Pudendal Nerve Entrapment – What Is It and What Are Its Symptoms?

Pudendal nerve entrapment is a very painful condition. Discover where the compression of this nerve takes place and the symptoms it causes.

Pudendal nerve entrapment is an extremely painful condition. It consists of understanding a nerve that is located in the pelvis area and, in turn, this can be due to different causes. For example, from a blow to the pelvic area, the nerve can be trapped. Similarly, it can occur if you have or have had pelvic tumors. However, there are much more common causes.

Now that you know some of the causes that can lead to pudendal nerve entrapment, the following are some of its symptoms. If you identify with any of them, it is important that you go to a professional for a medical check-up and thus rule out any problem.

Symptoms of pudendal nerve entrapment

Localized pain in the pelvic area is the most common symptom of those suffering from pudendal nerve entrapment. Since its location is in the gluteal region under the piriformis muscle, sitting on any surface could be torture.

Sometimes the pain may be felt on only one side, on both sides, in the groin or down the leg area. Depending on the exact place where the entrapment of the pudendal nerve originated, the pain will be felt more in one area than in another.

Urinary and bowel problems

According to the specialist doctor Goudal, another of the symptoms of pudendal nerve entrapment are the difficulties that can arise when urinating or defecating. Changes in habits are often a red flag. For example, incontinence or constipation.

It is often revealing to notice pain when the intestines are empty. Occasionally, the entrapment of the pudendal nerve could produce a blockage that is important to be seen by a doctor as soon as possible.

It is also necessary not to confuse some symptoms, such as tingling, burning or itching, with normal urinary infections. This could lead us to address a problem that we are not having.

Painful intercourse

Due to the location of the pudendal nerve entrapment, together with urinary problems, those related to sexuality also appear. Painful intercourse or impotence are some of them.

In fact, Goudal says that sexual intercourse can be very painful, even causing localized pain, for example, in the clitoris or the penis. This could affect life as a couple and lower self-esteem.

Neurological symptoms

The last symptoms that we are going to treat are the neurological ones. The first is acute pain that is so strong that it is unbearable. Another symptom would be numbness in the pelvic area.

At times, you may notice sharp throbs, a tingling sensation, or electric shocks in the area. Bring to the attention of a health professional any of these symptoms.

Cyclist syndrome

The second name for pudendal nerve entrapment is “cyclist syndrome”, since these professionals are the ones who suffer the most from this condition. For this reason, they use bib shorts with a bandana, an internal padding that absorbs the pressure of the buttocks against the saddle.

The pelvic floor area is a part of the body that we do not usually pay attention to, but that activities like these could cause problems with the pudendal nerve. Therefore, any protection or care is essential.

Physiotherapy is especially what doctors recommend for recovery from this condition. It would also be convenient to use foam cushions and take good care of feeding.

Prevention

Many times, medication alone cannot solve the problem. Therefore, you must take into account the above cares. Have you ever suffered from pudendal nerve entrapment? If you practice a sport like cycling, do you usually worry about taking care of this area?

In some cases, relaxation techniques can stretch the pelvic floor muscles and reduce muscle pain. We recommend that you try them. However, before taking any action, it is always best to consult with a specialist.

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