Electromyocardiogram

[AroraNightfire]

I'm going to be seeing Dr Mark Conway in Merimack NH, USA in May for an EMG. Has anyone had an EMG with Dr Conway? I'm very nervous about this as touch causes my perineum and vulva a lot of raw fire like pain. I have been suffering with Vulvodynia for 9yrs and I am 27yrs old. I need to find some ppl who have seen Dr Conway. How is he as a Dr? Any stories? Please contact me.

[Violet M]

Hopefully Karyn, Paulette, and Graceunderfire, will be able to answer your questions. I've heard he is a very compassionate doc and should be able to help you with a diagnosis. He is new to the transgluteal surgery approach so I'm not sure how his patients are doing post-op.

[beverley]

I just spoke to someone on the phone who had surgery with Dr. Conway in 2009 and loved him and said she is 100% pain free!

[AroraNightfire]

I just met with Dr Conway, his nurse practitioner did an EMG test on me. She inserted a needle 3 different times in different locations around my anis and zapped my clit and labias. She read off numbers to her assistent. She said the reading for the left side is abnormal. The nerves were misfiring. I met with Conway after and he examined me. He stuck something in my vagina and pushed in different directions asking me if it hurt where he pushed. He did the same with the anis. We went back to his office and he said he beleives I have pudendal neuralgia, not just or only vulvodynia. He said there are 3 options. 1physical therapy which I tried 1yr ago for 2 mo months and couldn't continue, 2 a nerve block using triamcinaline, done at least 2x between the sacrospinus and sacrotubial ligaments, or 3rdly pudendal nerve decompression surgery. He said the cause could have been 1genetic predisposition to sensitive nerves and or 2anatomical predisposition. He said anything that could have put strain on my pelvis would cause compression of the pudendal nerve. He said if I had nerve decompression there is a 40 to 50% chance I would feel less pain, and a 20% chance I would feel no change. If I had a nerve block done with Dr Quesada there is a very low chance I would leek urine, it only happened one time to one patient and it wasn't a permanent problem.

I'm just so worried. I had blocks done with another dr in boston last summer to my s1s2 nerve root and it did nothing. I also don't want to have to pee more often or be in diapers since my pain hurts more after I pee. I also can't wear underwear or pants because it causes my vulva to feel suffocated with heat. I'm scared cause I want to have a normal life and I'm wondering if its worth the risk to get better to possibly get worste.

[Violet M]

The decision on whether to have nerve blocks is a difficult one because of that slight risk. It sounds like you are pretty certain of the diagnosis without the blocks. Really, none of the current diagnostic tools are 100% accurate and some docs feel the history and exam are the most conclusive when it comes to diagnosis.

Some things to remember about nerve blocks --

Most people don't get worse permanently but there is a very slight risk of new or worsening symptoms.
On the forum we rarely hear of people getting permanent relief from nerve blocks.
Most surgeons will require several blocks before considering surgery so if you think you might eventually need surgery you probably will have to get nerve blocks.

When you saw the PT before, was it someone specifically trained in treating people with pudendal neuralgia? If not, maybe you want to try PT again with a PN experienced therapist.

Best,

Violet