Pelvic Pain

[Zoso78]

   About three and a half years ago I started having chronic back pain on my way home from work.  I had lifted a 50 gallon hot water tank onto a stand about thirty inches off the ground.  I went the emrgency room that night they did x-rays and then they noticed a pilonial cyst. The cyst was so infected they lanced it right away.  The cyst seemed to heal okay.  But, I was on pain meds for quite a while and returned to work.  After the pain meds ran out I started noticing a pain in my left testicle, as time went on the pain incresed.  My bowels also seems not work as well. I spent alot of time on the couch and had to take time off of work.  The pain is a 13 now on a scale of 1-10 now and it is three years later and the pain is also in the right testicle and penis, it aches like you wouldn't believe.  It also wraps my pelvis into my back and down toward my buttox. The pain also extends into both sides of my hip.  The pain is even worse when I have to go to the bathroom.  I have not been able to go to the bathroom normally in about two and half years.  I have to use glycerin suppositories even if it is not solid.  I have seen seven urologists who didn't take me serious about the pain and only went only what the radiologist said on the impression of the ultrasound.  I guess they forgot about the nerves that supply these areas.  When my bowels totally stopped it was after a segmonoscopy with banding where the G.I. specialist made go through the procedure without anything.  I would be suprised if he even used lube.  They had started a I.V. , but the vein shut off and they didn't have time to start another because of backed up appointments.  After begging the neurologists I have been seeing to refer me to a neurologists who does rectal EMG testing because many off nerves are related that cause this type of pain.  The results showed severe damage to S-2 S-3, root of S-4, or pudndal nerve.  I am on Loratab 10mg 4 times a day and 600mg Neurontin 3 times a day, it helps a little.  I am getting an appointment to go Cleveland Clinic to see a neurologist.  Here is the real question before pilonidal cyst I had no pain anywhere, could the resident fresh out of med school have hit some nerve during the lancing of the cyst.  If I touch the scare there are places that it seems the skin is touching my spine.  

[Zoso78]

    After my trip to Cleveland Clinic I have learned that my nerve damage may have occurred during the surgery on the pilondial cyst. What drove the nail in the coffen is when the the sigmoidoscopy was performed without the medications, giving the muscle the ability to relax.  So I assume the doctor should had used a pry bar.  The doctors told me that only six people have presented with symptoms at the hospital in the past 25 years.  Now doctors at Cleveland Clinic are performing their own rectal EMG, refering me to a colo-rectal surgeon, a urologist, and to a pain management specialist at their clinic.  I am trying to get a lawyer involved with the situation because it is obvious the doctor lied in his notes about the surgery.  It is totally different than what the hospital has on file.  I hope for some kind of positive outcome from the actions I am taking now.

[Zoso78]

Thank you all for some very helpful information that has been provided.  I just got my confimation on hotel room for my trip to Cleveland Clinic.  The drive is going to be tough but my mother is driving some.  She is a great woman I must say.  She is so very strong we just burried my younger brother almost six years ago.  She has been with through all of this even after my girlfriend of two years left three years ago.  If it wasn't for her I would not be here.  Everyone what do on here is wonderful and makes a difference.  Go Team.

[concerned621]

Please see an attorney.  You are suffering with pain that would be hard for anyone to deal with. You had something that was quite common during World War II and if taken care of properly, the prognosis is excellent.   Something was done incorrectly. You already found some red flags.  Do see a doctor but don't allow each doctor to cover anything up.  Below is a quote from a quick search on the internet.  Best of luck.  

From eMedicineHealth.com
Pilonidal Cysts Prognosis
Although more than 40% of patients with pilonidal cysts will experience a recurrence, in general, the long-term prognosis is excellent.

[Tuckamore]

A sigmoidoscopy should always be performed with sedation. The physician that done yours without any sedation is barbaric in my opinion.

Good Luck,
Tuck

[Zoso78]

The number 10 was a rating for my canidatacy for sedation which never changed on any of the paperwork in my file.  I am sure this doctor had no regardes for skill when he was to lazy to have the nurse start another IV.  Just because he was pressed for time.  He didn't have skill to fudge the paperwork correctly.  In all somehow he accomplished the procedure in 8 minutes according to his notes, I know he had me in pain for longer than that.  I am looking to own a wing at this hospital and take his malpractice insurance for every thing it is worth.

             Thanks for the helpful info Tuck

[Tuckamore]

Your physician notes are very interesting. I don't understand  "I was a 10 upright."

Nerve damage may have happened during your Sigmoidoscopy. However a flexible sigmoidoscopy is a safe procedure in when performed with skill.

One consent form that I found on line for a Sigmoidoscopy states, "I understand that.........some risk can be serious including damage to near by tissues, vessels, nerves or organs.."  

Hopefully the new neurologist will have some answers for you. Be aware that physicians often protect one another so word your questions carefully when you ask about possible damage from the Sigmoidoscopy.

Good luck. I watch with interest for your updates.
Tuck

[Zoso78]

  Well I have finally got my appointment at Cleveland Clinic.  While gathering my medical records I found some differences between what the G.I. specialists had given me at his office and what the hospital had where performed the segmonoscopy.  They chart your canidancy for sedation in a seperate file I was a 10 right up until the IV they had started had shut down, whch was never noted and the doctor wanted to rush through the procedure.  He said in his offical impression he used Versed and Demerol.  I assume the nurse at the hospital had to revise some of the paperwork when she had to return the drugs he did not use.  In the chart in big letters it says No Sedation whichis not in the doctor's handwriting.  This doctor keeps digging his grave deeper and deeper.  I am not sure if this has anything to do with the rectal nerve damage or worsened it, maybe some answers on Friday.

[Tuckamore]

Hello Zoso,

Welcome to the Pain Mangement Forum of MedHelp. You have provided good background and I am sorry that you have had to go through all of the above. However I am glad that you have been an assertive patient and demanded answers and treatment.

You question is a good one and I doubt that I can answer it with any certainty.

Pilonidal means "nest of hair". These  cysts are normally caused from and ingrown hair. It is my guess that it has not caused the pain that you are experiencing. I would be more inclined to beleive that it is from your initial injury. Only a good physician can determine what actually caused your nerve damage.

The specialist that you have been referred to should be able to answer this question. Sometimes this happens with no apparent cause but because it began at the time of injury in my personal opinion I think it is related.

I hope you will keep in touch. I will be very interested to hear the results of your referral appointment. No one has to live with a 13 pain. There are other medications that should be more effective in treating and controlling your discomfort. Please keep in touch.

Best of luck and take care.
Tuck