Hi, this post focuses on a specific element of my complex presentation...
I have acute pain in the sacrum, around S2 level left-center. It first appeared during an improper lifting injury, was provoked again when leaning back in a barber wash chair after the injury, and since then can be evoked in acute form by either extension while sitting (I don't do this as a result) or prolonged pressure on sacrum (lying on hard surface). The main problem with this is when I aggravate it badly I lose substantial function (sensory and autonomic, at least) in my sacral nerves S3, 4, 5 right side, some S3 left. There is an underlying assumption that my herpes genital 6-year history has already done some damage to said nerves and thus may be act as an exaserbation of whatever the mechanism of nerve problem I have is.
Normally after a sacral pain acute flare-up, it takes a week or more for the pain to calm down and at least that long for sacral nerve function to return to previous levels. To me, this sounds like an inflamation calming down. Unfortunately, after the third attack I never regained normal sensation in the perineum, and some autonomic complications been present as well (erectile dysfunction).
What would it take to have extension while sitting (not standing) cause acute focal pain in a particular place in the sacrum? Just putting some finger pressure on that area can evoke lesser pain as well. This pain was not evoked during a discogram which did reproduce a pain located higher up (L4/5).
I have had nearly every test for the spine. My sacral MRI shows a protrusion at the S2 level indenting the thecal sac but no radiologist has considered this signifigant. My convoluted history is on the spinal disorders thread but I post this here looking for specific ideas on sacral pain, causes of, effects of inflamation, etc.
It is possible to have inflammation affecting the area you speak of. If it is, a course of oral steroids should do the trick. UNLESS you have something going on that is aggravating the inflammation. If you have any problems with your bowels or urination....incontinence, get yourself to your doctor immediately. It could be a sign of a very serious problem. Does none of your doctors want to address this issue? If not, I would be looking elsewhere to find one who would.
Good luck to you....and let us know how you are doing.
Hi, thanks for your reply. A recent ct myelogram of the sacrum showed substantial enlargement/scarring (assumed) of my right s3 nerve, consistent with symptoms. It does have acute onset when my sacrum gets inflamed, which is usually through improper sitting or acute, prolonged pressure. Additionally, even simple activities like standing and sitting instantly reduce nerve sensation and function. I have had nearly every study in the book but nothing is 'found' besides this.
Do you understand the mechanism whereby tissue inflamation leads to chronic nerve inflamation/scarring, or how/who it can be followed up with? I have had a number of puzzled heads with the spine specialists I have seen.
