Vulvodynia nerve pain after having baby

I recently had my second baby 7 months ago and since then I have had pain at the site where I tore and just inside my vagina. It only really hurt if pressure was applied but I have recently had a steroid and anesthetic injection into the vagina area to help treat this. This has made things so much worse as now I have pain all the time. It throbs and burns constantly. I went back to the gynae who treated me and he said that there was no reason for me to be feeling like this. He couldn't say a lot other than I shouldn't be in discomfort and gave me some lidocane gel. I am keen to know if anyone else has experienced this and if it will subside. This was 4 weeks ago. Thank you

Hi there,

This is my first time on this site, I've only just discovered it. Bit overwhelmed by the wealth of information and advice but finally not feeling so alone!

I had my little girl just over 7 years ago. I experienced a third degree. 10 weeks later, we had sex, it really hurt but kind of thought it was normal and would ease with time. A year down the line it was still hurting. I was diagnosed with 'vaginismus' described to me as a pyschological condition that manifests itself physically i.e. it my body was remembering the pain of childbirth and tensing up the muscles and therefore hurting. I had a session of counselling and it was quickly noted that I really didn't have an 'issue'. I then had a year or so of physiotherapy to 'retrain the muscles'. It had no effect. Years followed of frustrating appointments with various people. Eventually a doctor decided I actually wasn't phycially right down there. She did a biopsy and it turned out I have a skin condition called 'lichen planus'. It's an autoimmune thing. They don't know what caused it, perhaps being pregnant or perhaps a weakness around the scar tissue.....but unfortunately there is no cure. However, there are ways of treating the symptoms. Sadly, none of the steroids/creams worked for me. Lidocaine didn't make a difference to the pain either. I am currently on Nortriptyline which is usually used as a anti depressant but in this case can help weaken the nerves down there. So far it hasn't worked, I've been asked to double the dose from 50mg to 100mg and see if that makes any difference.

Looking on here there seems to be so many routes to go down....acupuncture, homeopathy.....I'm not sure where to go next but feel like I need to give this medication a proper shot first.

I'm so sorry your doctor has been so unhelpful! I have just started to see a dermatologist at the hospital who specialises in skin disorders of this area. Would it be possible for you to maybe ask your GP if there is similar in your area and get referred? I forgot to add to 'my story' I also had allergy tests. I have never reacted to anything before so was very surprised to learn I am allergic to fragrance. I have completely stopped using fragrance body washes etc and wash my underwear in non-allergic non-frangranced stuff. It seems childbrith can make this area susceptible to reactions to things, perhaps you didn't react well to the injection? Sorry I haven't been very helpful in offering advice, but hope it's some comfort knowing it's not just you! I really hope things improve for you soon. It's very frustrating I know!