Pudendal Nerve

Body: 

I had bilateral knee arthroscopy in September, with a spinal anesthesia. After the surgery, I had numbness from the base of my tailbone to my vagina. I had to apply pressure to my bladder area to urinate. I spoke with the anesthetist and he did not think it could have been caused by the anesthesia...I had a spinal MRI to rule out a blood clot...saw a neurologist who determined that I had pudendal nerve damage. However, everyone is very perplexed about how or where I got this numbness. I just read in your book that women with prolapse often suffer from pudendal nerve damage. I still believe that the spinal anesthesia caused the damage, but am desparate for more information about pudendal nerve damage and how to heal it. I still have a numb area that extends from the base of my tailbone to the edge of my rectum. We believe that my bowel is still numb, as I have no feeling of a bowel movement until it is in the rectocele.

Can you give me any leads or information about pudendal nerve damage? None of my doctors have been able to help.

Thanks,

Tammyd

Hi Tammy,

I think that for this sort of serious neuro injury a very knowledgeable physical therapist, such as Diane Lee, might be your best bet. You can find her at www.dianelee.ca. She's in Canada, but perhaps she will know of an equally skilled practitioner closer to where you live.

The best to you,

Christine