Pudendal Neuralgia or Nerve Entrapment Is Common in the IC Patient Community (Subtype 4)

Nerve injury and/or compression can also trigger many of the symptoms that we associate with interstitial cystitis. They, however, experience more intense nerve driven pain that can have a burning or electrical quality to it, especially when sitting. Their pain is often positional in nature. They may be fine when standing but when they sit down, bend over or squat down they may have symptoms. Their pain is also not linked to bladder function and fullness.

These patients often have tight, dysfunctional pelvic floor muscles which are compressing the pudendal nerve. Treatment starts with identifying causes of injury/irritation, physical therapy and stretching for tight muscles and analgesics specific for neuropathic pain. Nerve blocks can be both diagnostic and therapeutic when conservative measures fail. Surgical nerve release is infrequently needed but can be effective in carefully selected patients.