Everything You Want to Know About Pudendal Nerve Compression
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Request an AppointmentPudendal nerve compression is one of the most important causes of chronic pelvic pain and results from compression of the pudendal nerve along its anatomical course. It is more difficult to diagnose than other conditions.
What Causes Pudendal Nerve Compression and What Are Its Symptoms?
Sitting for long periods continuously, cycling for many years, lifting weights, a difficult pregnancy, a difficult delivery, inflammatory or autoimmune disease, endometriosis, recurrent infection, and an accident or fall affecting the pelvic region are the most common causes.
The most common symptoms of pudendal nerve compression are burning, numbness, tenderness, pain of an electric-shock or stabbing character, the sensation of a foreign body or lump in the vagina and rectum, a twisting or squeezing sensation, constipation, pain during bowel movements, burning on urination, pain during sexual intercourse, sexual dysfunction and loss of sensation.
How Is Pudendal Nerve Compression Diagnosed?
As we stated at the outset, pudendal nerve compression is one of the most difficult conditions to diagnose. The most important points in making the diagnosis are the patient’s history, the symptoms and the neuropelveological examination. During the examination, the affected nerve root is assessed in terms of pain and loss of function. The functions of the nerves throughout the pelvic region can be evaluated, and the presence of any mass that may be pressing on the nerve can be investigated with MRI and CT. The most important method in making the diagnosis is imaging performed as 3 Tesla MRI and tractography.
How Is Pudendal Nerve Compression Treated?
With the pudendal nerve block method, the pain that develops as a result of the nerve remaining under pressure can be relieved by numbing it with a local anaesthetic medication administered around the nerve using a very fine and long needle. In addition, in cases where this treatment method is insufficient, laparoscopic and robotic surgery may also be preferred.
QUESTIONS
What Is Pudendal Nerve Compression?
Pudendal nerve compression refers to a pathological pain that arises when the pudendal nerve is compressed along its anatomical course.
Are Pudendal Nerve Compression and Alcock Syndrome the Same?
They are not the same. If the pudendal nerve is compressed while passing through the Alcock canal, it is called Alcock Canal Syndrome.
What Causes Pudendal Nerve Compression?
The most common causes of pudendal nerve compression are sitting for long periods continuously, cycling for many years, lifting weights, a difficult pregnancy, a difficult delivery, inflammatory or autoimmune disease, endometriosis, recurrent infection, and an accident or fall affecting the pelvic region.
How Does Pudendal Nerve Compression Occur?
Pudendal nerve compression occurs when the pudendal nerve is compressed along its anatomical course.
Who Is Most Affected by Pudendal Nerve Compression?
Pudendal nerve compression is seen most often in people who work sitting for long periods, who have cycled for many years, who constantly lift heavy loads, who have had a difficult pregnancy and a difficult delivery, who have an inflammatory or autoimmune disease, and who have been exposed to an accident or fall affecting the pelvic region.
Where Does Pudendal Nerve Compression Occur?
Pudendal nerve compression makes itself felt with pain arising in the areas supplied by the pudendal nerve or its branches, and most of all in the organs throughout the pelvic bone region and in the tissues the pudendal nerve reaches.
What Are the Symptoms of Pudendal Nerve Compression?
The most common symptoms of pudendal nerve compression are burning, numbness, tenderness, pain of an electric-shock or stabbing character, the sensation of a foreign body or lump in the vagina and rectum, a twisting or squeezing sensation, constipation, pain during bowel movements, burning on urination, pain during sexual intercourse, sexual dysfunction and loss of sensation.
How Is Pudendal Nerve Compression Diagnosed?
In the diagnosis of pudendal nerve compression, the patient’s history, the symptoms and the identification of the situations that decrease and increase the pain are decisive. The most important methods in making the diagnosis are imaging performed as 3 Tesla MRI and tractography.
What Are the Treatment Methods for Pudendal Nerve Compression?
After the diagnosis, treatments are applied that will relieve the strain and tension in the muscles pressing on the nerves. The patient should rest lying on her back on a firm, flat bed. Since lying on the back reduces the pressure on the nerves, it relieves the pain and the patient is thus able to rest. In addition, with the pudendal nerve block method, the pain that develops as a result of the nerve remaining under pressure can be relieved by numbing it with a local anaesthetic medication administered around the nerve using a very fine and long needle.
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After your examination and imaging, we will discuss clearly whether robotic surgery is suitable for you.