Life with Vulvodynia & Pudendal Neuralgia

Also known as painful intercourse syndrome, vulvodynia is an often-oversimplified diagnosis for a very complicated and debilitating syndrome. Pudendal neuralgia is inflammation of the pudendal nerve. This condition causes burning or stabbing pain in the genitals, urethra or anus. The pain often gets worse over the course of a day and is exacerbated by sitting. Both conditions make sex incredibly painful. Sex should not cause you persistent pain. It can get better. You’re not alone.

September 11, 2008

Things I Took For Granted Before Vulvodynia and Pudendal Neuralgia

-Sitting
-Walking
-Driving a Car
-Working at a Desk
-Seeing a Movie in the Theatre
-Wearing Pants, Especially Jeans
-Wearing Panties
-Going to the Bathroom

This is just a short list of mundane things that people do without thinking.

Living with vulvodynia and pudendal neuralgia, I have to take my vag into account when I do just about everything.

It's important to note that sex is not on this list because I never got to enjoy sex without pain. It was terribly painful from the first time, but now I'm thankful for every chance I have to enjoy sex with less pain.

1 comment:

Jeanne said...: Quinn,

All of the things you mentioned hurt me too.

I also have interstitial cystitis so I self-catheterize to do bladder instillations at home to treat that.

It can be really fun having these types of illnesses.

Jeanne; October 12, 2008 at 7:01 PM