who knows, I had a three year period without any symptoms so I sort of always hope a good few months or so is the lead up to another grace period.

Keep us up to date.