His and Her Health

Like some other women on this forum I'm afraid that I might have damaged my clitoral nerve with a too vigorous masturbation session. (I do not ever use a vibrator, but during this session I was putting a great deal of pressure on it, although for a very brief time.) I did not experience any pain at the time (nor now). My problem started less than a week ago when immediately afterward I noticed my clitoris was just "small" and unresponsive. I also seem to have had other pudendal nerve effects such as constipation, bladder irritation, and being "all tingly down there" (exacerbated, I think, by my job where I spend a great deal of time sitting down).

I recognize something bad has happened to my pudendal nerve and it needs a rest, so I have been very careful in the past week to sit as little as possible, to not irritate the area, and no more sexual activity for the time being. I did masturbate this morning (incident +6 days) to see what was what. I can still reach orgasm, but it's very "small" and it's almost like my clitoris is mostly stuck in the resolution phase (remains retracted in the hood). Also, I'm just not lubricating at all, it seems (or very little), which was never a problem for me before.

I'm happy to report that after a few days my pudendal nerve seems less irritated with the rest period and just leaving everything alone down there, which I will continue to do - some of my other symptoms have gone. I have been using a non medicated cream (Replens) for the vaginal dryness just in case. (My clitoris seemed to like that, I noticed after I applied it, it was standing at attention a little more nicely!) But all is still not right.

I will add that my frequency of masturbation/sex has been higher than usual over the past month. (Sorry - new boyfriend, and he's been turning me on even when he's not around!!) I'm very concerned about the lack of lubrication however because I know that is controlled by the pudendal nerve response.

Does compression/damage like this to the clitoris ever heal? I honestly thought I was not hurting it at the time, but hindsight is 20/20.

Autumn,
I'm one of those "other women" wondering if the damage will go away... My case occurred gradually, with a slight hypersensitivity on the right side of the clitoris - didn't think anything was wrong, so I didn't immediately hold off on masturbation (like you I sometimes apply a good deal of manual pressure).

Well, now I have that "tingly" feeling on the right side, and it also seems to go up my abdomen and around my crotch / inner thigh. I'm trying to do the same things as you (no more touching, little sitting) and seeing what happens... I'm also applying a topical benzocaine from the drugstore.

There doesn't seem to be much literature about this in particular, but most cases of "bicycle seat neuropathy" (pudendal nerve compression due to riding a bicycle) seem to resolve on their own over time. My symptoms do not seem to be improving, but here's hoping for the best! Keep updating us...

Well, unfortunately I didn't IMMEDIATELY hold off... the "incident" happened on Sunday, and it wasn't until Tuesday that I realized what was happening (thank God for the Internet). I found a bulletin board for people with pudendal nerve entrapment, but although I spend a lot of time sitting, I don't think that's my problem. They have a lot of severe longterm pain, I don't have any pain but some tingly discomfort and mild vulvodynia at worst (the sort you might get when you've got really bad cramps during your period). It comes and goes. I just don't want it to get WORSE.

I had a good day yesterday (decreasing symptoms) and a great day today (almost no symptoms)... until ... sigh, I got (psychologically) aroused thinking of my boyfriend, who is fortunately away from here working in another city for a few weeks so laying off the sex shouldn't be a problem. Then wham, all the symptoms flared up again. To make matters worse, I then had to drive to a meeting (more sitting) and stupidly wore jeans (I have been wearing sweats around the house because they are loose), so by the time I got home, I was very uncomfortable and on the verge of pain. What am I supposed to do, think of Margaret Thatcher naked on a cold day for the rest of my life?

At least I know what causes flare-ups and what I need to avoid, but damn, this is frustrating and I am trying so hard to do all the right things. I feel like I'm being punished for just once trying something new.

Anyhow, I'm also happy to report that my lubricating functions don't appear to be broken. It's just that arousal = flare-up right now. It's odd because manual stimulation when I'm not really aroused (like my "test run" this morning) doesn't result in a flare-up... just when it's "for real."

Yikes, I can't believe I'm venting all this! Please forgive me!

I am hopeful that I will see improvement in weeks or maybe months. I know when this started and how (I am not usually very "rough" with myself except for that one time), and I did not feel any pain at the time, which makes me hopeful it is just an irritation and not more serious damage.

No, it's good to hear you vent - I've been having some similar thoughts myself (i.e., should I become a nun or what?)

To reassure ourselves, I think this must happen to teenage boys all the time - surely we're not the worst cases out there?

As far as increased arousal at the start of a new relationship goes, feel no guilt, many of us have been there... Must be mother nature's way of getting us pregnant back in the day

On my end, another mixed day - some tingling, some dull throbbing (of the sort you get after you've pulled a tendon or something). I've found that some touching actually decreases the tingling, probably for the same reason that rubbing a stubbed toe decreases the sensation - but I keep the hands away nevertheless!

In any case, like you, I'm mainly worried about persistence / getting worse - but we'll see!! Hang in there!!

Well, I just did not have a good night last night. Usually I have a calm morning to look forward to, but not so much today. And, I am beginning to wonder if the problem wasn't in the works before my "incident" on Sunday.

I know it sounds very strange, and it's kind of weird to talk about, but a few days before Sunday, I had an unusually intense, different kind of orgasm that was unlike any I'd had before. I don't know if you'd even call it an orgasm, just a feeling. I did not achieve this through anything "rough" (just touching a different area than usual). Now I'm remembering this because I woke up this morning (when usually I am calm down there in the morning) and, probably due to normal movements in bed, I felt like I was getting aroused that way again and it made me remember that earlier thing. Now I am wondering what that earlier experience has to do with all this. (But that's crazy - how can your nervous system go haywire because of non-violent masturbation??)

VERY strange feeling, almost NOT sexual, more like if you were taking powerful opioid painkillers (which I don't!) To be honest this feeling is more disturbing than enjoyable (it made me short of breath, and not in a fun way), and because I didn't want to make anything worse, I forced myself to lie still and just calm down and fortunately I was able to calm down fairly quickly.

I stupidly had taken an Excedrin early this morning... aspirin for headache next time! Maybe the caffeine helped set me off.

I later found fairly quick relief (for a time) by kneeling in bed with my rear end in the air! so undignified. But anything to keep from waking the nerve up.

Something is really wrong with me. I also seem to have gotten my period a week early. I also noticed that when I have a full bladder, when I urinate, I seem to have muscle spasms (the urine doesn't always come out in a steady stream).

I am going to the doctor as soon as I can. I don't know what he can do for me but I heard sometimes tricyclic antidepressants (ie Elavil) can help this condition. I don't know how I am going to explain the constellation of symptoms I have, that all started within days of each other.

At the moment, I'm just feeling the now-usual dull pain/congestion/tingling.

I'll bet in the old days, the doctors called this "hysteria"!

I have to say, I think it's very unlikely you caused nerve damage through masturbation with just your hands. Sometimes women can cause permanent nerve damage, but it's usually through hard and persistent use of a very strong vibrator.

Just wanted to let you know, i just started taking Cymbalta. It's apparently been used to treat peripheral neuropathy (my mother's actually on it for that--nerve tingling in her legs and head), and I'm using it for the nerve arousal associated with VVS. It's an SSRI and has fewer side effects than tricyclics do.
I sincerely wish you luck in dealing with your frustrating condition. It's good that you're taking care of it so soon and the prognosis is always much better the sooner you deal with it.

Huh, I'm sorry to hear about your turn of events! But glad to hear that you are seeing a doctor - your "constellation" of traits definitely merits a visit.

On my head, the tingling continues unabated. I thought it had let up for a while, but I was probably just too distracted with other things in my life to pay it any mind. I'm thinking of giving it another full two weeks and then making a doctor's appointment. Hopefully it won't be too long of a wait for an appointment.

i have the exact pain as you autumn..
but since this post is so long time ago, i don't think you are reading it anymore..
anyone know how do i contact her?
i need to know wheather she is recovered..and what she did to recover..