Date: August 8th 2008

Hello Fellow Pn'ers!

Pudendal Neuralgia has always been considered a "rule out" diagnosis. There are many other illnesses that can have some of the same symptoms of pudendal neuralgia. We have always suggested to make sure to rule out any other issues, like Lyme's disease, infections, and other illnesses that can mimic some of the same symptoms of Pudendal Neuralgia. The PN experts have been getting together regularly, to see if they can come up with a way to correctly diagnose PN. They are trying to come up with the same protocol, so that every PN expert can conduct the same testing, in order to look at correctly diagnosing PN. Here is a relatively new article, from the "Nantes" team, that describes in good detail, what to look at when diagnosing PN. Here is the link: http://www.cofemer.fr/userfiles/algies-perineales-03.pdf





I also wanted to provide a feasibility study on the laproscopic PN decompression procedure. The transischio rectal approach and trans gluteal approach and trans perienial approach to PN decompression, has been widely studied. The only issues with all of these procedures is that they cannot reach the distal point of the Alcock's Canal. This study looks at the laproscopic procedure and shows some information, on how they might be able to reach this distal point. Here is the link: http://www.springerlink.com/content/41125r558537j588/





The last piece of new information that we have, is the new protocol, when making arrangements to go to Houston, for diagnostic testing and/or nerve blocks. Here is the updated information:

Dr. Renney is making a change to the program.

The new policy is this: if you arrive for your appointment with Dr. Renney and you do not have your required tests completed, all of your specialist appointments for that trip will be canceled.


Here is a reminder of the required tests:

1. MRI (without contrast) of the lumbosacral plexus, attention S2S3S4 nerve roots.
IMPORTANT NOTE: AN MRI of the lumbar spine is NOT the lumbosacral plexus attention S2S3S4 nerve roots.

2. CT of pelvis with contrast.

Unless Dr. Renney specifically tells you that the tests are not needed in your case, if you arrive at his office without these reports, all of your appointments for the visit will be canceled.

As fellow Pudendalites, we would hate to see you go down to Houston, for your appointment without the necessary medical records, spend money to get down there, just to find out, that your appointment has been cancelled.

We look foward to continuing to keep everyone updated on some of the newest studies and protocols!

Thank you,
Administrators of Pudendal Help