His and Her Health

Hello - Calling all veterans.

I am 10 months post - op and not really feeling that much better at ALL. In fact I am between 7's and 9's as far as pain levels in the (former) vestibule go. I had a very competent surgeon and I currently have an amazing physical therapist at UCI Women's Health Center. Despite my excellent physicians I am not feeling better at all.

I am trying to figure out if this is normal. For those of you who have had the surgery - did it feel awful for almost a year afterwards? My chief complaint has always been : the skin the skin the skin. I can deal with muscle tension - I already have that all over my body as a result of fibromyalgia - but the skin is excruciating. I do know what it feels like to feel normal, this was a sudden, vicious and lasting onset, and 100% normal is my only goal.

Here is my question. Does it still feel itchy, prickly and slightly like burning this long after surgery? The bottom u-shape feels as if someone is running a pizza cutter over it whenever it is touched. And the skin itself does not feel well at all. Any touch or pressure feels like a bruise is being pressed.

Let me stress here that I was 100% before the bladder infection that started all this. While I had ALOT of pain, back pain, neck pain, migraines, I laughed at having pain in this area of my body as it was so clearly not a problem. I could have sex for hours and be ready to go again. Now I am ridiculously not better and not getting there at all. It would be one thing if I could say I was on the right track - but I can't say that even remotely.

If I knew anyone else had or had not experienced these physical sensations that would certainly help. Even if I am never going to get better I JUST NEED TO KNOW. The last few times I posted I never heard back so hopefully someone will have something. The next step is botox injections and I get the feeling that there aren't too many steps beyond that. Some people say that vaginal birth helps - anyone who has had this experience?

If there's anyone out there I'm listening.

L

<small>[ 08-29-2009, 09:32 PM: Message edited by: Moderator ]</small>

I have had a couple patients that had vaginal deliveries and there symptoms stayed the same or improved. Although, that is not the solution, unless you are planning and want to have a baby. are you still getting a lot of muscle tension/pain, back or tailbone pain, b/c the muscles can pull on the skin or pudendal nerve irritation can cause pain in the vestibule area, and a vestibulectomy won't cure pudendal nerve pain. Do you get some relief after PT? A vestibulectomy 'should' clear the nerve irritation at the vestibule area, but if there is another underlying cause, it can continue the pain.

I cannot speak as a patient, but can tell you there are women whom have been to my office with continued pain after vestibulectomies. So, your are not alone. Does the PT say muscle tension exist now in the pelvic floor muscles or around the pelvis?
I don't think there is proof that vaginal births help or don't help, but some women have improved.
What is going on with your back now? Is that being worked in in PT. There can be fascial restrictions from the back going all the way down into the pelvis.

<small>[ 08-29-2009, 09:37 PM: Message edited by: Moderator ]</small>