Vulvodynia Support
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» Hope to all my suffering ladies
Ice and heat EmptyFri Oct 23, 2020 12:04 am by ringostarr26

» Please tell me this can get better
Ice and heat EmptySat Jul 18, 2020 7:38 pm by sammykramer

» By no means cured, but doing much better!
Ice and heat EmptyMon Mar 16, 2020 1:26 pm by tinkerbelle2

» How I cured my Vulvodynia!
Ice and heat EmptySat Dec 07, 2019 11:54 am by Millie

» 7 months since the diagnosis
Ice and heat EmptyWed Aug 14, 2019 2:38 am by agtoronto

» Gabapentin Gel. or other topical creams
Ice and heat EmptySat Jun 15, 2019 5:22 pm by mary jane

» IMPORTANT FOR UK SUFFERERS
Ice and heat EmptySat Jun 15, 2019 5:21 pm by mary jane

» Help New Diagnosis
Ice and heat EmptySat Jun 15, 2019 5:07 pm by mary jane

» 6 days post Vestibulectomy - Is this normal?? please tell me about your postop healing process!
Ice and heat EmptyTue Jun 11, 2019 12:56 am by VVSSufferer

Gabapentin Gel. or other topical creams

Thu May 10, 2018 9:43 am by Rosie21

Hi I have been suffering for some years with this abominable pain. I have tried most of the systemic drugs , I asked specialists and Doctors if I could at least try a topical treatment but because this requires a special prescription have been refused Has anybody had a chance of trying these? Thank you I will try to put a link on to some of the research into Gabapentin Gel. Thanks.

Comments: 2

Putnams 'bony parts' cushion or Putnams 'Dr Huff' cushion - which is best?

Sat Aug 01, 2015 4:17 pm by Fielder

Hi everyone,

I'm a newbie.  I live in the UK.  

I'm trying to work out the best cushion to get for my vulvodynia.  I suspect that I could have pudendal nerve involvement (the aching and burning pain is from vagina to clitoris) and I have rectocele and some tailbone pain too.

I have seen some good reports on older threads regarding the Putnams pressure relief cushions....with some ladies …

Comments: 11

An absolute success story- please read!

Fri Mar 08, 2019 10:57 pm by Persevere1990

Dear All,

I posted on here back in March 2017 having just got a diagnosis of vulvodynia after a few months of relentless and acute pain. I was desperate, I was hurting, I was scared I would never know life without pain there again.

I tried creams, acupuncture, numbing gels, frozen pads, baths with various internet recommended concoctions- convinced myself I had lichen sclerosus, herpes, thrush- …

Comments: 0

I'm sorry im rambling

Thu Feb 21, 2019 5:49 am by Jet227

hey, im 19, ive been struggling with this almost a year. The first week I became itchy I went in to check about a yeast infection another week later. I have been to 10 different doctors a total of about 15 appointments for this problem for the past 11 months. I have been tested for everything including having a biopsy. I was first told basically to just go home and use hydrocortazone, then I went …

Comments: 1

New member need advice please

Thu Feb 28, 2019 11:33 pm by PANDORA123

Hello, I have just been diagnosed with unprovoked vulvodynia. Im really scared and worried. It burns a lot and it hurts to sit down. I have been prescribed amitriptyle 10mg. Can anyone give me some hope that I can get better from this condition. Feeling low and depressed.

Thanks

Comments: 5

MonaLisa Touch

Fri Feb 08, 2019 7:35 pm by rl2091

Hi All,

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with the MonaLisa Touch treatment for Vulvodynia? My pain started when I went on HRT(pill) for anxiety mainly and my pain abruntly stopped when I stopped HRT. However, when I started on the HRT patch (at my dr's suggestion), the pain returned and has never left. That was 7 years ago. I found MonaLisa Touch on the internet purely by accident …

Comments: 3

Diagnosed Recently

Tue Jan 08, 2019 3:55 pm by flissyg

Hi All,

I’m so glad I’ve found a place where there are others who understand how I feel!

So this is my story:-

I’m 36,  and 4 months ago, whilst innocently sitting in bed reading I experienced a very sharp stabbing pain in my clitoris. It last only a few minutes and then subsided as quickly as it came on. It put it down to “one of those things”.  The following morning I woke up …

Comments: 4

New and need advice and help

Wed Dec 05, 2018 3:26 pm by Cin124

Hi everyone,

About three months ago, I started having vaginal and vulval itching. Then, about two months ago, my vulva started to feel painful and look swollen, so I went to the doctor. I was tested for herpes, chlamydia, and gonorrhea which all came back negative. I also had to do a vaginal swab test and the only thing that came back positive was yeast infection. I was prescribed hydrozole …

Comments: 6

New here would very much appreciate advice at the end of my rope

Wed Jan 09, 2019 9:09 pm by Jma990o

This might be a little long but it's been such a long time I've even been able to talk about my problems openly thank you in advance for any helpful advice.
So ok I'm 24 I've been having this problem for over two years seen quite a few doctors and obgyns alike and nobody will take me seriously I have had a few utis and yeast infections and even bv once and this all started after one of the utis …

Comments: 3


Ice and heat

4 posters

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Ice and heat Empty Ice and heat

Post  Sarah001 Tue Aug 10, 2010 12:04 pm

Ok here's what I plan to try next for my inflamed skin problem. It's mentioned in Amy Stein's Heal Pelvic Pain and when I read it I thought it sounded like a good plan. I'm going to use the old fashioned method of alternating ice and moist heat on the area which is supposed to encourage the blood vessels to pump fresh blood into the area and remove some of the inflammation.

The way to do it on the vulva is a bit different to other areas as it's so delicate. Take an ice cube into the bathroom with you and have a hot bath ready. Don't overdo the heat, you don't want to burn your skin! Rub the ice cube on the skin for a few minutes (you probably won't be able to stand long as it feels weird and achey) and NEVER keep it still, always moving so you get cold into the tissue but not ice burns! Then sit in the warm bath for a few minutes before repeating another twice. It makes sense to me that this might help becuase the ice restricts the blood vessels so shuts down the inflammation and the heat encourages the fresh blood which those of us with pelvic floor issues aren't getting.

It won't work instantly and needs repeating daily while you sort out your pelvic floor etc but it should at least get some fresh blood there and remove the stagnant stuff. The way the inflammation is described on another site is your body thinks there's an injury in the area so floods it with inflammation but as there isn't an injury as such it doesn't just heal the area and go away it stays put still thinking the injury is present. It's worth a try.

I'm of the opinion that this is the kind of problem that more natural treatments are suited for, I always think some of the simple home treatments are better than orthodox medicine because natural addresses the problem whereas orthodox treats the symptoms. I'll let you know how it goes and anyone else giving it a go, let me know how you get on!
Sarah001
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Post  Sarah001 Tue Aug 24, 2010 12:02 pm

Hmm I can't decide if to drop the ice part of the routine, I've read a few articles recently that claim that the heat part is the only important part as it increases blood flow to the damaged tissue. Anyone else got any experience with using heat on the area? I have to admit I feel better after a warm bath so perhaps that's why.
Sarah001
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Post  jules Wed Aug 25, 2010 3:25 am

My doctor told me to keep gel packs in the refrigerator. i used them frequently to cool off the area. i was told to wrap the gel pack in a damp paper towel. i was never told about sitting in a warm bath. let me know if you notice a difference. ???

jules

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Post  Sarah001 Wed Aug 25, 2010 1:11 pm

The reason I'm wondering about this is because the tight pelvic floor problem is supposed to reduce blood flow to the vulvar and I've seen it mentioned on Dr Glazer's site that increasing the blood is the way to go whereas ice decreases the blood flow. I have to say I find ice really achey and not very comfortable but a warm bath (I have one each night to ease my joints and muscles when a shower doesn't cut it, no bubble bath of course! Rolling Eyes ) does help for a short while afterwards. Initially I thought the bath might be helping because it washes any residual urine etc off the skin but when I tried rinsing after peeing it didn't have the same effect so perhaps it is the relaxation of the muscles and increased blood flow that's really helping? I'll continue with it and see what happens.
Sarah001
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Post  Sebby (Admin) Wed Aug 25, 2010 4:23 pm


Mmmmm I did try an ice pack thingy that you put in the freezer..it does have a nice cooling effect but does not reduce the pain for me.

Havn't tried heat..think it would make me worse as I get burning down there????
Sebby (Admin)
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Post  Sarah001 Wed Aug 25, 2010 6:20 pm

I got burning until I started taking Amitriptyline Sebby so perhaps you should try painkillers plus heat? I don't get burning much now but my inflamed skin is still very, very sore so that's the big issue for me these days.
Sarah001
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Post  Sarah001 Mon Aug 30, 2010 1:09 pm

Here's a link that supports the use of heat rather than ice:

http://www.vulvarvestibulitisrelief.com/articles/31-Vaginal-Steam-Baths

I've been looking into this recently in alot of detail and ice can actually delay healing because it reduces blood flow to the area and makes muscles more tense. Ice is useful for acute inflammation which means "recent" and "fresh injury" inflammation, it doesn't mean severe (as alot of people think) although the inflammation can actually be severe. Chronic inflammation with spasmed muscles should respond better to heat. Ice is pretty much on a par with lidocaine treatments and numbs the area for a bit but doesn't help healing. I'm going to try the recommended steam baths this week and see what happens!
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Post  jules Mon Aug 30, 2010 11:21 pm

Thanks for sharing. let us know the results of your experiment.

jules

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Post  Sebby (Admin) Tue Aug 31, 2010 6:43 pm


Im gonna do that! make the water nice and hot without burning my legs and kneel in it.

I cant sit in bath im too scared as I only shower down there with cool water.

Im wondering how long I should sit in it tho, I dont fink it should be any longer that 20 minutes tho.
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Post  Sarah001 Tue Aug 31, 2010 7:28 pm

Sebby sweetie, you don't want to sit IN it!! It's the same principle as when you steam your face to unblock pores or for sinus problems, the water should be very, very hot and it's the steam you want on the area, not the very, very hot water!! A shallow tupperware container would be ideal so we can sit on our heels and place a towel over the legs, if it's too hot just hover higher for a bit until it cools down a bit.
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Post  Sebby (Admin) Tue Aug 31, 2010 9:02 pm


Ok lol I dont wana burn me legs! lol I have a bowl I can use...can do it while I watch Eastenders!

Sorry my heads all over the place, had bad virus...and a lot of codine lol Im suprised I still realise who I am! Laughing
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Post  jules Wed Sep 01, 2010 1:32 am

I'm trying to imagine the two of you watching t.v. or hanging out with no pants and a hot steamy bowl of water between your legs under your lady parts. Ha ha! let me know how it works. Like Sebby, i thought you had to put your whole body in the hot water.

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Post  Sebby (Admin) Thu Sep 02, 2010 9:31 pm


Hehe...I fink we are on too many narcotics!!! Laughing Who knows what we will do next...as long as we dont turn up to A & E with third degree burns lol
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Post  jules Fri Sep 03, 2010 4:58 am

I love A & E. However, i do not want to see the two of you on that station.

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Post  Sarah001 Fri Sep 10, 2010 1:13 pm

Sebby did you try the steam bath? I did once but my dodgy joints weren't keen on sitting in that position for longer than 10 minutes so I didn't manage the full 20. I did find though it made the area feel a bit better for a while but it was very short lived, maybe because I didn't manage 20 minutes? I don't like the idea of putting something into the toilet and doing it that way, very unhygeinic! I'd be interested to know how anyone got on with the full 20 minutes of steam though.
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Post  jules Sat Sep 11, 2010 3:17 am

I'm too busy popping my narcotics Shocked

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Post  lisa98 Sun Sep 12, 2010 9:46 am

Interesting that you find washing the area at the end of the day makes a difference- i find it does too, regardless of whether its warm or cold water. wonder if it is the clearing away of residue of urine and sweat or something else at work. Im interested to try the steaming idea. p.s., at first I pictured a bamboo steamer being used. amusing.

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