Question:
I would like to know if Guaif has lessened vulvar pain for any of you?? I was diagnosed with vulvar vestibulitis about a year ago. I have since been told that my pain is the result of FM. I am a member of the Vulvar Pain Foundation and learned at a recent seminar that there is a high correlation between VP and FM. Can any of you identify with this? For about a year I was told that the triggers were caused by my failure to relax. To my knowledge there are only 7 woman with VP who are in the early stages (1 month to 6 months) of Guaif therapy. Is there anyone else out there? If so, how is it working? I'm new to theFMily. It's nice to see that I am not so alone with my pain. Are there any active support groups in the Los Angeles or Ventura County areas of Ca.?

Answer: Another cause of pain in this area is varicose veins of the pelvis. Usually there are also varicose veins in the legs as well, but not always. There is a ganglia called the FrankenHauser plexus which can be injected, which may help. The injection is done with a 3.5 inch spinal needle from the groin just medial to the artery toward the rectum (empty the bladder first). I inject 5cc of procaine or lidocaine on each side. When it works the pain is gone within a few minutes after the injection. The procedure may need to be repeated a few days later. Also just injectiing the skin around the vulva with procaine may also work. These injections are usually quite painful when they work and if they don't work they are usually quite tolerable. Sometimes there is a repressed memory of very early sexual abuse or other trauma, which is released with these injections. If this is the case, then once the emotional problem is dealt with the pain usually does not return.