Irritated nerves

Nerve pinched or irritated: to operate or not to operate
When it comes to chronic pelvic pain, the most frequently described condition on the Internet is entrapment of the Pudendus nerve (nervus Pudendus). There are many articles about surgical techniques that can free an entrapped nerve. But such nerve entrapment is relatively rare. Much more often it is an irritation of the nerve. In many cases, this irritation is the result of adhesions of connective tissue and scars, tense muscles pressing on the nerve, or asymmetry in the pelvis or back that causes the ligaments over which the nerve runs to be tight. These are all causes that are easily treatable without surgery.

About the Pudendus nerve
The Pudendus nerve is an important nerve in the pelvic region. For example, this nerve allows us to tighten the pelvic floor muscles, giving us control over urination and defecation. The nerve also provides sensation in the anus and rectum, in the clitoris and labia, in the tip of the penis and the posterior part of the scrotum.

An overstimulated, irritated or pinched Pudendus nerve in the pelvic floor gives as symptoms:
- Pain with sitting (when standing or lying down, the pain may disappear completely, but it does not have to).
- The pain is sharp or burning.
- The pain can be felt in the vagina, or in the labia, the clitoris, in the groin, near the sit bones, along the edge of the pubic bone, in the skin between vagina and anus, in the anus, at the edge of the underpants on the buttocks.
- You may also experience tingling or a numb, sleepy feeling, rather than pain.
- The skin reacts more or less sensitively to touch.
- You may feel like you have a prolapse, when no prolapse has been diagnosed.
- Relief may make the pain worse.
- Ejaculation may be more difficult or more sensitive.
- Often the pain is on one side of the body, but it can occur on both sides.

Possible causes of an overstimulated, pinched or irritated nerve in the pelvic floor are:
- Childbirth.
- Surgery in the lower body.
- Prolonged cycling.
- Low back pain.
- Pelvic pain.
- An accident, such as a fall from a bicycle or stairs.
- The muscles in the abdomen, pelvis or pelvic floor are too tense.
- Prolonged constipation.
- Varicose veins.
- A lot of coughing.

In addition to the Pudendus nerve, there are many other nerves that can cause complaints in the pelvis and lower abdomen. One complaint we also hear from many patients is groin pain. This is also caused by irritated nerves: the Genitofemoralis nerve or the Ilioinguinalis nerve.