Gridded Pattern Injections

UPDATE DECEMBER 9, 2016
I saw one of the top specialists and he was shocked that anyone had tried such an "old-school", ineffective technique on me.

Today I got a vestibulectomy.



ORIGINAL POST
The vulva is gridded and then injected with steroids and lidocaine to flood the skin and to get at all the branches of the nerves. I had this as my "last hope" before a serious consideration of a vestibulectomy. Had it worked, even a bit, I could have had it done once again. I did not find data on its effectiveness, but the doctor was optimistic, so I tried it.

Vestibular Mast Cells

In patients with vestibulitis, there is an increase in neurons and mast cells. One area of research done in the past was to biopsy an area of the vestibule and look at nerve cell and mast cell counts. Both are much greater in people with vestibulitis

5% Lidocaine Ointment Research

This approach has provided me with some symptom improvement. My only note is that I don't tolerate the cotton ball they mention to keep the ointment in place.

The document would not copy so here's the link:

http://www.med.unc.edu/ppru/publications/Overnight%205-%20Lidocaine%20ointment%20for%20treatment%20of%20vulvar%20vestibulitis.pdf

Lidocaine Ointment

Updated Post 11/6/2011:
The lidocaine "pooped out" (the clinical term, I believe). My gynecologist Dr. Lannin suggested that taking a 3-5 day break is needed and then to start using it again. All is well, but no cure. Maybe some improvement, however. Look at my post on Desonide.

Original Post:
I have a new specialist in pelvic pain, N.P. Abercrombie at UCSF. I am now using 5% lidocaine ointment that is made specifically for mucous membranes. It smells like spearmint for all those using it on canker sores..! She believes that my vulvar pain will be gone after 3 months of usage. That's a big statement, but so far it is going well. It hasn't burned like the other lidocaines have, possibly because it has a different base. Of course, lidocaine does burn somewhat, but this works fast and numbs you out. She said to put it on a cotton ball and place that in the vestibule. I am finding good luck just with applying it directly which avoids the cotton ball.

As a side note, she suggested trying to 1. get off some of my prescription drugs and 2. try the Andrew Weil anti-inflammatory diet. Her take as to "why" I have pain is that I have too much systemic inflation (this fits with my autonomic arousal theory).