Pudendal neuropathy from cycling and trigger point therapy

[badlymade]

I'm a 48-year-old male and at the end of my rope. I look after my kids, 2 and 4, and I'm so tired and getting very depressed from not sleeping and being in pain in my bladder and groin. Not sure what to do or how to remain positive and chase a resolution. Here's my story...

I have a history of neuropathy in my left foot and leg following a career as a cycle courier. During this time I had some pudendal pain, but nothing chronic or long-lasting. Then around 8 years ago I started inline skating to replace the bike and took a few falls. I couldn't sit without being in pain around the top of my left hamstring going into my pelvis and my groin after a sitting for more than about an hour. It got so bad that since then I've had to stand to work and can only sit for short periods. As soon as I sit I feel the pain start. The pain has never really gone away and movies, plane rides, etc. are a real trial. I have a bulging L2 to L3 disc but multiple MRIs agree this is not bad enough to describe my foot or pelvic pain.

Recently I had a lot of massage to try and release trigger points in my inner thigh and upper hamstring, but also around my anal area as I was getting a lot of pain in that after a trip to Italy. Following this, I have terrible pain that is in my penis and bladder, especially when I lie down as it is excruciating and stops me from sleeping. I'm exhausted and not in a good place mentally. I'm pretty sure my pudendal nerve has been irritated (or worse?), but I can still pass water OK and empty my bowels. But when the pain is bad it feels like my bladder is being torn in two. I have no numbness just a lot of pain. The neuropathy in my left foot is a lot worse, with numbness under my little and the next toe. At night when I lie down and try to sleep the pain is so bad. I get a headache/migraine as well but I'm not sure if that is just because I am so tense and 'freaked out' by the pain and the fact that if I doze off I wake up feeling like I've been electrocuted. I've tried taking Tramadol, but that kills the pain and my nerves are still lit up like a Christmas tree. Similarly, with sleeping tablets, I fall asleep, have nightmares then wake up feeling like I'm being torn apart. I am also getting bad neuropathy in my left foot under and over my toes. The pain is relieved by standing but I still have stabbing, tugging, nervy feeling in my penis throughout the day.

It occurs to me that all of my previous problems could be attributed to irritation/entrapment of my pudendal nerve from sitting in a saddle, falling when skating and just the skating movement. On reflection, the massage was a bad idea as it has damaged or irritated the nerves in my pelvis, but it's done now and I need to look for solutions. My next step is to see my GP again next week and get a referral to see a nerve specialist, preferably a pudendal expert and get some tests and strategies in place to try and improve things.

I guess I want to know if others have had a similar experience and what you did to get a diagnosis and/or improvement in symptoms.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

[Violet M]

Yes, somewhat similar symptoms although everyone is slightly different. I went to a pudendal nerve expert so I think you are on the right track and smart to at least rule out that diagnosis.

Violet