It's difficult to say. If I was to look back over the past month overall then I would say I am definitely improved. However I can still get these flare ups that are quite painful and take a few days to settle down. Feels like the left side of my anal canal is raw with burning like pain.

I think maybe if I lift something heavy it sets my pain off too.

I am not as depressed about the whole thing as I used to be as I know better days are just around the corner again.

My bowel movements have no sign of bleeding and I have seen at least 4 colorectal surgeons to look in there with no diagnosis. Other than it's muscle in spasm, when they applied pressure to my sore areas I asked them what it was and the reply was "muscle"

When I insert the dilator with plenty of lubrication it still feels like the left side of my sphincter is raw, so I might give the dilation a break for a week or so. I had been dilating the last few months.

Ownmybum, I do agree about the gapapentin causing sedation. I tried both gapapentin firstly and then lyrica but the side effects were too much for me as well.

I prefer to take the endep to help with the burning pain.

Overall though I would say because the area is so sensitive, it's hard for drugs to have much effect when the pain is severe.

when I see my GP I am going to ask for some tests to rule out things like IBS, crohns etc....I know the colonoscopy should have ruled that out but I am going to see about the blood tests to make sure anyway.


Alyssa, did the nerve block give you some temporary relief at least?

I felt no difference with the nerve block...

I had a pudendal nerve block once. It gave me relief for 24 hours at best. I didn't pursue getting the next 2 even though they usually do them in a series of 3.

My next one is scheduled for February 9th but since I didn't have a difference don't what does that mean and wether I should do it again.

Pafen, if you felt any sort of relief does that mean on your case the nerve is involved?

Alyssa, I have had a nerve block before as well and it only provided short term relief (while the freezing was in). My current pelvic pain Doctor doesn't even do these. It seemed like she thought they were not worth her time. I'll have to ask her more about why. She is a big proponent of trigger point injections done with anesthetic. The actual knots are needled while being conscious. It's a very focused approach and I would think if you still have tight muscles would be worth a try. Is this something your Doctor does? Or maybe you could ask? Otherwise, maybe more botox would help you...

Msimon,

I'll definitely ask my doctor if she does them.. I did not have any pain relief to he sitting burning pain though

Alyssa, have you considered a medication for nerve pain? Gabapentin, Lyrica, Amytriptiline (sp?)?

I've asked my doctor but she is hesitant because she does not me to get constipated... Plus she wants to try different things before putting me on meds

Fair enough. Hang in there. There are still things to try.

I thought of another medication...Baclofen. It's interesting that your Doctor wants to try other things before meds. My first pelvic pain doctor tried me on meds before injections (trigger point first, then botox). Baclofen actually. My muscles were way too tight though. The only thing that broke through was botox.

When do you see your Doctor again?

Just found out that dry needling is not allowed in California for pt's to administer