heatpads

so this is a fairly small community compared to a lot of communities but I love that it is so specific! #GenitoPelvicPain tells me that you all have done your research and/or have finally got with a good doctor that’s narrowing down the source of your pain. It was so frustrating for me for years to deal with pelvic pain in a very specific spot on my left groin with no diagnosis other than #InterstitialCystitis which to me felt like a catch all #Diagnosis because it never made sense why my pain was only on my left side, not in my bladder actually, even though I did have the awful symptom of frequent urination. I also did feel burning but it was inside me, on my left side, and not when I peed. I tried all the usual prescribed painful invasive treatments for #ic but nothing helped. opioid pain medication and #heatpads and #hotbaths were my only relief. I didn’t stop trying to help myself even though I had a diagnosis finally, because like I said- that diagnosis just didn’t seem to fit me. Anyway, I will save the deets of my story for comments later if anyone has questions but the point I wanted to share with this group was that if you r having any genito-pelvic pain, try looking into the nerves in that area (wherever you’re pain is located). just start googling and search google images to try to find a pic of the nerve distribution in the pelvic area. that’s where I started. I was able to diagnose myself when I finally found a good diagram that clearly showed the course of the #genitofemoral nerve. it runs very closely with the #ilioinguinal nerves. The distribution of the genitofemoral nerve happened to be the EXACT distribution of my pain on my left side. skipping ahead again- I finally found a gyno doc who was able to write a script for me to see an #interventionalradiologist who then used a simple ultrasound on me and right there on the spot saw my problem & a #damagedgenitofemoralnerve . 2 appointments later I finally got the privilege of getting #genitofemoralnerveblock which is an injection of phenol right into your pain spot. Immediately I had complete relief after years of suffering & being #bedbound aLOT. Now the blocks don’t last forever but mine lasted a good 9 months before my pain came back full force so I am in the process of getting booked for another one as soon as they’ll schedule me. #NeverGiveUp ! I’m so glad I didn’t stop searching for answers & help even after my doctors tried to label my severe pain as #somaticpaindisorder my doc was shocked that the interventional radiologist found that #nerveinjury ,but that’s the thing- each doctor is only trained in THEIR 1 specialty. & even nerve docs did me wrong before so be strong & confident when you seek help. don’t let them inject your spinal cord with nerve blocks when your real problem might be coming from the direct spot of your pain because of a compressed or damaged #peripheralnerve . once my nerve calmed down thanks to that block, my peeing went back to normal too