Health Organization for Pudendal Education

In July 2018 I posted on here asking the question surgery or no surgery?
Well I decided to go and get tested with Dr Bautrant in France
As even though I was being treated for PNE I had never been tested and everything I was trying was just making me worse.
So I went in August and I had the Doppler test and Dr Bautrant assessed me and you could definitely see on the test results that I had pudendal nerve entrapment on the left.
He said if nothing has give you any relief then the only thing left is surgery. Even though my pain specialist here had me booked in for the caudal effect epidural because the ganglion blocks and pudendal vaginal nerve block left me in agony for weeks after and gave me no relief whatsoever!!!!
Dr Bautrant was really nice and spoke excellent English and he doesn't have the usual god like complex. So I booked in for the 9th November and I must say I was scared to death even though I am a tough cookie but my husband actually made me realise could I get any worse.
Not being dramatic but when I was being put to sleep I did have a moment when I thought I hope I don't wake up because I didn't know what pain I would be in when I woke up as anyone with this will know that feeling.
I had the trans ischio rectal approach which isn't as bad as the decompression surgery as it's more about freeing the nerve. What should have been an hour surgery took just under 2 hours, he said once he had freed the nerve he cleaned up all the tissues around it as well.
Had it done on the Friday afternoon, Saturday morning they took the catheter out and had me walking small paces to the bathroom etc. Then on the Sunday morning they took the drain out and I was doing well and had the only medicine I had been on was paracetamol on the Saturday and Sunday so I asked could I go home a day earlier as I was feeling like I would be more comfortable back at the hotel so they let me out a day early.
I had to stay a week in France and had to go back to get checked over by Dr Bautrant make sure I had no infection. It was nice to recuperate at the hotel and I went for a few strolls around the hotel courtyard and around the street as the doctor told me to do that.
It really wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be and the flight home wasn't either although I did double up on the lycra and we booked the back aisle seat and I was able to stand up when I needed to and a cheeky vodka helped as well.
I have been home 3 weeks and I am still taking it easy but pottering round the house and walking around the block a couple of times a day and I am trying to sit down for really short periods.
I know it is early days yet but I can now stand up straight which I couldn't for the last 12 months without stooping in pain especially stood in one spot. I can also lie in bed with my legs straight because I got to a point where I could only lie with my left leg bent and a cushion underneath it. I also don't have to lie on a special memory foam mattress anymore either.
He said I should be back at work in 6 Weeks and hopefully back to normal in 4 to 6 months but I know everyone us different and I am not going to put too much pressure on myself.
I am just so glad I went because no amount of physio or injections could have fixed the entrapment I had. So I am not coming on here to post a success story YET but hopefully I will be soon. I would just advise people to find out if you have got it because for years I was unsure and didn't know if the doctors and physio here were making me worse because I am usually fit and healthy. I went from walking 6 miles a day and working lots of hours to working part-time and then coming home lying in bed having no life. I am not one to come on forums but i just hope that my story will help someone else to get answers especially anyone suffering in the UK. If it helps just one person because sometimes you just need answers and I felt like I had to prove to my family and husband that I haven't been a hypochondriac for the last 2 years. It doesn't sound a long time but trust me I felt like I had it forever.
If anyone would like any information about what I had done I will help in anyway I can.

Hi Kez,

Your story reminded me of my experience with Dr. Bautrant. I like your comment about him not having a god-like complex. I found him to be a very caring doctor.

You are right -- it's early days, but it sounds like you are already seeing some improvement which is great news and I hope your recovery continues to go well. I would love to hear how things go for you in the future.

Take care,

Violet

Thanks Violet,
Yes he was lovely man.
I will definitely keep you all updated.
Fingers crossed with happy news x

Hello Kezj,

Long time ago you dont write any post, how are you doing?
I hope you feel much better about the surgery.

I send you lot of possitive energy.

Hello Sprewell4,
6 months after surgery!
Thank you for asking how I am doing.
A lot better than at the 1 month after surgery, I am back at work now but still only part time and I only went back 3 months after surgery. I gradually went up to 5 hours a day last week and I think I might go back down to 4 hours a day if I can because that was much better.
I am still going to physio and my physio can notice how much better I am and how I can move a lot better now my nerve isn't trapped. I can stand up so straight now, the people who have only known me for 3 years bent over in pain at work can't believe I was ever that tall.
I still have bad days and I am not completely back to normal yet but I feel like I have a lot more positivity and I am doing a lot of physio at home everyday and my muscles are starting to work now I am moving a lot more instead of lying in bed.
At work they have provided me with a stand up desk so now I have the option of sitting or standing. I still sit on a cushion at work but not a special cushion just a regular on my office chair.
I am also doing lots of pelvic relaxation meditation i have found a really good one on ypitube which is really helping to relax all my muscles especially in the pelvic region.
Thank you for your positive thoughts...

Can you post what you tube video you like??

Hello again KezJ,

One question, hos does know Dr. Bautrant the your nerve is entrapped and you are a good candidate for surgery? Maybe with the EcoDoppler?
Did he more tests to you? Perhaps Electromiographie, Neurographie.....

I am very happy that everything is working well and that you have been able to work again so soon.
Thanks u very much.

Hi Patty,
Here is the one I listen too, it only takes 10 minutes.

https://youtu.be/4syPT8gMDDA

Also my physio has told me to always breathe in with your tummy muscles and not your chest which I kept doing at first.
I didn't believe in meditation until I did this and it does help in different situations especially when you are feeling pain, instead of tensing up it does help to relax. Easier said than done, I know but I didn't realise how much I tensed up all the time. Hope it helps.

Hello again Sprewell4,
I went over in August 2018 to have the echo Doppler scan and for a consultation with Dr Bautrant. The Doppler scan showed that it was trapped on the left side which is where I have never been able to sit on for years, I always sat on my right bum cheek. The wording on the scan that they give to you said the right side was 14.2 slightly broken and the left side said 9 Broken. It's all to do with the blood flow and on the left they could tell it was trapped because of other stats on the scans as well.
At my consultation he knows I had 2 pudendal nerve blocks in the UK that just aggrevated the nerve and I was in agony. I have also had a ganglion block before the nerve blocks and that was horrendous for me and I got worse after the ganglion block felt like I was sat on a golf ball after.
So he felt like my only option was surgery but he no way talked me in to it I would have done anything to be normal again.
I can honestly say that the nerve injections caused me more pain than the operation. I am quite a tough cookie as well but I felt the only way to get better was to have the operation because I felt I really couldn't get any worse.
I think I was the only person on the plane too France that was wishing it would crash then I didn't have to have the operation
But I am glad I went through with it now.
After being a healthy and fit person who walked miles every day to being stuck in bed it was no life!

Hello KezJ,

I already sent you one private message, if you could reply me.

many thanks. Kisses.