On November 16, 2005 I had a total abdominal hysterectomy and it resulted in me having Ilioinguinal neuralgia. This has caused me to have a horrible throbbing/pulsating pain in the left side of my pelvis from my mons pubis to the top of my Iliac Crest. The pain clinic has tried multiple trigger point injections, steroid injections, nerve blocks, pulsed radio frequency nerve ablations, etc. I went to physical therapy for almost two years, etc. Nothing has helped stop this AWFUL pain! I manage it now with Lyrica and Oxycontin. Now my Neurologist has recommended me to have surgery to have the nerve severed. I am not sure that I want to have this done because from what I have read, cutting the nerve could lead to further problems, more pain, formation of a neuroma, etc, etc.
Also I know that I would have a permanent numb area in my pelvis, which is fine with me, but I cannot find any information about the specific functions of the Ilioinguinal nerve? I am worried about negative sexual side effects from cutting the ilioinguinal nerve, balance problems in my pelvic area, etc. What information can you give me about the functions of the ilioinguinal nerve itself? Because once I have the nerve cut I know that will be final!! But I don't want to take Lyrica and Oxycontin for the rest of my life, I am only 46 years old. . .