How can you tell if your V is nerve-related?

Hey ladies,

This may sound like a silly question, but how can you tell if your problem is nerve related? People have asked me on here a few times if my problem is nerve related, but I have no idea if it is or not as I am still under investigation with tests AND it has been confirmed I haveca lot of hormone problems.

Can anyone descibe to me what real nerve related Vulvodynia feels like? And if it is a 24/7 thing or on-and- off? Is it pain, itchimg or burning? And how do you fix it?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

I think all Vulvodynia and Vestibulodynia are related to the nerves in some way or another but probably in different ways. Generalized Vulvodynia burning 24/7 has something to do with the nerves over firing. There is a great explanation in 'when sex hurts' as well as the 'V book' about how nerves play a role in this.

The pudendal nerve seems to be the main nerve affecting all this. You can google that, or pudendal neuralgia to find lots of really good info. Also googling vulvodynia and nerve C fibers will bring up some good articles.

As far as how you know if you have nerve related stuff going on, i'd say if you are in pain the nerves are going to be involved in some way or another. If you have a trapped nerve due to a fall, injury or scar tissue vs over stimulated nerves due to chronic infection may be important though because treatment would be different i think. The injury kind will respond to physio or chiropratic/massage or myofascial release and the over stimulated thing is why they give us antidepressants, to break the cycle of pain so the body stops producing more fibres and can start to heal itself. though i'm not a Dr so i don't really know enough to say for sure. Though it feels like the Dr's are just guessing too half the time!

I've been to 3 different specialists and 2 different physio therapists and 2 different osteopaths (like chiroprators but more holistic) before i started to get a picture of what was going on for me, but i still don't know what to do to fix it.

What kind of V do you have Sailor Moon?

My main symptom chronic itching. And it burns and gets sore leading up to my period. My symptoms are worse in the vestibule area . I have inflammation in the area too. I have had every test under the sun, including biopsies,  which only showed chronic inflammation.  I find it confusing coz most ladies on here are in PAIN and thats not me. 

However, I am finally seeing a good doctor who has just discovered I have super low estrogen levels.  And Polycystic Ovaries. ..but not your typical type.  Most women with PCOS are overweight and have facial hair due to excess testosterone levels and too much estrogen. My testosterone levels are normal and my estrogen is too low. And on top of that he suspects I have Endometriosis so I am due for an operation in 3 - 6 months. My doctor is doing the op and will be looking at everything inside and fixing any problems whether it be endo or something else that is causing my v symptoms .

I have a lot going on but I am scared that all these newly discovered hormone problems may not be related (but everyone else reckons that they surely would be),  that they are just more shit I have to deal with on top of this V shit.

It's just so hard to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

It sounds like you know your stuff, nerves and V are probably the 1 thing I havn't read much about.

Yeah i hear you, i've had some really low days with this. I'm a generally very happy person, but the V issue has brought me to some dark places i tell ya. The best advice i've read on this forum over and over is to try and stay positive. It's hard to do, but worth the effort on the days i can get into a good happy light hearted head space. It really does help a lot.

Sounds like your V may be a hormone thing, have you read 'when sex hurts' ? i think there is a chapter in there about that. I didn't read it because i have had all my hormones tested and i know it's not that for me. But the general info in that book is great, it may give you a few answers. I think i read on this forum that some woman have had success with hormone creams. May be a worth a look? Have you tried evening primrose oil as a supplement?

I don't know much other than what i've read in the 'when sex hurts' book the 'V book' and 'ending female pain' book. All are books i highly recommend. And then the search feature on this forum is great too. We will all have Phd's in V care by the end of this, i'm sure.

i hope you find relief soon!

See the funny thing is, 12 other doctors did once- off hormone tests and said there was nothing wrong with me. That my hormones were normal.  Then I went to a Gyne that rwally knows his stuff and he did my hormones via blood test every week for 4 weeks. And also extra tests that I had to pay for. Every single test came back with a result. How the hell does that work? After 12 doctors saying my estrogen levels are normal?, when in fact my estrogen is flatlining every single week, no change or rise in estrogen whatsoever.  How could they say I was normal?

I have heard of those books, but I was a bit iffy on reading them, thinking I have probably read it all before on the internet.

How long have you had your symptoms and how did it start if you don't mind me asking?