Pudendal Neuralgia

Do you have Pudendal Neuralgia?

Pudendal neuralgia occurs when the pudendal nerve becomes compressed or irritated as it runs its course through the gluteal and pelvic floor muscles. Patients who suffer from pudendal neuralgia often describe their pain as burning, numbness, pins, and needles, stabbing, stinging, or cramping along the path of the pudendal nerve.

Common causes:

  • Sitting on a hard surface for prolonged periods of time

  • Trauma to the nerve from an accident or fall

  • Exercise (Cycling)

  • Childbirth

  • Surgery

Pudendal Neuralgia Symtoms

  • Burning, sharp, shooting, stabbing type pain

  • Pain with sitting (which eases when sitting on a toilet)

  • Pain with prolonged standing

  • Vagina, labial, scrotal, penile, and/or anal itching, burning, or numbness

  • Clothing intolerance

  • Rectal/ vaginal Pressure (feeling of pressure or an object in the rectum/vagina)

  • Urinary frequency/urgency

  • Urinary hesitation

  • Pain during and after a bowel movement

  • Constipation

  • Decreased sexual function

Can pelvic floor physical therapy help with pelvic pain?

Common goals of treatment include diminishing trigger points (any spot in the patient’s skeletal muscle or fascia that causes pain not related to inflammation or injury), lengthening the pelvic floor muscles, eliminating connective tissue restrictions, decreasing tension along the path of the pudendal nerve and its branches and reducing neural tension caused by physiological or mechanical abnormalities such as tight muscles or narrow nerve paths.

Here at Shift Physical Therapy, our Pelvic Floor Physical Therapists can:

  • Assess the pelvic floor muscles (get overactive muscles to start at a better resting baseline so they have more to give & can turn on when you need them)

  • Improve pressure management (breath strategies, running technique)

  • Strengthen/build endurance.

  • Finally, we can build hip & core strength so the ENTIRE system runs efficiently.

Are you needing a little more help?

If you are needing a little more help, make an appointment today with Shift Physical Therapy in St. George, UT. We set aside time in our schedule where you can talk directly with a healthcare professional who specializes in pelvic pain and helping women get back to activities pain-free.

We offer this as a courtesy to our clients so can get your questions answered before committing to a booking. If you a ready to take action, let’s chat. Schedule a consultation now.