Tag Archives: pelvic pain

24Oct/16

Women in pain

Chronic pain, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Joint Hypermobility Syndrome, Migraine, Pelvic Pain, Uncategorized, Women and pain, , , , , ,

Women in painRecently I gave a talk to a group of female health professionals at the Inspiring Women in Medicine meeting entitled ‘Women in pain’. I spoke about the significant societal problem of women suffering persistent pain, which is one of the issues that comes under the banner of women’s health. Society needs women to be healthy and hence the problem of women in pain must be addressed. Fundamentally at present, society does not understand pain sufficiently to address this enormous public health matter effectively, which is where I believe we must begin: understanding pain.

If society understood pain….

  • individuals would know what to do and think in order to orientate themselves towards getting better
  • it would not be feared; instead the focus would be on overcoming pain
  • healthcare would deliver the right messages early on so that the right actions are informed by correct beliefs about pain
  • the right treatment appraoches would be employed from the outset
  • there would not be the same level of suffering — the figures say: 100 milliion Americans suffer persistent pain; 20% of the population; 1:5 children

Chronic pain is a huge global health burden that costs both individuals and society enormously in terms of finances and suffering. Of course, this pervades out into family and social networks and hence those around the individual can also be suffering through their on-going provision of care. Pain is a strain on society, literally. If it were understood, this can change.

Women in painWomen are reported to suffer more pain and visit their doctor more often about pain than men. Females are more likely to suffer functional pain syndromes. There are still many people, including healthcare professionals, who do not know what functional pain syndromes are or have insight into the basic biology that emerges as a range of painful problems that are very common. They include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), migraine and headache, back pain, fibromyalgia, pelvic pain (e.g. vulvodynia, painful bladder syndrome, dysmennorhoea) and temporomadibular dysfunction. Other regular features include anxiety, depression, a history of early life events (and later in life when a challenging situation brings about pain and suffering), perfectionism, a person who is very hard on themselves and hypermobility.

This being the case, one would expect that research into how females experience pain and why they feel more pain would be stacking up. Unfortunately this is not the case with most research done in males and male rats. Clearly that has to change alongside the overall attitudes to women in pain.

Women in painRecently the press ran with stories about how women in pain receive different care and approaches to men. Women waited longer for treatment, were less likely to receive opiates for pain (opiates are effective for acute pain — there are big issues with the use of opiates for chronic pain) and were deemed to be more emotional and hence somehow their pain was different in the sense of how it should be treated. Of course this is wrong on every level. Each person has a unique pain experience that is flavoured by a perception of threat within a certain context and enviornment, based on prior experience and beliefs of that person. Therefore, each person needs to be addressed as such and treated according to this principle, man or woman.

There arWomen in paine some ideas as to why men and women should experience pain differently. The most obvious is that of gender biology based primarily around hormones and the menstrual cycle. In particular there maybe an important time at the onset of menarche when sensitisation could emerge in some individuals, thereby priming them for future events such as injuries, viruses and illnesses when the systems that protect us (immune, nervous, sensorimotor, autonomic, endocrine — they work together as opposed to being in isolation) are active in the face of a perceived threat and increasingly vigorously. What the person lives are the symptoms of thee systems working including fever, pain, altered perceptions of the world, altered thinking and emotions. It can sound like these are all separate ‘reactions’ when in fact they are part of an on-going cyclical process: we think, perceive and act as a unified lived experience.

Another observation relates to empathy and how women maybe more empathetic for the purposes of caring for their children. A truly empathetic person is a caring person yet they must be careful and skilled so as not to embody their own versions of observed others’ suffering. As an example, it is not uncommon for me to feel a pain in the same place that a patient is describing their pain to me. Understanding the mechanism, I can rationalise the feeling and it will pass as I actvely change my perception — this is likely the same mechanism that underpins the change from being in pain to not being in pain in all people. I know that others I have spoken to also have this experience, which one could argue is deeply helpful as a healthcare practitioner as we seek to understand the causes of the other person’s suffering.

A described emotion that often appears within conversations about pain, particularly women in pain, is that of guilt. The reasons for expressing guilt are based around the conflict between work, home, partner and children — trying to please all but rarely pleasing or looking after oneself. Being kind to self is important in the sense that being hard on oneself can be the cause of great suffering. This is common and will almost certainly be taking the woman closer to her biological protect line, the point at which threat is perceived and enacted as a pain experience. Learning how to foster the existing compassion towards oneself then, is a typical part of a comprehensive programme for getting better. With many whom I see displaying and admitting perfectionist traits, it is not a surprise that harsh inner dialogue results in repeated negative emotions. Strung together frequently, this forms the basis for chronic stress, which in turn is the means for a pro-inflammatory state, which emerges as aches and pains, troubled tummies, headaches, mood changes, sleep issues, fertility problems and more. The reason is simply that in the pro-inflammatory state, the body is in survive mode that is great when there is a real threat. However, most of the time there is no threat, it is just something we are thinking about that triggers the same response via a prediction taht one exists.

Now, there is nothing wrong in experiencing negative emotions. We need them as much as the others. It is really about the apporpiateness of the emotions: when we feel them, how long we feel them for, how often etc etc. If we consistently think that something bad will happen or ruminate on things that have happened rather than seeing things for what they really are in this moment, then this basic survival biology will keep going. This is where mindful practice is so beneficial, cultivating awareness of existing habits that allows for a reappraisal, a space to see things for what they are and gain insight into the causes of your own suffering and others, from which you can choose a new and healthy way onward. Clearly there is much more to say about mindfulness and its benefits, in particular in the face of mcuh exciting data from studies across the world.

Whilst this blog scratches the surface, it hopefully provides some food for thought. This is a significant public health issue that we can tackle by understanding pain and applying simple and sensible compassion-driven care, which will make a huge difference. Coaching the individual woman to coach herself in a direction that is toward her desired outcome is out role as we empower individuals and allow them to realise their sense of agency in getting better. There are simple measures such as movement, exercise and mindfulness that work in synergy to create a meaningful life to be engaging and enjoyed so that when challenges arrive, they are overcome and used as learning experiences. Science, compassion and sense are at the heart of the Pain Coach approach, one that we can all adopt to change for the better. Ourselves and our patients.

RS

The Pain Coach 1:1 Mentoring programme is for busy clinicians who wish to develop their working knowledge and to be effective in coaching people suffering chronic pain to lead meaningful and fulfilled lives. Contact us on the form below or call Jo for further information t. 07518 445493

 

 

 

18Jun/16

Biology of pelvic pain

Chronic pain, Functional Pain Syndromes, Pain Coach, Pain Education, Pelvic Pain, , , , ,

Pain nowMost of the biology of pelvic pain does not exist in the pelvis. The same is true for any pain — back pain, knee pain, neck pain etc. Much like the screen turning blank in the cinema, the problem itself is not the screen but instead the projector or the power source. In other words, to think about pain requires us to go well beyond the place where it is experienced.

Pain is of course lived and whilst it must have a location, the relationship between pain and injury is unreliable. With a huge number of factors influencing the chances of feeling pain in any given circumstance, there is a requirement for a perception of threat that is salient and exceeds other predictions in terms of a hierarchy. Once felt, pain compels action much like thirst and hunger. Again, like thirst and hunger, context and meaning we give to the sensations influence that very experience, which clarifies to a greater extent the difference between on-going (chronic) pain and that of labour.

To feel pain we need a concept of the body, which itself is constructed elsewhere as the sensory information flowing from the body systems is predicted to mean something based upon what is already known and has been experienced, we need a nervous system, an immune system, a sensorimotor system, a sense of self and consciousness to name but a few. Where in the pelvis do these reside?

This is not to ignore where we may feel pain as this is an ‘access’ to the pain experience that should be used in terms of movement and touch. However, it is the person who is in pain and not the body part. My pelvis is not in pain, I am. My pelvis does not go and seek help, I do. My pelvis does not ease its pain, I do. So when ‘treating’ a person, we must go beyond the place where the pain is felt to be successful. And it is vital that the person is considered a whole; there is no separation of mind-body. The notion of physiological, body, psychological division etc. etc., just does not fit with the lived experience; I think, and I do so with my whole person — embodied cognition.

Locally one will usually find evidence of protection and guarding, which themselves manifest as the tightness, spasm, painful responses to touch and movement. This is all manifest of an overall state of protection, co-ordinated largely unconsciously accompanied by a range of behaviours and thinking that quickly become habitual — they are certainly learned from priors, our reference point. This is simply why delving gently into the story is important, as we can identify vulnerabilities to persisting pain such as previous experiences of pain, functional pain syndromes, stressful episodes in life; all those things that put us on alert when the range of cues and triggers gradually expand so now I am vigilant and responding to all sorts of normal situations with fear.

The start point is always developing the person’s working knowledge of their pain, which also validates their story. So many people still report that they feel that they have not been believed, which I find incredible. How can someone work in healthCARE and not believe what a person says? Baffling. Once the working knowledge is being utilised and is generating a new backstory, new reference points emerge. We create opportunities for good experiences over and over, moment to moment, day after day, in line with their desired outcome, the healthy ‘me’ that is envisioned from word go. This strong foundation that opens choices once more then permits exploration of normal and desired activities supported by sensorimotor training and other nourishing movements, alongside techniques in focus, relisience and motivation. Realising and actualising change in a desired direction must be acknowledged as the person lives this change knowing that they can.

Pain can and does change when you understand it, know where you want to go and how to get there, quickly getting back to wise, healthy action when distracted (i.e./ flare ups, mood variance, loss of focus etc). The biology of the pain is one aspect, hidden in the dark within us, and the lived experience is another. The two are drawn together to give meaning and to develop an understanding of the thinking and action that sculpt a new perception of self and pain, resuming the sense of who I am, as only known and lived by that person.

21Sep/15

Vulvodynia

Chronic pain, Chronic pelvic pain, Fibromyalgia, Functional Pain Syndromes, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Pain, Pain Coach, , , , , , , , ,

VulvodyniaVulvodynia is a painful condition, often exquisitely so, located in the vulva, which is the skin surrounding the vagina. Usually unexplained, this troubling condition can arise seemingly from nowhere, interfere with intimate relations and hence attempts to conceive. Vulvodynia is also known as a functional pain syndrome–these are painful problems that lack a pathology of note that explains the extent of the pain and include irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, TMJ dysfunction, migraine and pelvic pain. Functional pain syndromes are often concurrent with hypermobility, anxiety and depression, a further common character trait being perfectionism and a tendency for the person to be hard on themselves thereby creating a cycle of chronic stress.

The pain of vulvodynia is often very localised and triggered by direct contact. Naturally this occurs during sex and touch, but sometimes sitting position can bring on the pain. As with any sensitisation, there is a primary location of pain but there can also be a secondary area surrounding that is due to central nervous system (and other systems) involvement. Suspected vulvodynia or other pains in the pelvis should be assessed and examined by a gynaecologist as a first step before beginning treatment, and by a consultant who knows and understands both the condition and the impact — Miss Deborah Boyle at 132 Harley Street.

With vulvodynia often being part of an overall picture of sensitivity, it means that there is a common biological adaptation that is upstream of the range of seemingly different conditions (the functional pain syndromes). As soon as the individual understands that pain is not an accurate indicator if tissue damage, but rather a reflection of the perceived threat and prioritisation by the body-person, there is a realisation that the pain can change. Pain can change because perceptions can change as we take on board new information and consequently think and act differently, creating new habits. The new habits set the conditions for on-going and sustained change that includes overcoming pain.

We have limited attention and hence can only be aware of certain amount of stimuli in any given moment. If pain is consuming much or all of your attention and consciousness, then this is all that is happening in that moment, with all other possible experiences being disregarded–it is a matter of prioritisation. When the perception of threat is reduced by a constructive thought or action, the pain moves out of our attention span and we become aware of other thoughts, feelings and experiences. How we respond to pain is unique and learned through our lifetime right up until that point; all those bumps and bruises as a child, how our parents reacted, more serious injuries or illnesses and the messages we received from doctors, teachers and other ‘big people’, then through adult life, moulding our beliefs about ourselves, the world, health and pain each time we feel it. The sum of all this activity, most of which we are unaware of, sets up how you respond to the next ache, pain or injury, blended of course with genetics. It seems that some people are genetically set up to be more inflammatory, meaning that responses to injury are potentially more vigorous and go on for longer. Understanding this means that the right messages and treatment can be given, thereby appropriately addressing the injury or pain. One of the big problems is that this does not happen, and the explanations are structural and based upon the body tissues. This ignores the fact that we have body systems that protect and these systems have sampling mechanisms in the tissues and organs but largely exist elsewhere–e.g./ nervous system, autonomic nervous system, endocrine system, sensorimotor system, immune system. We have to go upstream as well as improve the health and mobility of the local tissues.

Going upstream is vital in overcoming vulvodynia, and this is where the Pain Coach Programme works–this is my part of the treatment programme. You may also choose to work with a women’s health physiotherapist who will work more locally. So what is the Pain Coach Programme?

The Pain Coach Programme is a a blend of the latest neuroscience of pain with a strengths based coaching approach to success. Understanding your pain and that you have the biology and strengths to overcome your pain is a vital start point. You have been successful in the past using these strengths, and you can do so again by drawing on these characteristics and using them to develop your health in terms of how you think and act. Overcoming pain is all about resuming a meaningful life, engaging with activities and people as you want to, in a way that allows you to flourish. The Pain Coach Programme provides you with the knowledge and skills that you need to in effect become your own coach, moment to moment making clear decisions that take you towards your vision of how you want to live. This alongside treatment and specific training to develop normal movement and a healthy body-mind. The skills you learn also help you to fully engage in life, whether this be at home, at work or at play.

If you suffer vulvodynia or other painful problems, call us now to start your programme: 07518 445493

26Oct/14

Pelvic pain in men

Chronic pain, Pain Education, Pelvic Pain, Uncategorized, ,

Many men experience chronic pelvic pain that significantly affects their lives. When we talk of pelvic pain, we often think about women and their suffering, however, this problem is one that besets both sexes and hence we must encourage all who endure such pain to seek help. As with any persisting pain state, pelvic pain impacts upon the way we think, the way we act and the decisions we make, thereby intruding on quality of life.

There are many reasons why men can suffer pelvic pain. To identify all the causes is not the purpose of this blog, but rather to highlight the problem and provide an insight into how the body becomes stuck in a protective mode. This is the experiential dimension, the story that is told and the narrative that provides all the clues. For the pelvic pain itself is downstream, and with chronic pain we must also go upstream to look at the context within which the pain is happening.

Most people who come to see me do not have pathology or ‘damage’ that justifies the pain response that they suffer. Some have nothing of note at all as shown by scans and other tests. Understanding that you can be in pain without an injury is an important step towards changing pain — for those new to this notion, consider phantom limb pain for a moment. Often there is a start point that involves inflammation, which shifts the body into protect mode. Protect mode involves many body systems, conscious and unconscious behaviours (the latter being habits and conditioned responses). When the body is protecting itself, the area needing attention and defending will hurt, but we also move differently and think differently — if you have a painful ankle, you may think twice about ‘popping’ out to the shop for a paper.

In many cases, these protective responses die down as healing progresses. However, this does not always happen, and with statistics suggesting that 20% of the population suffer chronic pain, many continue to experience protection despite the tissues healing — pain, tension, a different sense of the body (there are many other feelings and sensations described to me, and I encourage this narrative so that I can fully appreciate the story). My thinking about this on-going protection is that the body senses all is not as well as it should be. In other words, the individual is not fully fit, the tissues (muscles, joints etc) are not entirely healthy, behaviours are not orientated towards health, and lifestyle factors in which pain is embedded have not been addressed satisfactorily. This is a huge topic to address at another time, but suffice to say, as much as pain is multi-factoral, so is recovery, which is why a programme to change pain must address the biology of pain and all the influences upon this biology (they are also biology!).

Back to the pelvis, an area full of muscles, nerves, blood vessels, ligaments and other soft tissues. From the pelvis ‘hang’ the legs, and on top sits the trunk. And let’s not forget the genitals, and both their importance and necessary sensitivity. The deep tension and pain that one feels in this region is truly visceral, radiating out into the groin and abdomen, accompanied by an awful tension and pulling in the muscles and testicles. Once the pelvis is grabbing your attention, it can be hard to distract yourself without learning how to change body tension.

In this very personal tale of pelvic pain, Tim Parks describes his own journey via the book he wrote, “Teach us to sit still”. It’s a wonderful read for so many reasons, and I frequently encourage patients to tuck in. For me though, the bottom line is that Tim has validated a problem that needs addressing in a comprehensive manner, because so often there is no serious pathology despite the significance of the suffering. Getting to grips with this is part of moving forward and should be embraced. We do not need pathology to hurt. There are other reasons, one of which includes, as Tim says, sitting on your pelvis for 20 years and being stressed — this is by far enough to cause nasty pelvic pain!

What do you do when you are stressed? Tense muscles. This has an energy cost and impacts on the way oxygen is delivered to those very muscles. Consider exercising a muscle over and over. It hurts. It is exactly the same in the pelvis that you may be parked (no pun intended Tim!) on for extended periods of time. “I don’t get stressed” you may say. First of all, I don’t believe you (sorry!), because we all stress out at times and secondly, most of the time we are unaware of what our body is doing in response to our thoughts, environment and what we are doing; that is until it is too late — ooh, my ____ hurts because I haven’t moved for ____ hours (fill in the gaps).

So, what can we do. What do we need to do. Here are a few things that I believe are fundamental to changing what your body is doing:

  • Understand your pain and condition — that’s your clinician’s job, to help you.
  • Create awareness of how your body is responding rather than being on autopilot and then fire-fighting when it gets too much.
  • Think about what the body needs — oxygen to the tissues, especially nerves that become very grumpy when the supply drops (numb bum from being sat too long) — and make sure you do enough to nourish the muscles: move and breathe!
  • Go upstream of the pelvic pain, and look long and hard at your lifestyle and environments — e.g. How are you doing things? Where are you doing things? What habits can you release and change?

Chronic pain is a huge and costly global problem. The main reason why this is true is because of misunderstandings and the low expectations of successfully overcoming the condition (patients and clinicians) because the focus is upon treating ‘structures’ deemed to cause pain. Pain is not a structure, hence why this approach fails. The science of pain has moved forward hugely over the past 10 years and continues to deliver a new understanding. This new understanding challenges existing thinking, and it needs to. Pioneers of pain are hard at work and are finding ways to reduce suffering, and we can. It starts with a change of thinking based on new knowledge. Your knowledge that is translated into effective action.

If you are suffering pelvic pain, get in touch and start your programme to overcome your pain — call us now 07518 445493 — Specialist clinic in London and Surrey for chronic pain & persisting pain

 

10Jul/13

Women and Pain Clinic @ 132 Harley Street

Chronic low back pain, Chronic pain, Endometriosis, Fibromyalgia, Functional Pain Syndromes, Joint Hypermobility Syndrome, Pain, Pelvic Pain, Women and pain, , ,

The Women and Pain clinic is dedicated to providing contemporary treatment, training and coaching for females who suffer persisting pain.

Common examples of on-going painful problems include:

  • pelvic pain: including pain from endometriosis, bladder problems, muscular spasm & guarding of the pelvis and abdominal area
  • back pain
  • joint pain (often multiple)
  • abdominal pain (irritable bowel syndrome or similar sensitivities)
  • migraine & headache
  • jaw pain & dysfunction
  • fibromyalgia

It is not uncommon for there to be several painful areas that are seemingly unrelated. However, with the advancing understanding of the neurobiology of pain, we know that there is a common thread that ties these problems together. This is termed central sensitisation and refers to adaptations within the nervous system that both amplify pain and reduce our natural ability to dampen sensitivity. The body areas that hurt can expand and involve a range of body systems, hence why the pain can manifest in different regions and organs. The pain is an expression of this underlying sensitivity that needs to be targeted at a nervous system-immune system-endocrine system level as well as addressing the health of the body tissues. We use a contemporary and neuroscience-based programme of treatment, training and coaching to tackle the problem of pain, focusing upon the inter-related dimensions of pain: physical-cognitive-emotional.

Working closely with leading gynaecologists and gastroenterologists in Harley Street, you will have a detailed assessment that includes diagnostics as indicated, a full explanation of the nature of the pain and symptoms (pain education) and a comprehensive treatment programme designed for you. 

How do we treat these problems?

A pathological or structural basis for pain only explains part of the problem or in some cases not at all. It is the adaptations within body systems that create the pain experience to which we respond in thought and action. Whilst acute pain serves a vital survival purpose, drawing our attention to a body region that needs protecting for healing, a persisting pain becomes increasingly about the neuroimmune system and endocrine system responses. Pain certainly emerges from the body yet there is an underpinning correlate of activity within a vast network of brain cells that actually drives the experience. This network monitors the activity in the body systems and responds according to need. The response can be protective when the brain perceives the body to be in potential danger and includes pain, changes in movement and a range of other actions. In the early stages of a condition this is useful and adaptive, however if these responses continue beyond a useful time they themselves must be targeted alongside body nourishing strategies.

How can we target these systems? In an integrated manner, these systems can be re-trained with a range of sensorimotor techniques, specific exercises designed to restore a normal sense of the body and movement, strategies to deal with stress and anxiety that both affect the body systems, techniques for the progression of day to day living (work, home, sports), and general activity and exercise with confidence. Interlaced with these strategies, pain education (reduce the threat by developing your understanding of pain and the body’s ability to change), mindfulness-based stress reduction, focused attention training, resilience, coping and motivational skills, are used to optimise outcomes that are based upon improving your quality of life, sense of wellness and performance.

For further information, to book an appointment or to refer a patient please call us on 07932 689081

05Nov/12

Women and pain | Part 1

Bladder pain, Chronic low back pain, Chronic pain, Dysmenorrhoea, Endometriosis, Fibromyalgia, Functional Pain Syndromes, Headache, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Low back pain, Migraine, Pain, Pelvic Pain, Pregnancy, Pudendal entrapment, Pudendal neuralgia, Pudendal neuropathy, Stress, Women and pain, , , , , , ,

 

‘As many as 50 million American women live with one or more neglected and poorly understood chronic pain conditions’ 

Generally I see more female patients than male. This observation supports the view that chronic pain is more prevalent in women than in men for some conditions – see the International Association for the Study of Pain fact sheet here. There are some ideas as to why this may be, including the role of the sex hormones and psychosocial factors such as emotion, coping strategies and roles in life. Additionally, experimental studies have shown that women have lower pain thresholds (this is a physiological reading) and tolerance to a range of pain stimuli when compared to men although this does not clarify that women actually feel more pain – see here. Pain is a subjective experience of course, and modulated by many factors.

A campaign for women’s pain | Chronic pain in women (2010) report

It is not uncommon for a female patient to tell me about her back pain and continue the narrative towards other body areas that hurt and cause problems. This may include pelvic pain, migraine, headache, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic knee pain, widespread sensitivity and gynaecological problems (including dysmenorrhoea, endometriosis and difficulty conceiving). These seemingly varied conditions are typically looked after by a range of medical and surgical disciplines: gynaecology, neurology, rheumatology, gastroenterology and orthopaedics. More recent science and thinking has started to join the dots on these problems, offering new insight into the underpinning mechanisms and more importantly approaches that can affect all the conditions in a positive way. This is certainly my thinking on this hugely significant matter.

Reconceptualising pain

Undoubtedly pain is complex. This is particularly the case when pain persists, disrupting and impacting upon life. Reconceptualising pain according to modern neuroscience is making a real difference to how we think and treat pain – see this video. Briefly, thinking of pain as an output from the brain as a result of a complex interaction of circumstance, biology, thought, emotion and memory begins to give an insight into the workings of the brain and body. Pain is individual, it is in the ‘now’ but so coloured by the past and what it may mean to the individual. The context or situation in which the pain arises is so very important. We talk about pain from the brain but of course we really feel it in our physical bodies, but the location is where the brain is projecting the sensation – see this video.

Neuroscience has shown us that the danger signals from the body tissues are significantly modulated by the brain before the end output is experienced. Factors that influence the messages include attention, expectation and the circustance in which the individual finds herself. We have powerful mechanisms that can both facilitate and inhibit the flow of these signals and these reside within the brain and brain stem. For this reason we must consider the person’s situation, their expectations, hopes, goals, past experiences and current difficulties, and how these can affect their current pain.

Stress & emotion

Any hugely emotive issue within someone’s life can impact enormously upon pain and sensitivity. This can be the stress of a situation including caring for a relative, losing someone close, work related issues and divorce. The problem of conception certainly features in a number of cases that I see, causing stress and turmoil for both partners but clearly in different ways. Fertility receives a great deal of attention in the media and there are a many clinics offering treatment and therapies, in effect raising awareness and attention levels towards the problem. The pain caused by difficulties having children can manifest physically through the stress that is created by the situation. Thoughts, feeling and emotions are nerve impulses in the brain like any other and will trigger physical responses including tension. Stress physiology affects all body systems, for example the gastrointestinal system (e.g./ irritable bowel), nervous system (e.g. headaches, back pain) and the immune system (e.g. repeated infections).

Lifestyle

Lifestyle factors play a significant role in persisting pain. Modern technology and habits that we form easily may not be helpful when we have a sensitive nervous system. For example, sedentary work, the light from computer screens, pressures at work, limited exercise, poor diet, binge drinking and smoking to name but a few. All are toxic in some way as can be our own thinking about ourselves. When we have a thought, and we have thousands each day, and we pay attention, becoming absorbed in the process, the brain reacts as if we are actually in that situation. Consequently we have physical and emotional responses that can be repeated over and over when we dwell on the same thinking. This is rumination and is likely due to ‘hyper-connectivity’ between certain brain areas – see here. We can challenge this in several ways including by changing our thinking and using mindfulness, both of which will alter brain activity and dampen these responses. It does take practice but the benefits are attainable for everyone.

In summary, the underlying factors that must be addressed are individual and both physical and psychological. Pain is complex and personal, potentially affecting many different areas of life. How we live our lives, what we think and how we feel are all highly relevant in the problem of pain as borne out of sensible thinking and the neuroscience of pain. Understanding the pain, learning strategies to reduce the impact, receiving treatment that targets the underlying mechanisms, making healthy changes to lifestyle and developing good habits alongside the contemporary brain based therapies can make a huge difference and provide a route forwards.

For information on our ‘join the dots’ treatment programmes for chronic pain, contact us here or call 07932 689081

 

20Jul/12

Pudendal Neuralgia & Pudendal Neuropathy

Chronic pain, Pain Education, Pelvic Pain, Pudendal entrapment, Pudendal neuralgia, Pudendal neuropathy, , , ,

Pudendal Neuralgia & Pudendal Neuropathy

Also termed pudendal nerve entrapment, this problem afflicts both men and women having immense effects upon quality of life. The pudendal nerve is a sensory, autonomic, and motor nerve that carries signals to and from the genitals, anal area, and urethra. There are three branches of the nerve on each side of the body: rectal, perineal and clitoral/penile. Pudendal neuropathy occurs when the nerve or one of its branches is damaged, inflamed, or becomes entrapped.

The symptoms can be on one side or bilateral, starting acutely or developing over time. They include:

  • Pain in the areas innervated by the pudendal nerve or one of its branches
  • Burning
  • Reduced or loss of sensation
  • Electric shock-like pain, stabbing pain, knife-like or aching pain
  • The sense of a lump or foreign body – increased sense of size of the affected area
  • Altered sense of temperature
  • Constipation with pain on straining with bowel movements
  • Urination causes a burning pain
  • Painful intercourse
  • Sexual dysfunction

Once diagnosed, treatment often involves a combination of medication, procedures such as a pudendal nerve block, and physical therapy to address the pelvic floor muscles.

A contemporary approach to pain

Similar to other persisting pain states, to think about the suffering individual as much as the condition is fundamental. The wide ranging affects of the pain, associated symptoms and subsequent limitations have to be carefully considered within the treatment programme. The underpinning neurobiology is the basis for the problem but the responses of the body and brain and the individual are key determinants upon the impact. Initially developing a good understanding of the pain and the problem through high quality education creates a strong platform for effective coping and engagement in the rehabilitation and training programme.

The neuroimmune system is designed to adapt and change. This is how we learn. On the basis of the plasticity characteristic of neurons and how they fire together, we believe that change is possible with the right strategies based upon the right understanding within a realistic time-frame. See here

When we are in pain we move differently. The brain and body changes the way that the muscles are used including increased tension to protect the affected area. This is called guarding. The fact that the muscles are overworking creates its own issues including soreness, tightness, difficulty moving and often pain. Trigger points can develop that refer pain into other areas. Tackling changes in the motor system, especially those in response to nerve injury, needs an approach that considers the top-end, the brain (motor cortices and the areas of the brain that communicate with the motor centres, e.g. visual areas, emotional areas). It is important to understand that the associated thoughts about pain and the situation affect the way in which we move. If our belief is that the pain is a sign of damage and danger, we are going to be more protective and hence feed back into guarded posturing and movement. This is how understanding pain and the influences upon pain can really help. Changing our thinking through deeper understanding uses the frontal cortex to change our perception of pain. This is because the frontal cortex is part of the matrix of brain cells (neurons) that underpins the experience of pain. Directly targeting the areas of the brain involved in pain is a logical and now scientifically demonstrated way of dealing with pain.

Certainly local treatment of the the superficial muscles about the lumbar spine and pelvis can be useful to ease tension. In fact, anything that relaxes the individual will help to ease tension. For example, watching a favourite film, laughing with a friend, listening to music or taking a bath. Going beyond the tissues is vital though in dealing with nerve related pain (neuropathy) because of the adaptations that occur in the neuroimmune system. In recent years the use of Graded Motor Imagery for pain and movement problems has provided us with a way of working with the higher centres (‘top-down’) alongside approaches that nourish and mobilise the tissues gradually and safely. Together with development of understanding and often mindfulness, this combined approach offers a tangible and effective way of bringing about change to reduce the impact factor, distress level, increase function and improve quality of life.

For further information upon our approach to pain please contact us here or call 07518 445493

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Research

Pain Med. 2012 Apr;13(4):596-603. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2012.01343.x. Epub 2012 Mar 5.

Response to pudendal nerve block in women with pudendal neuralgia.

School of Women and Children, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. thierryvancaillie@mac.com

OBJECTIVE:

To examine the evolution of pain and the duration of numbness after neural blockade of the pudendal nerve in women with pudendal neuralgia and correlate with clinical and historical data.

DESIGN:

Prospective, single arm, open label study.

SETTING:

University hospital and outpatient clinic.

SUBJECTS:

Eighty-two adult female patients were recruited from November 8, 2008 to February 14, 2010. Patients were selected based on the presence of spontaneous or provoked pain in the distribution of the pudendal nerve.

INTERVENTIONS:

Subjects underwent a standardized pudendal nerve block.

OUTCOME MEASURES:

Visual analog pain scores and the presence of numbness were recorded before and for 64 hours after the pudendal nerve block. A complete clinical history and examination were documented.

RESULTS:

Sixty-six patients completed the study. About 86.9% had a reduction in one or more pain symptom, while 44.3% found that more than one of their pain symptoms did not return. About 69.7% of patients reported numbness lasting up to 16 hours or longer. Previous gynecological surgery was recorded in 75.8%, previous traumatic obstetric events in 47.0% of cases. Prolonged history of pain correlated with a reduced chance of positive outcome of the pudendal nerve block.

CONCLUSION:

In patients with pudendal neuralgia, the pudendal nerve block has a variable response, but may have a beneficial effect in a subset of women. Surgical and obstetrical trauma are common historical antecedents

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World J Gastroenterol. 2011 Oct 28;17(40):4447-55.

Chronic proctalgia and chronic pelvic pain syndromes: new etiologic insights and treatment options.

This systematic review addresses the pathophysiology, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment of several chronic pain syndromes affecting the pelvic organs: chronic proctalgia, coccygodynia, pudendal neuralgia, and chronic pelvic pain. Chronic or recurrent pain in the anal canal, rectum, or other pelvic organs occurs in 7% to 24% of the population and is associated with impaired quality of life and high health care costs. However, these pain syndromes are poorly understood, with little research evidence available to guide their diagnosis and treatment. This situation appears to be changing: a recently published large randomized, controlled trial by our group comparing biofeedback, electrogalvanic stimulation, and massage for the treatment of chronic proctalgia has shown success rates of 85% for biofeedback when patients are selected based on physical examination evidence of tenderness in response to traction on the levator ani muscle–a physical sign suggestive of striated muscle tension. Excessive tension (spasm) in the striated muscles of the pelvic floor appears to be common to most of the pelvic pain syndromes. This suggests the possibility that similar approaches to diagnostic assessment and treatment may improve outcomes in other pelvic pain disorders

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Neurourol Urodyn. 2008;27(4):306-10.

Diagnostic criteria for pudendal neuralgia by pudendal nerve entrapment (Nantes criteria).

Service d’Urologie, CHU Hôtel-Dieu, Nantes, France.

AIMS:

The diagnosis of pudendal neuralgia by pudendal nerve entrapment syndrome is essentially clinical. There are no pathognomonic criteria, but various clinical features can be suggestive of the diagnosis. We defined criteria that can help to the diagnosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A working party has validated a set of simple diagnostic criteria (Nantes criteria).

RESULTS:

The five essentials diagnostic criteria are: (1) Pain in the anatomical territory of the pudendal nerve. (2) Worsened by sitting. (3) The patient is not woken at night by the pain. (4) No objective sensory loss on clinical examination. (5) Positive anesthetic pudendal nerve block. Other clinical criteria can provide additional arguments in favor of the diagnosis of pudendal neuralgia. Exclusion criteria are also proposed: purely coccygeal, gluteal, or hypogastric pain, exclusively paroxysmal pain, exclusive pruritus, presence of imaging abnormalities able to explain the symptoms.

CONCLUSION:

The diagnosis of pudendal neuralgia by pudendal nerve entrapment syndrome is essentially clinical. There are no specific clinical signs or complementary test results of this disease. However, a combination of criteria can be suggestive of the diagnosis

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Neurourol Urodyn. 2007;26(6):820-7.

Pudendal entrapment as an etiology of chronic perineal pain: Diagnosis and treatment.

Fort Bend Neurology, Sugar Land, Texas 77479, USA. docpop@mail.ev1.net

AIMS:

This study was conducted to evaluate pudendal entrapment as an etiology of chronic pain, a diagnostic protocol for pudendal entrapment, and clinical response to surgical decompression.

METHODS:

A case series of 58 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of pudendal entrapment, based on clinical factors, neurophysiologic studies, and response to pudendal nerve infiltrations, is described. All patients were refractory to other treatment modalities. Patients were assessed before and after surgical decompression: degree of pain was assessed by visual analog scale (VAS) score, percent global overall improvement, and improved function and quality of life before surgery and 12 months or longer after surgery.

RESULTS:

The primary presenting feature was progressive, chronic, intractable neuropathic pain in the perineum (ano-rectal and/or urogenital) that worsened with sitting. Other symptoms included urinary hesitancy, frequency, urgency, constipation/painful bowel movements, and sexual dysfunction. After surgical decompression, 35 (60%) patients were classified as responders, based on one of the following three criteria: a greater than 50% reduction in VAS score, a greater than 50% improvement in global assessment of pain, or a greater than 50% improvement in function and quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS:

Pudendal entrapment can be a cause of chronic, disabling perineal pain in both men and women. Since symptomatic patients seek medical care from many different medical specialists, a reliable diagnostic protocol should be established. For patients refractory to conventional interventions, surgical decompression of the pudendal nerve can improve pain-related symptoms and disability. With ongoing work on this subject, which is a difficult disorder to accurately diagnose and treat, a better awareness of pudendal entrapment across specialties will emerge

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J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2010 Mar-Apr;17(2):148-53. Epub 2010 Jan 12.

Pudendal neuralgia.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona 85013, USA. Michael.Hibner@chw.edu

Pudendal neuralgia is a painful, neuropathic condition involving the dermatome of the pudendal nerve. This condition is not widely known and often unrecognized by many practitioners. The International Pudendal Neuropathy Association (tipna.org) estimates the incidence of this condition to be 1/100,000; however, most practitioners treating patients with this condition feel the actual rate of incidence may be significantly higher. Currently, there is fair paucity of medical literature and scientific evidence in the diagnosis and treatment of pudendal neuralgia. Diagnosis of this condition is based on the utilization of Nantes Criteria, in conjunction with clinical history and physical findings. CT-scan guided nerve blocks are also employed, by this author, to provide additional information. Subsequent treatment of pudendal neuralgia is medical and well as surgical, with Physical Therapy a key component to all aspects of treatment. The goal of this paper is to present evidence based information, as well as personal clinical experience, in treating approximately 200 patients with pudendal neuralgia.

Useful links

http://www.pudendalhope.info/ (please note that on the home page is a video demonstrating a surgical procedure. If you are particulalry sensitised it maybe advisable to avoid watching the film currently although with graded exposure this could become a goal. Seek the advice of your health professional)

http://www.instituteforwomeninpain.com/

 

 

26Sep/11

Dysmenorrhoea and Pain

Chronic low back pain, Chronic pain, Dysmenorrhoea, Fibromyalgia, Functional Pain Syndromes, Headache, Low back pain, Migraine, Pain, Pain Education, Understanding pain, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dysmenorrhoea and pain — You may wonder why I am writing about dysmenorrhoea. It is because in a number of cases that I see, there is co-existing dysmenorrhea and other functional pain syndromes. These include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), migraine, chronic low back pain, pelvic pain, bladder pain and fibromyalgia. Traditionally all of these problems are managed by different specialists with their particular end-organ in mind—e.g./ IBS = gastroenterologist; migraine = neurologist; fibromyalgia = rheumatologist. The science however, tells us that these seemingly unrelated conditions can be underpinned by a common factor, central sensitisation. This is not a blog about dysmenorrhoea per se, but considers the problem in the light of recent scientific findings and how it co-exists with other conditions.

 

Central sensitisation is a state of the central nervous system (CNS)—the spinal cord and the brain. This state develops when the CNS is bombarded with danger signals from the tissues and organs.  It means that when information from the body tissues, organs and systems reaches the spinal cord, it is modified before heading up to the brain. The brain scrutinises this information and responds appropriately by telling the body to respond. If there is sensitisation, these responses are protective and that includes pain. Pain is part of a protective mechanism along with changes in movement, activity in the endocrine system, the autonomic nervous system and the immune system. Pain itself is a motivator. It motivates action because it is unpleasant, and provides an opportunity to learn—e.g./ do not touch because it is hot. This is very useful with a new injury but less helpful when the injury has healed or there is no sign of persisting pathology.

Understanding that central sensitisation plays a part in these conditions creates an opportunity to target the underlying mechanisms. This can be with medication that acts upon the CNS and with contemporary non-medical approaches that focus upon the spinal cord and brain such as imagery, sensorimotor training, mindfulness and relaxation. In this way, dysmenorrhoea can be treated in a similar fashion to a chronic pain condition although traditionally it is not considered to be such a problem. The recent work by Vincent et al. (2011) observed activity in the brains of women with dysmenorrhoea and found it to be similar to women with chronic pain, highlighting the importance of early and appropriate management.

The aforementioned study joins an increasing amount of research looking at the commonality of functional pain syndromes. We must therefore, be vigilant when we are assessing pain states and consider that the presenting problem maybe just part of the bigger picture. Recognising that central processing of signals from the body is altered in a number of conditions that appear to be diverse allows us to offer better care and hence improve quality of life.

* If you are suffering with undiagnosed pain, you should consult with your GP or a health professional.