What is nerve entrapment syndrome?
Symptoms: Pain or numbness involving the area between the legs, including the genitals and occasionally some of the inside of the thigh. Often only one side is affected. The pain may be aggravated by sitting. Diagnosis: The diagnosis is based on matching the affected area to the areas supplied by the Pudendal nerve. MR Neurography imaging can identify entrapments. Injections can confirm the diagnosis and can help. What causes the problem? There are four common sites of nerve entrapment that can cause a pudendal nerve syndrome. The nerve may be entrapped as it: 1) passes under the piriformis muscle 2) crosses the sacrospinous ligament and dives under the sacrotuberous ligament 3) travels across the obturator foramen within the Alcox canal 4) upon exit from Alcox canal and branching in the perineal area (between the legs) Another cause is entrapment or irritation of the Impar ganglion on the internal surface of the coccyx. How can it be treated? At the Institute for Nerve Medicine, open
