The succulent nerve, which is also called the genital, quite often acts as the cause of chronic pelvic pain that occurs in adults. The reason for this in most cases is a pinched nerve called compression neuropathy. The sucked nerve pinches more often in women. In men, this happens three times less often.
Anatomical features
The sacral nerve is small in length. But this is a very important nerve of the last sacral plexus (if you move from the brain). It is located in the pelvic cavity and bypasses the sciatic bone along the way . Then it is divided into three branches:
- Rectal.
- Crotch.
- Dorsal nerve of the clitoris or penis.
What functions does it perform?
- Innervates the muscle that raises the anus and sphincter.
- Innervates the sphincter of the channel for urination.
- Innervates the female clitoris and the cavernous bodies in men.
- Sensitive to the skin of the anus and external genitalia.
From the above list it is clear that the shameful nerve plays a very important role both in the intimate life of a person, and during bowel movements and urination. The composition of this nerve includes a large number of vegetative fibers that ensure the correct functioning of the sphincters without the use of conscious tension. After all, people never think, do not try to control and do not consciously tighten their muscles so as not to urinate or defecate completely by accident at the wrong time. These functions are entrusted by autonomic fibers that enter the ganglion nerve.
Pinching: Reasons
Troubles can occur due to the piriformis muscle located in the pelvic cavity or because of pinching between a pair of ligaments.
In addition, the shameful nerve can be damaged after unforeseen situations, which include a car accident, a fall from a height. In such situations, a fracture of the pelvic bones can occur. Very often, the cause of chronic pain is nerve damage during childbirth or its involvement in the growth of a malignant tumor.
It is worth mentioning that some types of human activity over time can also lead to pinching of the genital nerve. This includes cycling or horse riding.
Congenital nerve: symptoms of neuropathy
As with any other pinched conditions, the symptoms are pain, sensory disturbances, muscle weakness, and disorders of the autonomic system.
When the shameful nerve is pinched , the symptoms in women and men are similar:
- Pain appears in the perineum.
- The pain has a burning tint.
- In the genitals and anus there are discomfort.
- Urinary and fecal incontinence, which may be incomplete, that is, manifest itself in the form of drip incontinence or calo-anemia.
- Skin sensitivity decreases in these areas, there is a feeling of "goose bumps."
- In the anus and urethra, an unpleasant presence of something foreign may be observed.
- Sexual disorders such as lack of orgasm and impotence can be observed.
When the shameful nerve is pinched, symptoms in women whose treatment should not be delayed are observed in the lower part of the vagina. This is very discomforting.
Severe pain during intercourse and walking can be felt - such, if the shameful nerve is pinched, symptoms in men. Treatment is required immediately, since the pain becomes burning, and touching the skin becomes painfully unpleasant consequences. It feels like it can be described as the presence of a cold or hot foreign object or electric shock. In general, pinching of the genital nerve entails a large number of unpleasant symptoms.
Pinch Diagnostics
With the above painful and unpleasant sensations, a person is simply not able to endure for a long time, because this is not such a pain as in a leg or arm. Most people with neuropathy go to either a neurologist or a proctologist if there are disorders associated with the anal sphincter, or problems with fecal and urinary incontinence.
In rare cases, patients may go to a sex therapist. But a good specialist with the help of simple questions should be able to identify organic disorders, and then refer the patient to the appropriate doctor. Pinched the sacred nerve is diagnosed with the following studies and complaints:
- All the complaints that were listed earlier.
- Patients may note that when applying something cold to the perineum, temporary relief occurs and a burning pain begins to pass. This symptom suggests that nerve damage is neuropathic.
- When using a trial treatment and diagnostic nerve block with novocaine, the severity of symptoms decreases or completely eliminates all the pain for the duration of the pain medication, which lasts from 12 hours to 3 days.
- The nature of the pain indicates that pinching has occurred (discomfort when touched and all kinds of itching, burning sensation and “goose bumps”).
- When performing ultrasound and Dopplerography of the pelvis and perineum, in almost all cases, when the genital nerve is pinched, a slowdown in the blood flow rate in the adjacent genital artery is observed. Since it passes through the same channel as the nerve, narrowing of the artery indicates that it has also been compressed.
- A very important criterion for diagnosis is an increase in pain in a person in a sitting position and a decrease when the patient lies on his back. For pinching of the genital nerve, damage on only one side is also characteristic. It is on her that frustration is felt.
In addition to such diagnostic criteria, when probing the perineum, one can find characteristic areas that are pain points that reflect muscle spasm.
It is important that the pathology of the sacral nerve is closely associated with the development of myofascial syndrome, which can be treated much worse due to the deep location of the muscles.
In addition, pinching of the genital nerve greatly enhances depression and anxiety, and people become more susceptible to negative events.
Treatment of the neuropathy of the sacral nerve
As in other situations, the treatment of this disease should be comprehensive.
What are the basic principles for treating neuropathy?
- The effect on the characteristic of pinching the nature of pain with gabapentin, which is part of the medication.
- Regular nerve blockade using hormones and anesthetics.
- The use of muscle relaxants of central action, which enable the muscles to relax, as a result of which the tone of the piriformis muscle decreases.
- The use of physiotherapeutic effects, which include electrophoresis, phonophoresis.
- The intake of B vitamins, which are part of the blockade, as well as in the form of tablets.
Other procedures
Often, treatment for pinching of the genital nerve requires the support of a good psychologist who performs corrective therapy and prescribes antidepressants. It may be necessary to prescribe vaginal or rectal suppositories, which include diazepam. The patient can be assigned to perform special physical exercises, the meaning of which is to slowly compress and relax the muscles located in the perineum.
In those situations where conservative methods of treatment do not have a positive effect, decompression surgery is performed. They are performed in special centers for the treatment of chronic pelvic pain.
Long-term treatment
It must be remembered that the treatment of neuropathy of the sacral nerve is a very long process, during which all recommendations of the attending physician should be followed. The recovery period takes at least six months.
The treatment of the disease should be carried out only in a hospital, as this will allow doctors to take control of the healing process, as well as successfully select a set of those funds that will be used for proper treatment. After all, a person may have an allergy to some drugs, which will only worsen the situation.
Summary
Thus, it was considered what the shameful nerve is, symptoms and treatment when it is pinched, diagnosis. In order to avoid this disease, it is recommended to be careful and not to get injured, as well as lead an active lifestyle, exercise and have an active sex life. Well, if the trouble did happen, then you must strictly follow the recommendations of the doctors.