For individuals experiencing pelvic pain, it could be a disorder of the pudendal nerve known as pudendal neuropathy or neuralgia that leads to chronic pain. The condition can be caused by pudendal nerve entrapment, where the nerve becomes compressed or damaged. Can knowing the symptoms help healthcare providers correctly diagnose the condition and develop an effective treatment plan?
Table of Contents
The pudendal nerve is the main nerve that serves the perineum, which is the area between the anus and the genitalia – the scrotum in men and the vulva in women. The pudendal nerve runs through the gluteus muscles/buttocks and into the perineum. It carries sensory information from the external genitalia and the skin around the anus and perineum and transmits motor/movement signals to various pelvic muscles. (Origoni, M. et al., 2014) Pudendal neuralgia, also referred to as pudendal neuropathy, is a disorder of the pudendal nerve that can lead to chronic pelvic pain.
Chronic pelvic pain from pudendal neuropathy can be caused by any of the following (Kaur J. et al., 2024)
Pudendal nerve pain can be described as stabbing, cramping, burning, numbness, or pins and needles and can present (Kaur J. et al., 2024)
Because the symptoms are often hard to distinguish, pudendal neuropathy can often be hard to differentiate from other types of chronic pelvic pain.
Prolonged sitting on a bicycle seat can cause pelvic nerve compression, which can lead to chronic pelvic pain. The frequency of pudendal neuropathy (chronic pelvic pain caused by entrapment or compression of the pudendal nerve) is often referred to as Cyclist’s Syndrome. Sitting on certain bicycle seats for long periods places significant pressure on the pudendal nerve. The pressure can cause swelling around the nerve, which causes pain and, over time, can lead to nerve trauma. Nerve compression and swelling can cause pain described as burning, stinging, or pins and needles. (Durante, J. A., and Macintyre, I. G. 2010) For individuals with pudendal neuropathy caused by bicycling, symptoms can appear after prolonged biking and sometimes months or years later.
A review of studies provided the following recommendations for preventing Cyclist’s Syndrome (Chiaramonte, R., Pavone, P., Vecchio, M. 2021)
A healthcare provider may use a combination of treatments.
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Origoni, M., Leone Roberti Maggiore, U., Salvatore, S., & Candiani, M. (2014). Neurobiological mechanisms of pelvic pain. BioMed research international, 2014, 903848. doi.org/10.1155/2014/903848
Kaur, J., Leslie, S. W., & Singh, P. (2024). Pudendal Nerve Entrapment Syndrome. In StatPearls. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31334992
Durante, J. A., & Macintyre, I. G. (2010). Pudendal nerve entrapment in an Ironman athlete: a case report. The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 54(4), 276–281.
Chiaramonte, R., Pavone, P., & Vecchio, M. (2021). Diagnosis, Rehabilitation and Preventive Strategies for Pudendal Neuropathy in Cyclists, A Systematic Review. Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology, 6(2), 42. doi.org/10.3390/jfmk6020042
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The information herein on "The Impact of Pudendal Neuropathy on Pelvic Health" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
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