Someone help me with my very embarrassing problem - please!

[lulupop]

Hi all,
I am in excruciating pain at the moment, due to the most embarrassing sports injury I can imagine. A few days ago, I spent longer on the exercise bike than I'm used to. I felt a bit of rubbing against the saddle at the time, but it didn't hurt.
Afterwards, the area around my clitoris became extremely sensitive. Five days on, it is so painful that even walking or crossing my legs hurts, and touching the area feels like a knife running through it. I have looked in a mirror and it looks as though there is a tiny cut just below my clitoris - this is also the epicentre of the pain.
Having had 2 c-sections, I have no experience of how long skin in this area takes to heal itself. I am seriously worried that I might never want to have sex again - it's that painful. Can anyone tell me how long it will take to heal, and is there anything I can do to aid healing? I have been pressing cotton wool soaked in calendula tincture around the area (ouch!), but what else could help? Somebody help me!

ouch
arnica on a sanitary pad or witchhazel
sudocreme works miracles
the skinj down there heals really quickly honest
do your pelvic floor exercises to get the blood flowing

Do you have any ky that you could use? I had to use that when i had thrush as i couldnt get to the chemist, it helps. I also say pelvic floor.

Is it worth trying some vaseline? That would reduce the friction and protect the skin while it heals.

Didn't think of arnica, though I have tried ky - helped for a little while but then sort of "slipped" off - I guess that;s what it's for!

The idea of witchhazel is making me wince - surely this would really sting?

How is pelvic floor exerciseds going to help? Long time since I've done them, but I'll try anything

they help in getting blood to the area to help it heal
they help when you have stitches

Oh god I do sympathise.
Mine got bruised during birth.
Gawd knows how, but anyway it hurt like billy-oh at odd times.
Excruciating actually. Once was getting off the bus with a friend and moved the wrong way and set it off. Friend asked what was wrong. "It's my clitoris!" I sobbed. Luckily was a good friend.
No help just lots of sympathy from me.

you shouldn't use witch hazel on broken skin!!!!!

you shouldn't use vaseline down there either - can't remember why but was always told that!

Also, I don't think you're supposed to use homeopathic tinctures undiluted. You should either add a few drops to water then apply with the cotton wool or add a few drops to a bath. You were on the right track with Calendula (Arnica is more for bruising than for cuts or tears) but if you can get Hypericum & Calendula combined tincture that would be even better.

sudocrem would e fine. also consider taking a jug of water when you need to pee and pour down whilst you are peeing to dilute you urine. I am a keen biker and have done this many a time, if you use a barrier cream like sudocrem it should heal within the week. alternitively you could make up some ky 15 mls with 1 drop geranium, 1 drop lavender and 1 drop tea tree.
ana aromatherapist did this for my eppisiotomy and it was fab!

ouch!! throw that exercise bike in the skip!

I went horse-riding once in a lacy thong. NOT to be recommended. I was in very similar state - I think it took a week or so, but don;t fret. you'll have sex again.

Sudacreme

I wouldn't use vaseline (need to get the air to it!); homeopathic remedies won't help as they're just water (red rags to the bulls). Herbal remedies (e.g. witch hazel) are good; having said that I wouldn't recommend witch hazel on broken skin.

sorry to hijack, but I like your name thewomanwho....

did you ever read that book - the man who thought his wife was a hat - fascinating!

dh has the book. harpisichordcarrier suggested the book title as my name, but decided to turn it round.

thanks for the sympathy and advice. Chapsmum - how could you do this more than once?? I am never going on an exercise bike again! Will try with the sudocrem and hope it gets better soon. Now I understand why my friends who had episiomtomies all sat on rubber rings afterwards for days!