Pain Management in South Delhi describes about Pudendal Neuralgia/ Neuropathy Treatment In Delhi

What is Pudendal Neuralgia/ Neuropathy (PN)?

Pudendal nerve is one of the main nerves of the pelvis, with one nerve on each side. It runs from the lower back, along the pelvic floor to supply the genitals, lower part of rectum, and perineum (area between the sit bones). This nerve is closely involved with urinary and bowel functions.
Pudendal neuralgia is a condition related to irritation or damage of pudendal nerve, which presents as pain or altered sensation in the genital, rectal region or deep inside the pelvis. This condition can be very distressing, disabling, significantly impairing the quality of life. It is more common in women and is also addressed as cyclist syndrome, Alcock’s canal syndrome and pudendal nerve entrapment. Despite the significant advances in the evaluation and management of chronic pelvic pain in the past decade, it often goes unrecognised.
PN can be associated with other conditions such as Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome, dysfunctional voiding, painful bladder syndrome, chronic prostatitis etc. Due to the varied symptoms the patients may present to a number of different specialists including gynaecologists, urologists, colorectal surgeons, general surgeons, internal medicine specialists and neurologists.

What are the signs and symptoms of Pudendal Neuralgia?

The most common complaint is pelvic pain in the areas supplied by the pudendal nerve. Pain generally is

• Burning, shooting, electric shock like, crushing, aching, prickling or itching sensation
• Worse on sitting or exercising and resolves when lying flat (as during the night) or standing
• Better when sitting on the toilet seat
• Intermittent initially but can change to a constant pain with time
• It can radiate (travel) to buttocks (around ischial spines) and legs (inner thigh), feet

Other symptom which may be present include

• Urge to go to the toilet often (urinary frequency) or a feeling of a bladder infection, pain on passing urine
• Increased sensitivity in pelvic area
• Numbness, pins and needles sensation in pelvis
• Pain during sex or sexual arousal or orgasm/ ejaculation.
• It sometimes presents as persistent sexual arousal
• Foreign body/fullness sensation in rectum, vagina or perineum (like a tennis ball)
• Rectal pain with an urgent need to open the bowels

What causes Pudendal Neuralgia (PN)?

PN may arise as a result of

• Compression or entrapment of pudendal nerve (cycling, prolonged sitting, pelvic floor muscle spasm, any growth pressing on nerve or pressure on nerve as it emerges from below the piriformis muscle)
• Stretching of PN (childbirth, surgery)
• Direct Injury to pudendal nerve anywhere along its path (pelvic trauma, falls on the buttock or back, severe constipation)
• Compression at the level of spinal cord or nerve roots
• Biochemical injury from infections and diseases (diabetes, multiple sclerosis, viral infection- herpes zoster, HIV)

PN can be related to intense exercise of pelvic floor and neighbouring muscles such as during pelvic floor strengthening exercises, hip adductor exercises, cycling, weight lifting with squats, lunges, climbing stairs and those involving rapid flexion of the body at the trunk or hip flexion. Cycling can result in prolonged pressure on inner side of ischial tuberosity (sit bone) causing nerve compression.
Childbirth and the associated stretching of the nerve during delivery can be associated with the development of this condition. Some of the predisposing factors include prolonged second stage of labour, vaginal delivery requiring forceps assistance and previous pelvic floor injury.
Some gynaecological, colorectal, orthopaedic and urology surgical procedures can lead to pudendal neuralgia for example repair of pelvic organ prolapsed especially those involving mesh insertion and sacrospinous ligament fixation, hysterectomy, hip arthroscopy, orthopaedic procedures requiring traction, radical prostatectomy etc. Anatomical variations where the nerve travels though the ligaments rather that passing in-between them can also predispose to compression/ injury.

How is PN diagnosed?

PN can be challenging to diagnose as there are no specific tests. A combination of history, examination and investigations are used to diagnose PN. Most patients present with pain in the area supplied by the pudendal nerve, which worse on sitting. It generally worsens as the day goes on and resolves during the night.
Physical examination helps to confirm that the pain is in the area supplied by the nerve and helps to identify any altered sensations. Other neighbouring areas such as the lower spine, abdomen, sacrum, coccyx and the surrounding muscles including that of pelvic floor are also evaluated. Tenderness/ tingling on pressure on the inner side of sit bones (ischial tuberosity) or underneath the pubic bone may indicate a problem originating from the pudendal nerve.
Investigations are requested to support the diagnosis and rule out other conditions which may present similarly. They may include MRI scans, doppler ultrasound, pudendal nerve motor terminal latency (PNMTL). Advances in MRI including neurography now allow for good visualization of the pudendal nerve and its branches and in experienced hands can aid the process of diagnosis.
Resolution of pain a diagnostic nerve block, even if temporary, supports the diagnosis of pudendal neuralgia. These blocks also serve an important therapeutic role. Image guided blocks using fluoroscopy, ultrasound or CT scan is preferred.

How is PN treated?

Management of this condition requires active patient participation and use of a combination of lifestyle changes, medical interventions. Pudendal neuralgia can get worse if left untreated and early treatment may be more effective. Treatment includes

• Lifestyle changes are aimed at reducing the irritation of the nerve. These include avoiding activities which increase pain such as cycling, prolonged sitting etc, using a special cushion while sitting, avoiding constipation by food modification (increase fibre intake such as fresh fruit, vegetables, wholemeal breads and drink plenty of water etc.
• Neuropathic pain killers- these can help in reducing the pain
• Injections such as pudendal nerve block, pelvic flood muscle or tender point injections Often a series of injections are performed for maximal benefit.
• Pulsed radio-frequency treatment of the pudendal nerve, sacral nerve roots for pain modulation
• Supervised Physiotherapy aimed at the pelvic floor muscles. This can help with muscle spasms, imbalances and in correcting other dysfunctions
• Psychological support including cognitive behaviour therapy, meditation, mindfulness, self management and relaxation exercises
• For severe cases not responding to above measures, neuromodulation or pudendal nerve release surgery can be considered

For more information on Pudendal Nerve Block please refer to the patient information leaflet.

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Tailbone Pain Or Coccydynia Pain Treatment In Delhi

What is tailbone pain?

Tailbone pain or coccydynia is pain at the lower most aspect of the backbone called the coccyx. Coccyx is positioned at the very bottom of your spine, near the buttocks and is formed of 3 to 5 of fused bony segments. Its structure including length, angle of the curve and degree of mobility varies significantly between individuals. It was once believed to be remnant of the lost tail with no relevant function. Now we understand that it provides support for sitting and a place for attachment for various muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

What causes tailbone pain?

Trauma and falls are the most frequent cause of coccydynia. Trauma can lead to break, dislocation, subluxation or bruising of the coccyx and the surrounding area. Minor repeated trauma such as during prolonged periods of sitting on hard surfaces might often go unrecognized. Spasm of the pelvic floor muscles can pull on the coccyx and lead to pain. Rare causes of coccydynia include cancers and infection. Sometimes coccyx pain is referred from the spine.
Coccydynia is four or five times more common in women. Anatomical changes in the shape of pelvis, coccyx and childbirth may account for this. Some studies have found that it is more common in obese individuals.

Signs and symptoms of tail bone damage:

Most patients present with a dull ache, which changes to a sharp or throbbing pain with activities such as getting up from a sitting position or prolonged sitting. With time the severity and duration of pain can increase. Activities such as sexual intercourse and opening of bowels may become painful. The pain can radiate towards spine, legs and affect day-to-day activities.

When should I see doctor?

Tailbone pain is can be self-limiting and resolve on its own within few weeks to months. Those with moderate to severe pain interfering with daily activities and adversely affecting the quality of life should seek medical advice sooner. Other common reasons for medical consultation include – persisting pain despite conservative management, uncertain diagnosis, associated symptoms such as signs of infection or swelling etc.
The pain physician will take a complete history, and do an examination to narrow the possibilities. You may be asked to undergo investigations such as X-ray, CT or MRI scan to confirm diagnosis and rule out other conditions with similar presentation.

How is this condition managed?

There is variety of treatment options ranging from lifestyle modifications/ conservative management to injections. Simple measures that can help include

• Find an experienced pain physician/ doctor who can help you to confirm the diagnosis and treat the condition
• Avoid prolonged sitting especially on hard surfaces and bumpy rides as while travelling on in a car/ bus
• Modify your sitting posture to reduce pressure on coccyx such as leaning towards one side or leaning forwards while sitting. One should be careful with this as it can often place extra pressure on other areas leading to new pain symptoms.
• Using a doughnut-shaped or wedge (V-shaped) cushion while sitting
• When getting up from the sitting position do so slowly
• Avoiding aggravating factors such as constipation
• Appling heat or ice to the affected area
• Simple over-the-counter pain relievers
• Physical therapy. Aimed at pelvic floor relaxation techniques, postural retraining and stretching exercises

For severe or persisting pain the pain specialist may consider

• Medication. Stronger pain relief medications
• Injections. These are used to break the pain cycle and involve placement of local anaesthetic and steroids near the pain generator. Commonly performed injections include
• Injection of joint or ligaments surrounding the sacrum and coccyx such as the sacrococcygeal joint
• Ganglion Impar nerve block. Nerve blocks help to interrupt a nerve’s ability to transmit pain signals
• Manipulation. This can be used in combination with injection therapy or separately. Massaging the muscles attached to the tailbone might help in reducing pain
• Surgery. Surgical removal of coccyx is known as a coccygectomy. Because of the associated risks (infection, wound healing problems) and poor outcomes, this procedure is not commonly recommended/ used

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