Process of Elimination

Last Monday I saw the pain management doctor who did my pudendal nerve injections. My pelvic pain doctor wanted me to see him again because he said there were other things he could do for my pudendal neuralgia. One of those things being a low thermal radiofrequency, where heat is used to "stun" the nerve. I am not interested in doing anything else, however, until I see the pudendal neuralgia specialist in August.

I did explain to the doctor that I have a lot of pain in the sacral area particularly around what seems to be the left sacroiliac joint. So he gave me a steroid injection in the left SI joint. The injection was very painful and the doctor thought it might be a good sign that this is what was causing my pain. I was hopeful that this might be at least part of my problem, but I didn't get any relief from it. I don't feel like it was a waste however because it at least ruled out sacroilitis as a cause of my pain. The doctors said that sacral nerve 2 and 3 run through the area that causes me pain and the pudendal nerve comes off of sacral nerve 2, 3, 4 so I think most likely this pain is refered from the pudendal nerve. The doctor said they can repeat the SI injection, but I see no reason to if it didn't give me any relief. The only bad thing is I won't be seeing the pudendal neuralgia specialist for another 4 1/2 months and there's not much more to try for pain relief until then. For now I continue to take Neurontin and go to physical therapy. But I feel like I have plateaued in PT so after a few more sessions I may give that a break as well.

I have been struggling with a cold/cough again for almost 2 weeks. I have learned that coughing is very bad for pudendal neuralgia. Each time I cough it causes me to tense my pelvic floor muscles and puts pressure on the pudendal nerve. Since stopping the birth control pills I have felt better I think. Not better overall, but better than I did on the pills. I am not waking up at night and my overall muscle aches seem to be a little better. Either that or I am getting more used to it.

Sometimes my heart wants to be discouraged. I feel like I am just beating my head against a brick wall. But I know God has been so faithful to me and He promises to continue to give me mercy for each new day (Lamentations 3:22). So I will continue to take it day by day because afterall that's all God says we need to be concerned with (Matthew 6:34).  I love this old hymn entitled Day by Day and I have the first verse sitting over my kitchen sink.  It was written by Lina Sandell who was the daughter of a Lutheran pastor in Sweden.  When she was 26, she accompanied her father on a boat trip and witnessed her father fall overboard and drown.  This tragedy affected her profoundly and inspired her to write hymns.

Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've no cause for worry or for fear.
He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day the Lord Himself is near me,
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,
He whose name is Counsellor and Pow'r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
"As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,"
This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then, in every tribulation,
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith's sweet consolation,
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E'er to take, as from a father's hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till with Christ the Lord I stand.