[msp651]

I am so sorry for your pain.

I am curious about the nerve blocks. I have terrible pelvic/groin pain that sounds SO much like the hernia stories I read about. (But I also had pelvic mesh slings removed, and the pain persists.) I had many nerve blocks, but the results were inconsistent. A few times they seemed to work, but usually a few hours later I was in agony, as if the nerves were “triggered” somehow. I, too, have tried PT and any number of treatments. I am revisiting a local surgeon (recommended by this page) to try to completely rule out the hernia theory.

Like so many people I read about, the pain is most severe during my period. Is there an explanation for why that might be?

[msp651]

Sorry. I should have said I had posted it earlier.

https://www.herniatalk.com/7591-terrible-pain-pelvic-mesh-or-possible-hernia

[msp651]

quote drtowfigh:

[USER=”1193″]msp651[/USER] the answers to your questions are highly dependent on details of your symptoms, what the imaging actually shows, etc. I highly recommend you see a hernia specialist to at least help to narrow down what’s going on. Perhaps you can provide some details here?

I wrote out a longer history. I am open to any advice. Thanks!

[msp651]

Thanks so much for the message.

I’m truly feeling desperate for answers.I used to walk and bike for miles. Now I can barely walk around the block.

[msp651]

I’m not an athlete at all, and the onset of the tearing pain started with a shift in positions in bed. So I’m skeptical of the sports hernia label. It’s ridiculously painful.

[msp651]

Thanks. I’ve kept pain diaries off an on for three years. One pattern is that I will do a stretch that feels very intense, and then an hour later will be in excruciating pain. Smaller movements (Feldenkrais) aren’t as risky, but occasionally they cause flare-ups as well.

I will look for the sports hernia threads.

Anyone else have thoughts?

[msp651]

A clarification: When I say the pain radiates down my leg, I mean the front of my leg and my inner thigh, down to my knee. Sometimes it goes up my side. It’s miserable.

[msp651]

My apologies for the incomplete post.

I have a complicated history but will try to be succinct. (If this sounds familiar, I posted several years ago at a different stage in the process, but I can’t find those very old posts.)
I had two pelvic mesh slings for incontinence, not prolapse. The first one (a minisling) never worked, but the second, a TVT, was successful.

A year after the second sling surgery, right as I was increasing my activities again, I felt the weirdest brief zinging pain deep in my groin when shifting positions in bed, and after that I started experiencing unbearable pelvic and groin pain. I told doctors at the time that the onset felt like something broke or tore internally.

I have been to a long list of specialists and have ruled out potential ob/gyn causes.
Sometimes PT helps a little. Other times it makes it worse.

Doctors initially suspected a femoral hernia and scheduled surgery, but ultrasounds and MRIs revealed nothing. Hernia surgery was cancelled.

I went to a local hernia specialist (recommended through this blog) who was very kind and compassionate but wasn’t convinced it was a hernia. Instead, she wondered whether the pain was caused by the mesh slings.

After a long list of other tests and treatments, I had significant surgery to have the mesh slings removed.

Unfortunately, the pain persists.

It is predictably bad in the days before and during my period, but I have severe flare-ups throughout the month.

Lying down doesn’t help significantly, unless I am flat on my back.

Lying on my side makes it worse, and the pain often keeps me up at night.

Gas/bloating makes it worse.

Standing or sitting for extending periods of time sets it off.

Walking sets it off.

It’s a stabbing/pinching/burning/tearing pain that brings me to tears.

It’s mainly on one side, but sometimes both sides hurt.

Lifting, coughing, laughing or climbing stairs are NOT triggers for the pain.

There is always an “epicenter” to the pain in my groin/pelvic area, but it radiates down my leg and back. It sometimes feels like there is a clamp or a knife in my groin.

There is no bulge.

I have dealt with this since 2015, and doctors seem to be at a loss.

I have had tried so many things to treat the pain, including PT, acupuncture, dry needling, meds and nerve blocks. I can’t find long-term relief, and I long to return to all the exercise and activity I used to enjoy.

I have read a lot about chronic pain and how our bodies turn up the volume on it. Even considering that, the mesh removal (a major surgical undertaking) didn’t hurt nearly as much as the chronic groin pain

The mesh-removal surgeon says that it’s nerve irritation related to mesh and multiple surgeries. That said, the initial hernia theory still eats at me.

I’m writing because I know there is a lot of chronic pain on this blog, and I’m wondering if others have thoughts or ideas.

It sometimes feels like I’m being torn apart.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Any ideas?

[msp651]

My apologies for the incomplete post.

I have a complicated history but will try to be succinct. (If this sounds familiar, I posted several years ago at a different stage in the process, but I can’t find those very old posts.)
I had two pelvic mesh slings for incontinence, not prolapse. The first one (a minisling) never worked, but the second, a TVT, was successful.

A year after the second sling surgery, right as I was increasing my activities again, I felt the weirdest brief zinging pain deep in my groin when shifting positions in bed, and after that I started experiencing unbearable pelvic and groin pain. I told doctors at the time that the onset felt like something broke or tore internally.

I have been to a long list of specialists and have ruled out potential ob/gyn causes. I am overweight but used to be quite active.
Sometimes PT helps a little. Other times it makes it worse.

Doctors initially suspected a femoral hernia and scheduled surgery, but ultrasounds and MRIs revealed nothing. Hernia surgery was cancelled.

I went to a local hernia specialist (recommended through this blog) who was very kind and compassionate but wasn’t convinced it was a hernia. Instead, she wondered whether the pain was caused by the mesh slings.

After a long list of other tests and treatments, I had significant surgery to have the mesh slings removed.

Unfortunately, the debilitating pain persists.

It is predictably bad in the days before and during my period, but I have severe flare-ups throughout the month.

Lying down doesn’t help significantly, unless I am flat on my back.

Lying on my side makes it worse, and the pain often keeps me up at night.

Gas/bloating makes it worse.

Standing or sitting for extending periods of time sets it off.

Walking sets it off.

It’s a stabbing/pinching/burning/tearing pain that brings me to tears.

It’s mainly on one side, but sometimes both sides hurt.

Lifting, coughing, laughing or climbing stairs are NOT triggers for the pain.

There is always an “epicenter” to the pain in my groin/pelvic area, but it radiates down my inner thigh, up my side, into my genitals and back. It sometimes feels like there is a clamp or a knife in my groin. Pelvic floor therapist often remarked about internal muscle “banding” but had no solutions.

There is no bulge.

I have dealt with this since 2015, and doctors seem to be at a loss.

I have had tried so many things to treat the pain, including PT, acupuncture, dry needling, meds and nerve blocks. I can’t find long-term relief, and I long to return to all the exercise and activity I used to enjoy.

I have read a lot about chronic pain and how our bodies turn up the volume on it. Even considering that, the mesh removal (a major surgical undertaking) didn’t hurt nearly as much as the chronic groin pain

The mesh-removal surgeon says that it’s nerve irritation related to mesh and multiple surgeries. That said, the initial hernia theory still eats at me.

I’m writing because I know there is a lot of chronic pain on this blog, and I’m wondering if others have thoughts or ideas.

It sometimes feels like I’m being torn apart.

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

[msp651]

Femoral hernia, still searching?

Thank you.

Is an MRI indeed able to detect mesh?

[msp651]

Femoral hernia, still searching?

I’ve been examined by 3 general surgeons. One suspected a hernia but changed her mind based on the images.

The second surgeon was a surgeon you recommended, Dr. Ramaswamy. She couldn’t find anything and thought the mesh was likely the culprit. (The doctors removed 95%+ of it on 7/1.)

The third general surgeon said that femoral hernias are typically in thin women. He said that the pain wouldn’t be intermittent, as mine is.

Would it make sense to seek an updated ultrasound? (Last one was in January.)

I would be happy to send you my images.

[msp651]

Femoral hernia, still searching?

Hi, can you expound on this? “So if your exam is diagnostic, don’t give up.”

Do you mean the physical exam? The last general surgeon I saw said that there is no reason to suspect a hernia based on the physical exam and that surgery to look for one wasn’t advised.

The MRI and ultrasounds from 6-10 months ago are normal.

I feel like I am going bonkers. I feel like there is an ice pick in my groin! The burning/stabbing/tearing pain has taken over my life. I am open-minded about pain clinics/meditation, etc. But I feel like my body is telling me something is wrong, and ignoring it is next to impossible.

[msp651]

Serious pain, femoral hernia maybe?

To offer an update, the likelihood of a hernia seems small. Most likely I am dealing with nerve entrapment related to the sling surgery. I am hoping for relief, possibly through nerve ablation. The pain is excruciating, and I’m hoping for resolution soon.

[msp651]

Serious pain, femoral hernia maybe?

Thank you.

I read the Jane Brody column about hidden hernias awhile back. I feel like she could have interviewed me — not for every symptom, but for most of them.

[msp651]

Serious pain, femoral hernia maybe?

Thanks for this forum, by the way.

I am desperate for a diagnosis. The past four months have been incredibly difficult. Any suggestions for pain relief in the interim? I’m taking neurontin and Advil.

[msp651]

Serious pain, femoral hernia maybe?

Thank you. I have been in contact with Dr. Ramaswamy. I am also trying to shake the feeling that the pain is caused by one of the two bladder slings. (I’m not having other symptoms that would suggest problems with the slings, though, and the urogynecologist is one of the doctors who suspects a hernia.)

[msp651]

Serious pain, femoral hernia maybe?

I have held off scheduling with either of them because suddenly I’m dealing with what appears to be pelvic prolapse and plan to consult with the urologist again. (This came up suddenly. There was no sign of a prolapse before.)

So this leads me to a whole other set of questions. Is is possible for prolapse to cause such severe pain? Could it still be a hernia?

[msp651]

Serious pain, femoral hernia maybe?

One more question: The area of the groin crease and just above it are sensitive to pressure. Massaging the area is torture. Typical of a hernia?

[msp651]

Serious pain, femoral hernia maybe?

Thank you SO much.

So there’s no nonsurgical way to definitely diagnose such hernias?

[msp651]

Serious pain, femoral hernia maybe?

Wow, thanks for the prompt response. Any suggestions for a doctor in the Midwest, preferably in the Minneapolis area? After reading about Meralgia Paresthetica, I realized it didn’t match my symptoms. By the way, I am no wimp when it comes to pain, but this is excruciating.