Health Organization for Pudendal Education

Oh boy. I suffered an injury in Sept. 2013 that went undiagnosed (radiologist missed it) and since have had increasing muscle dysfunction in the pelvis. Can't urinate or defecate at this point, have been in the hospital twice (different hospitals) to look for cauda equina syndrome, but the spinal nerves and even the brain are normal. Something is disrupting any ability to use the muscles normally in the pelvis, especially on the right side.

The diagnosis/structural damage: hamstring tendinosis and tear to hamstring tendon at insertion point (ischial tuberosity) on the right leg, and torn labrum on the right side.

I have had this hip act up since I was a kid, and when it flared when I was 19 I ended up with interstitial cystitis, but have pretty much ignored that for 20 years. I didn't have terrible symptoms, and only now have become unable to really use my bladder. I have to push on it from my abdomen to get it to empty unless I can get the muscles in the pelvis to actually spasm, in which case I can urinate and defecate a bit better. It feels like there are cat claws in the area around the bladder and above and to the right of there, or else it all goes numb. My doctors are doing NOTHING. Absolutely NOTHING. I see a new one tomorrow at 11, a urogynocologist. I'm just upset, because I wasn't even having these symptoms until month 4 of the undiagnosed injury. I called a neighbor who is a doctor and he said there is no way this is not the pudendal nerve somehow not working correctly, and that it is effected by the hamstring attachment area. He said to just demand treatment and that something be done ASAP, but I've done that since October, to no avail. I couldn't even get a proper read of a hip MRI until last week with a new MRI at a different hospital. They let me go home despite not being able to pee or poop, and never sent in a urologist. THey did less at the other hospital in December (I missed Christmas to be in a hospital with no one doing anything for me!). At least these guys diagnosed a hip injury.

Please help, I was walking 6-8 miles a day and doing a lot of self-defense training when this happened (and for years previous), have (HAD) a very, very healthy sex life and was a happy, cheerful person. This is destroying my ability to do anything. Well, I can't even lay down, sit, walk or pee, and the orthos won't see me until the nerve issue is resolved. But no one will write a referral for that EMG! I'm being ignored into disability.

P.S. the first person I saw for the minor hip pain was a chiropractor, and they think he tore the labrum shoving my hip down where he said it "should be". Probably tore the hamstring trying to keep going with a torn labrum. It likely doesn't matter either way, but wouldn't mind any advice I can get. Help!?!?!?

Oh Antonia,
Welcome, you are no longer alone, others have passed this way. I am so very sorry to her your plight. It is hard to understand how to guide you as where to start but anywhere might be bteer than the nowhere you have been. I will fall to the usual advice first which is a good PN aware PT off the homepage listing by location. The other thing that strikes me is we usually try to fix labral hip tears before the PN because the symptoms are similar and hips are easier to fix, however with your inabilities to pee and poop you need the quickest fix and I hope the urogynocologist can help. If it is muscular the PT could also help. That is all I can think to say as I have ne experience with your symptoms but wanted to give you something to go on. I hope you can get some relief and treatment.
Edited to add: maybe check the FAQs and letter to doctors and symptoms that you can bring and possibly force the help you deserve.
Janet

Thanks, Janet, I'm glad to hear that. Basically, my hip/whole right side of my pelvis is no longer in place. It's rotated back and down a bit. I don't know what they'll do about any of it, frankly, but am in an unbelievable amount of pain at the moment! Can labral tears really cause these sort of symptoms? Good heavens....

I have been to 3 PTs now, the first was general, the second pelvic floor (there wasn't anything she could do, the muscles weren't functioning in general and my hip was out of place) and the third used muscle energy techniques to get my pelvis back into place day after day, but had to stop once the actual DX was made last week due to not having new injury based orders from a doctor.

Everyone is saying it is not muscular, the muscles aren't firing correctly but it's not coming from them. Main problem is we're having a blizzard tomorrow night, and there's not enough time in the week as it is to get to all the specialists I'm finally getting in with. Do labral tears (mine's in the front, the hamstring tear is in the back, obviously) generally involve PN issues?

Thanks for answering, I just want to be armed with the correct info and questions for the doctor tomorrow, and I am basically going to demand immediate treatment and say that this absolutely cannot wait--in the calmest and most professional manner and voice I can muster.

Guess I also should've asked.....can they fix this? I cannot live like this.

Antonia,
Sorry I lack more knowledge on this area. Another factor we have seen with misaligned pelvis is sacroilliac joint dysfunction (SIJD) which takes a lot of time to get in place to stay Jerry Hesch has a method for fixing it and has taught others. I am wondering if that would help. I have been struggling since surgery with it and just worked with PT a chiro and acupincture then water therapty to strengthen the core muscles and know the pain of just being somewhat out of alignment. It can be fixed. Let us know what you hear from the doctors and hopefully our hip folks can see this and give you guidance. Not all PTs know how to fix SIJD.
Janet

Thanks again, and sorry I seemed so desperate. Likely because I've run around for 5 months with these tears and no diagnosis. They thought it was SI joint dysfunction, but they didn't have the labral tear DX yet. Or hamstring tear. I've been with a really good PT for this, using muscle energy techniques to put me back in place, which was obviously just not holding at all due to the injuries. Luckily I have her as a resource.

I will post after the doctor. Thanks again.

Okay then it may be the labral tear which is also fixable. Not sure I have heard anything specific about hamstring tears. The chicken or the egg and doctor runarounds are clearly frustrating and understandable. It appears you are headed in a direction to get something adddressed and a start is all that is needed more can follow as you proceed. Good luck. The weather here cannot decide what it is doing so I am staying put.Hope you can get to one doctor before it hits your area.
Janet

Well, that doc said it is absolutely the labral tear causing the problem but he contends that the pudendal is firing correctly (did a few tests). He says I'm spasming really bad and it feels to me just like screwed up signals. I'm not sure I entirely believe it, but hey, we have a blizzard coming in and there's little I can do about it. He's sending me to pelvic floor therapy, but said the pain is from the labral tear. I'm so confused. Sorry.

Antonia,
I would search this forum and find those who had labral tears and successful surgery for them and ask them to read these posts. See also what PT says but really seems the hip can very well be the culprit. Maybe also put out a labral tear question to get those in the know here to respond - they may not realize you need help with this topic.
Janet

Thanks again, I will try that Janet!