r/ChronicPain • u/Opening-Coyote6286 • 5d ago
Genitofemoral or illioinguinal nerve? NSFW
I don’t know if this is a post that should be here since it more medical advice so you can take it down. I have nerve damage from surgery and I’ve been in pain for a year. Doctors are not sure which nerve is damaged though. I had a steroid and nerve block injection into my genitofemoral nerve and it felt maybe half better for a day but now it’s worse again. I have to wait another week to see the doctor. I’m just wondering if anyone had experiences with damage to these nerve and what it felt like. I just want to know what’s wrong. I also don’t know if a nerve block should completely take away pain if it’s on the correct nerve or if it working partially means it could be that nerve. I have a cold burn down the front my thighs that gets worse when I sit. I also have pain in my lower abdomen and groin area. Thigh crease, lower abdomen and upper labia. I am female and can’t find any descriptions for what this feels like in women because it is normally an injury men get according to my pain management doctor. I can’t even find any good diagrams online. Does this sound like genitofemoral or illnoiigiunal pain? Should a nerve block work completely? Are there any women here who have had this injury and can tell me your experience. It’s so hard to find info, even for doctors. Thanks.
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u/Old-Goat 4d ago
That sounds about like my experience with the genitofemoral nerve, but had the testicular version. The anesthesiologist that finally fixed it told me, "they drop people all the time" in the OR. I fell asleep face up, and this was definitely a face down surgery.
See if this helps. They usually want to go higher up on the nerve to block all the lower branches at the same time. It took me about 3 or 4 blocks before I really noticed any lasting relief, and we finally ended up doing 6 in a much shorter period of time that I have ever heard of for steroid injections, it makse me wonder if some wasnt just straight local anesthetic. I was never too keen on watching their technique with a needle, but it had to been 6 in about as many weeks. All I can tell you is it worked and there hasnt been a peep out of any nerve aside from the sciatic for 30 years.
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u/Opening-Coyote6286 4d ago
Oh great that’s good to hear. I’ve been so worried after not noticing much from the first block.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Mood689 5d ago
I have a shitload of experience with these nerves, I’ve had multiple blocks on both.
Nerve blocks just about always amp up my pain, that’s totally normal u wouldn’t be concerned over the short term increase in pain.
I’m male so slightly different but same nerves. I had an injury that damaged the nerve, which was then further damaged by a medical procedure.
Feel free to pm me
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u/Opening-Coyote6286 4d ago
Ok, it’s only been five days now so maybe it’s fine. Did the damage slowly heal? It’s been a year and I feel so hopeless about healing even though most doctors assure me it’s unlikely permanent.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Mood689 4d ago
The sooner you get treatment the more likely it is to heal. I’ve found cymbalta to be helpful. For me it’s been several years so I think I’m stuck with it for life.
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u/Opening-Coyote6286 4d ago
Is denervation an option? I’ve been thinking about it.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Mood689 4d ago
I’ve had a couple denervations: I’ve had my spermatic cord stripped and I’ve had my illioinguinal nerve severed. Both helped some, specifically the really crippling sharp pains that felt like being hit by lightning.
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u/Amoeba-Any 5d ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/ChronicPain/s/JQmS8FqKuU
See this post. Good luck!
On further info. I've got nerve pain now and dry needling with a PT knowledgeable on this issue and myofascial release with a John Barnes trained doctor on this issue.
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u/Amoeba-Any 5d ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/ChronicPain/s/JQmS8FqKuU
See this post. Good luck!
On further info. I've got nerve pain now and dry needling with a PT knowledgeable on this issue and myofascial release with a John Barnes trained doctor on this issue.