Nerve damage after episiotomy?

[Ruibies]

Hi all

Gave birth 7 weeks ago and had an episiotomy and forceps, and also 2nd degree tear. Since then I've had 2 course of antibiotics because the pain has been unreal.

Saw the GP yesterday after finishing my second course. She said it's all healing beautifully, no sign of infection, no open wound, no haematoma or anything. But I am in so much pain, from the site of the episiotomy all the way up to the top.

She said it could be nerve damage and that it can take months to heal, and that for some women it never goes fully away and there is a 'nagging pain' for life.

I'm terrified that that might be the case for me. I hate medical things with a 'wait and see' situation, I really just want to be told when it will get better (I know this is unrealistic). Has anyone else been told they have nerve damage and gone on to heal just fine? What sort of timeline did you have?

I have my 8 week check next week with the same dr. She also said if things don't improve in the next couple of months she can refer me to gynaecology for more follow up. Just gutted as it's really impacting how much I can do in the day with my baby.

Ok, I was you a few months ago!

DD has just turned 6 months and I can honestly say I thought it would never get better… I also had bleeding for 12 weeks straight (placenta came out in clumps at birth)…

BUT after 12 weeks I started feeling better. The bleeding finally stopped and near my episiotomy scar started feeling less achy.

I still get a bit of heaviness / dull pain around the time of the month but apart from that I feel a lot better. Still on the waiting list for NHS to see a physio for the nerve damage.

but I just wanted to let you know there is light at the end of the tunnel. I searched here for ages and never found anyone in the same position so wanted to reply !

big hugs

Oh my goodness thanks so much for replying and sorry I've just seen it! It's really good to hear you've gotten better! I do know that at 7 weeks it's still early days, but I was expecting to feel better after like 4, so this is really disheartening. I'm keeping going on codeine for now and will keep my fingers crossed that like you I see some improvement in the next month or so!!

No problem, I’ve just got a referral through for some physio as well… keep an eye on it and don’t be afraid to push for help / to be seen if you think things aren’t quite right x

@Ruibies hi are you breast feeding?
If not it would be worth trying to get a low dose of amitriptyline , it's very good for controlling nerve pain.
Have my fingers crossed that it will resolve fully for you.

Bless you, I sympathise entirely as I went through exactly the same thing after an episiotomy and it was hideous. In hindsight I think it wasn’t helped by the hormonal dryness caused by breastfeeding as that made the whole area really raw and sore even aside from the nerve pain. I was prescribed instillagel numbing gel which helped and also given a referral to gynae when I still had the pain 6 months on. They gave me vaginal dilators to use daily with some success although the main factor in improvement for me was steroid injections into the areas of scar tissue and most pronounced nerve pain. The injections themselves were exquisitely painful but almost immediately curative which was wonderful. Happily I can report that whilst I went on to have two further episiotomies in future pregnancies, I never again had a recurrence of the nerve pain.

Ah I feel your pain. My DD was ventouse delivery and episiotomy. My stitches came out at one point and I needed to go on antibiotics. It’s a rough ride I give you that but I promise it gets better. It took me a while to get over it so please don’t worry, I promise it gets better. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, do you have anyone helping you out? I found sitting down and standing back up again really painful. I bought one of though doughnut cushions for when I needed to go in the car. Accept as much help as you can, particularly anything involving lifting.
Four years down the line and I’m pregnant again but up until this point the only twinge I ever felt was on the first day of my period. Sending lots of love, you’ll be ok and I promise it will get better.

I had a lot of pain in my episiotomy scar after DS2 was born ten years ago. Turned out I had granulated scar tissue on the incision which had to be burnt off (twice, as they didn’t get it all the first time) with liquid nitrogen. Once it healed the pain ceased and it has been fine ever since.

Sorry that should have read silver nitrate, not liquid nitrogen.