Hi my name is Jess and I live in charlotte, NC. This summer has been hell.
I started out with a ruptured cyst, which aggravated my GI issues and had an inflamed and spastic colon, but the worst part is a constant burning pain I am having in the vaginal/pelvic area. I have been put on 600mg of Nuerontin by my nuerologist, and I also take Lexapro, only 5 mg.
Can this low dosage help with burning pain? Would I be better off asking to tirate the Nuerontin faster? Initially it was my GI doc that put me on Lexapro to help with IBs and the brain gut connection, so I am wondering if I would be better to go with Elavil for nerve pain. I hate this constant burning, and I can't sit down without pain. I have had to take off work for months as I am a guitar and piano teacher and i have to sit.
I know some patience is needed, but my Nuero wants me to take 600mgs for 4 weeks without titrating, I think I need to be increased a bit faster.
Thoughts?

thank you .

pelvic pain? Or vaginal pain?

The vaginal pain called vulvodynia is sometimes relieved by eating a low oxalate diet.

The other internal pain is often treated the same way as fibromyalgia, and is considered by doctors to be similar.

Hence the Neurontin and antidepressant.
A visit to the fibro board here may be helpful.

What type of cyst did you have? Was it a pilonidal one?
Those are very painful, sometimes even after removal.

It is vaginal nerve pain, and it is pudendal nueralgia. I have read the vulvodynia and PN are treated with the same meds.. usually an anticonvulsant and antidepressant. Nerves in the pelvic and vaginal area causing burning pain. I don't know what kind of cyst it was but it may have caused some of these problems.
I take Nuerontin, but just started as I needed a nerve blocker. I just wondered if I should ask about Elavil for more nerve blocking and getting rid or lessening of the burning.

http://www.med-owl.com/health/Vulvod...ates-Diet.html

http://www.branwen.com/rowan/oxalate.htm

People who have used antibiotics heavily in the past, lose some beneficial bacteria in the bowel that complex oxalate from our diet. When oxalates increase, then kidney stones increase,
and other things happen, it is believed, like vulvodynia.

The medications you are on are typically used for neuropathies, and fibro type symptoms. Some doctors believe that some neuropathies are centrally mediated in the brain...hence the antidepressants. The Neurontin is for peripheral pain issues.
Vulvodynia has been grouped with Fibromyalgia in some
therapeutic handbooks. Whether that is really accurate is not proven yet.

Have you tried any physical therapy.

I imagine that with the prudenal neuralgia that all the surrounding muscles are spasmed in that area. And then nerves spasm they tighten up around the nerve and then crush the nerves even further causing pain and more burning.

Might be worth trying to find a PT that specializes in pelvic floor exercises or pelvic dysfunction to see if they can help get that area quieted down.

Thank you . I will look into the PT, as I am ready to look at anything that can help this constant burning. Thank you again.

I recently started working with a pelvic floor PT specialists for muscle spasms down there and while I do not have the same problem you have I for sure thought my pain and burning was a cyst or something else gyn related or perhaps that bad disc in my back.

But nope the gyn felt all around in there and found the source of my recent pain and was like wow you have muscle spasms deep in your levator ani muscle and the surrounding muscles. So off to PT and I have to say it has helped my pain. not totally gone but a good reduction.

Good luck. Be sure to make sure they know how to treat pelvic floor dysfunction.

Thanks Shelley. I will look at that. This has been a tough summer. The worst from this pain. I am also looking into seeing a Pain Management Specialist to see what they can do.

Wow Shelley,

Great post! I think you are the first person besides myself to either have recommended pelvic floor PT or has done it. It worked absolute wonders for me last year. Although, it did take my PM and Urogyn to get it all sorted out due to the nerve damage in my lumbar/sacral area. You are soooo right about the Levator Ani muscle; that was the source of a lot of my spasms. I will say on my very FIRST appointment I was almost in tears that day from just driving over to the rehab place. When I left, what a reduction in pain!

Jess, seriously, it is worth a try. I almost didn't go through with it simply because I didn't think it would work or help...but it sure did. And one more thing...once you have gone through this VERY specialized PT they will teach you how to manage it on your own. I don't want to get too graphic but I swear by pelvic floor PT.

Oops, forgot to add something Jess...two things. They can do pudendal nerve blocks if the nerve pain is bad although I haven't had that done and really didn't need to. Also, my Urogyn recommended I get spinal injections FIRST to calm the sacral area down. I did that and it helped too. I know that probably isn't your problem; just wanted you to know they can calm things down before attempting pelvic floor PT. And actually, the PT I had was so easy that I didn't have much pain afterwards just a bit of soreness where she had released some spasms. But I agree with you about the "sit pain". It can be very, very painful.

kathi, i know it is a bit graffic, but what do you think about posting it on womans health?

i'm a personal trainer who has helped many women with these type of issue. kegal exercises just aren't enough, though very important for all woman to do.

i know what i train on is different than a therapist does.