How do I know if I have pudendal neuralgia (PN)?
If you have pain in the pudendal nerve distribution area and doctors cannot find a reason for it then you might have pudendal neuralgia. The pudendal nerve innervates the penis and clitoris, bulbospongiosus and ischiocavernosus muscles, and areas around the scrotum, perineum, and anus. (see anatomy section) The pain can be burning, stabbing, aching, or just a sense of numbness with loss of sensation. Sometimes the pain is mild and comes and goes for several months or years. Sometimes the pain hits suddenly and never goes away. Sometimes it just comes on slowly and gets worse over time. Sometimes you can associate the start of the pain with a traumatic event or pelvic surgery. Each case is different.
