I’m not yet clear about the effects of Nerve block No. 3, but I’m calling it… I’m going to be positive… I believe I’m building! It’s just a sorta three steps forward and two back situation.. I hope. So far, my building blocks go like this: • Nerve block No. 1 (December 7, 2011), • Nerve block No. 2 (April 18, 2012), • Nerve block No. 3 (November 23, 2012)
Here's hoping for a pain free 2013. Best wishes everyone. Health, peace and happiness to you all.
With Pudendal Neuralgia, or any other pelvic chronic pain issue, it can be impossible to sit pain free (let alone get away without a flare up). Of course, I'm no pro when it comes to seating, but I've learned a lot from my own experience and from listening to the 'ouch' in my pelvis. The seating I needed, was most often hand-made! (Have a look at the one my gorgeous father in law made, it's the stool with adjustable foot rest!) Although I've worn out, thrown out, tried and tested so many more seating aids, I'm showing the ones that have lasted or worked for a while. These are the ones I often resort to.
Did you all hear I'm back at work part time? Much thanks to our flexible home/office setup and Theo's immense help. Regardless, how lucky am I hey? But oops, hang on, I have to correct myself. It's not lucky for me, it's lucky for the WorkSafe Agent. And I must clarify because from their point of view I didn't get myself back to work, it had nothing to do with my research, the practitioners I found, their treatment and great therapies (or my hip pocket!). Nope, nothing to do with nerve blocks and medication, but rather, my high activity levels. Yeeees, I have been a full time artist and I've been caught red-handed!!! Well I'm sick of this crap! And this time, the story isn't going to end with me feeling anxious and swallowing those bits of paper, while the Investigators excuse themselves gutlessly with a letter marked 'Private and Confidential' that they send to the WorkSafe Agent. It's going to end here, on my blog. And I'm even going to have some fun while I'm at it! ...And if you're an investigator wanting to comment, don't bother! Your comments will be deleted. As I said, this time the story ends with me.
...please gear up with me, imagine the drum rolls and the biggest mountain you can imagine with me standing on the tippy top yelling because this IS real, IT'S true, IT'S official: I'M BACK AT WORK!!!!!!!" No, I've not overdosed on my medication and the stress of a chronic pain issue has not damaged me enough to be hallucinating.., I. AM (wiggling heaps but all the same). SITTING. IN. A (very nice ergonomic). CHAIR. TYPING. THIS. POST!!!!
Oh happy day! Yes this website has been nominated for an Awwwards 'Site of the Day' with an Honorable Mention. Please help me say, 'thank you' to the wonderful team at Origin of Image who helped me put this pelvic pain resource together and in turn gain more awareness for pudendal neuralgia. All you need to do is visit this awwardswebsite link, log in with your facebook or twitter account (or register) and rate us from 1-10. To date, pudendalnerve.com.au has had almost 10,000 visitors. It certainly isn't anything to be happy about, that's alot of people in pain, but if thats an indication the website is indeed becoming a resource, creating awareness and helping with the frustration of chronic pain, which in turn gives great relief and direction, then I'll be very happy. My chronic pain at least served a purpose.
I've been contacted by a few males who feel their symptoms are similar to the ones I share on my website. There is help, for males with pudendal neuralgia in Australia:
(Excerpt from the Daily Mail's newspaper) Feminist Naomi Wolf finds enjoyment in sex again after her nerve 'wiring' is repaired by surgeon • Author felt something different was happening after sex • 'I felt I was losing somehow, what made me a woman' • Doctor found she had been born with mild spina bifida
...So with my returned senses came dreams, with senses and dreams came diagnosis, with diagnosis came, finally, appropriate treatment, and with the right treatment came great pain relief and some much deserved and needed increased capacity. I feel I've arrived on a very high mountain but had to crawl all the way up over 5 1/2 years. So, here we are on the mountain, I mean, in Italy, and boy did we pick the right place! Not only did we have a divine holiday but we stumbled on what feels like a miracle treatment for my form of PN and that was part of the Italian lifestyle: bidets and siestas...
Henri Matisse, in his own inspiring words. Creativity takes courage. Derive happiness in oneself from a good day's work, from illuminating the fog that surrounds us. Work cures everything.
