Patient Guide to Alternative Treatments for Chronic Pelvic Pain and Pudendal Neuropathy

Patient Guide to Alternative Treatments for Chronic Pelvic Pain and Pudendal Neuropathy

Pudendal neuropathy is a pain syndrome that affects both males and females, children and adults. In some patients it is thought to be caused by congenital anomalies in the pathway of the pudendal nerve. The condition is often made worse by excessive sitting.

While pudendal neuropathy is often treated with surgery, there are a number of highly successful alternative treatment options that pose much lower risk to the patient, with better long-term outcomes.

About the Pudendal Nerve

The pudendal nerve originates at the posterior pelvic wall, and is made up of fibers from nerve roots of the sacral vertebrae S2, S3 and S4. It is a mixed nerve with sensory, motor, and autonomic properties.

About the Pudendal Nerve
  • Sensory properties are responsible for innervating both male and female external genitals, as well as the anus, perineum and anal canal.

  • Motor properties innervate certain pelvic muscles, along with the urethral and external anal sphincters.

  • Autonomic properties control the inhibition and release of secretions.

Injury to the pudendal nerve or inflammation of surrounding tissues can lead to dysfunction of the bowels, bladder and reproductive organs.

Pudendal Nerve Pathway

From the pelvic wall, the pudendal nerve travels behind the piriformis muscle and threads between the sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligaments, which are sometimes responsible for impinging the nerve. From there, it travels through the pudendal canal, where it splits into the perineal nerve, the dorsal nerve of the penis or clitoris, and the inferior rectal nerve.

The structure and pathway of the pudendal nerve can vary from one patient to the next, making it imperative to seek help from an experienced professional who can make an accurate diagnosis based on your unique condition.

Pudendal Nerve Pathway

Pelvic Pain and Pudendal Neuropathy Causes and Symptoms

Pudendal neuropathy has been attributed to repetitive overuse of the pelvic floor muscles that causes cumulative microtrauma to the nerve. Over time, the condition can lead to structural remodeling of the ischial spine and sacrum. Symptoms have a gradual onset that intensifies with further damage if the condition is left untreated.

Peripheral neuropathy symptoms include:

  • Pelvic pain

  • Burning or crushing sensation in the pelvis

  • Pain that is worse when sitting and improves with standing

  • Numbness and tingling in the pelvic area

  • Amplified sensitivity to pain and touch

  • Sensation of perineal pressure, like you are retaining a golf ball

  • Feeling of urgency to use the toilet

  • Pain during intercourse

  • Erectile dysfunction

  • Difficulty achieving orgasm

Peripheral neuropathy symptoms include

Common causes of pudendal neuropathy include:

  • Excessive prolonged sitting

  • Repetitive hip flexion during sports and exercise like running and cycling

  • Acute trauma from a fall or auto accident, or from pelvic surgery

  • Trauma from childbirth or sexual assault

  • Radiation therapy for prostate, rectal or gynecological cancers

  • Herpes simplex infections

  • Metastatic lesions along the nerve pathway

  • Transgender surgeries

Common causes of pudendal neuropathy include

Conventional Medical Treatment of Pudendal Neuralgia

Patients complaining of chronic pelvic pain are often treated by end-organ specialists, such as urologists, gynecologists, and colorectal surgeons. Many patients suffer for years, going from one specialist to the next in hopes of finding a lasting solution. Pain medications and surgeries are often the norm, putting patients at risk for opioid addiction.

In the realm of physical therapy, conventional treatment has centered on intrapelvic physical therapy via the vagina or rectum, and guided injections into the vicinity of the pudendal nerve. However, the evidence for intrapelvic physical therapy is very low, and intrapelvic nerve blocks have little research to support them.

Alternative Treatments for Chronic Pelvic Pain from Pudendal Neuralgia

  • Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT)
    Recent research shows that weekly ESWT treatments for chronic pelvic pain significantly reduce pain, improve urinary function, and enhance overall quality of life.

  • Ultrasound Guided Dry Needling
    A new 2020 study conducted by Dr. Lev Kalika and a colleague found ultrasound guided dry needling to be highly effective for relieving pelvic pain and dysfunction caused by myofascial trigger points.

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
    Pain is perceived by your brain, and physical pain is influenced by your thoughts and behaviors. CBT can help to alter the emotions, thoughts, and behaviors associated with pain, and can improve coping strategies. CBT helps patients recontextualize pain and discomfort, thereby changing the brain’s physiological response to pain.

Alternative Treatments for Chronic Pelvic Pain from Pudendal Neuralgia
  • Tibial Nerve Neuromodulation
    Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS) is a conservative non-surgical treatment that uses a low electrical current to stimulate the nerves responsible for bladder and pelvic floor function.

  • Pelvic Pain Physical Therapy
    Physical therapy can help restore balanced muscle tone and realign your spine and pelvis to alleviate pressure on the pudendal nerve and improve the overall integrity of the pelvic floor.

  • Herbal Remedies and Nutritional Supplements
    Certain natural plant products and nutritional supplements are well-known for their nerve-calming properties, with minimal negative side effects. Herbal supplements can be applied topically, or used as vaginal or rectal suppositories. Common herbal remedies and supplements for pudendal neuropathy include:

  • Saint John’s Wort

  • Skullcap

  • Valerian root

  • Willow

  • Motherwort

  • Cayenne

  • Alpha-lipoic acid.

  • Acetyl-L-carnitine

Pudendal Neuropathy and Pelvic Pain Treatment in NYC

Pelvic pain and pudendal neuropathy can be successfully treated with alternative, non-invasive or minimally invasive treatment options, so long as the practitioner has ample knowledge and experience. Dr. Lev Kalika has over 13 years of experience treating pelvic pain and dysfunction using a combination of focused and radial shock wave therapy, and ultrasound guided dry needling.

At NYDNRehab, we never use a one-size-fits all approach to treating pelvic pain and pudendal neuropathy. Our pelvic floor treatment protocols are custom designed for the individual patient, and our one-on-one approach ensures that you receive all the attention you need to successfully resolve your condition.

If you are ready to take a holistic alternative approach to pelvic pain, contact NYDNRehab today, and get rid of pelvic pain for good so you can get back to doing the things you love.

Range of Available Unique Physical Therapy Treatments at Nydnrehab

Resources

  • Bubnov, R., and L. Kalika. “Dry needling of trigger points under ultrasound guidance effective to treat chronic pelvic pain and pelvic prolapse.”
  • Kasitinon, Donald, et al. “Pudendal nerve injuries in sports and exercise: a case series of pudendal neuropathies from squats.” Journal of Women’s Health Physical Therapy 45.1 (2021): 3-9.
  • Soon-Sutton, Taylor L., Michael P. Feloney, and Stanley Antolak. “Pudendal Neuralgia.” StatPearls [Internet] (2020).
  • Vahdatpour, Babak, et al. “Efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for the treatment of chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a randomized, controlled trial.” International Scholarly Research Notices 2013 (2013).
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In this instance, an athlete was originally diagnosed with minor quadriceps muscle strain and was treated for four weeks, with unsatisfactory results. When he came to our clinic, the muscle was not healing, and the patients’ muscle tissue had already begun to atrophy.

Upon examination using MSUS, we discovered that he had a full muscle thickness tear that had been overlooked by his previous provider. To mitigate damage and promote healing, surgery should have been performed immediately after the injury occurred. Because of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, the patient now has permanent damage that cannot be corrected.

The most important advantage of Ultrasound over MRI imaging is its ability to zero in on the symptomatic region and obtain imaging, with active participation and feedback from the patient. Using dynamic MSUS, we can see what happens when patients contract their muscles, something that cannot be done with MRI. From a diagnostic perspective, this interaction is invaluable.

Dynamic ultrasonography examination demonstrating
the full thickness tear and already occurring muscle atrophy
due to misdiagnosis and not referring the patient
to proper diagnostic workup

Demonstration of how very small muscle defect is made and revealed
to be a complete tear with muscle contraction
under diagnostic sonography (not possible with MRI)

image

Complete tear of rectus femoris
with large hematoma (blood)

image

Separation of muscle ends due to tear elicited
on dynamic sonography examination

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