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Great article in the Toronto Star. This is one of the best we've seen in the public media, telling the story of a woman with vulvodynia. We hope it inspires more public media awareness regarding this and other related chronic pelvic, sexual and genital pain conditions.
Toronto Star Article
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Dr. Robert Echenberg, chronic pelvic & sexual pain conditions specialist and medical content provider for Pain 'Down There', encouraged some patients to share their story. To ShoutItOut so others know there is hope and healing out there. Here is Amrita's story:
I owe my life to Dr. Robert Echenberg for bringing back life to me once again after a suffering of almost 20 years. I traveled all the way from India to National Institute of Health, Maryland, Washington D. C to get evaluated for the continuous pelvic pain that could not get cured after seeing several physicians in my country. I was diagnosed with endometriosis in India. But the treatment could not give me relief from pain. I will be always indebted to Dr. Pamela Stratton from NIH who referred me to Dr. Echenberg. An extremely loving person along with a superb medical eye, he treated me for 2 months. He did bladder instillation, nerve treatments, medicine and physiotherapies. It's been more than 2 years now I feel wonderful in terms of my pelvic pain that originated from interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, neuralgia, pelvic floor myofacial dysfunction and so on apart from endometriosis. I wish more and more people around the world could get this kind of specialized treatment and get rid of the tremendous pain that they will never be able to speak out. Being an international patient I never found Dr. E (what we loving call him) less attentive to my emails. We could overcome geographical distance and I got the best possible treatment that too is quite an affordable expense (particularly because the amount of resources I had to waste in last 20 years). I would be happy if even a single person benefits from reading this review and reach people like Dr. E at the earliest in their respective lives. Regards, Amrita University of Calcutta, India Dr. Robert Echenberg, chronic pelvic & sexual pain conditions specialist and medical content provider for Pain 'Down There', encouraged some patients to share their story. To ShoutItOut so others know there is hope and healing out there. Here is Leslie's story:
Finding Dr. Echenberg and seeing him was the best thing I could have ever been blessed with. The pain that I have suffered with (silently) for so long and then the embarrassment of some of the other issues, all stemming from the pudendal nerves, have been so unbearable and I didn't know what to do for such a long time. Finally, I acquired enough courage to seek treatment from doctors, as it increasingly grew worse. I went to see my local doctors in El Paso, TX, but no one knew how to treat or diagnose my conditions involving pelvic pain: pudendal neuralgia, Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder, Interstitial Cystitis, Etc.). I live in the southwest and have seen numerous doctors, who were all at a loss as to how to properly treat me. Finally, I found Dr. Echenberg, in the far northeast, via an in-depth online research. Dr. Echenberg has a wealth of knowledge in pelvic pain, in which I have not seen in any other doctor, yet he is very humble and willing to educate any and every doctor, patient, therapist, etc. around that is willing to listen. This area of medicine has been greatly neglected by the medical society so patients are struggling to find the right doctors to go to for treatment. In my personal experience, the physical medicine doctors pass it on to pain specialists, pain specialists pass it on to neurologists, neurologists pass it on to OB/GYN doctors, OB/GYN doctors pass it onto urologists, urologists pass it on to the OB/GYN doctors and the cycle is vicious. There are very few that know or have studied much regarding the pudendal nerves. When my husband and I went to see Dr. Echenberg, he actually scheduled three hours, for our first appointment, to spend solely with us and went through everything in detail. He explained in depth all that I was experiencing and could find exactly where the pain was with trigger point treatment. His knowledge and educational session with us was so amazing for my husband and myself, knowing that what both of us were dealing with is "normal," considering the situation. Dr. Echenberg validated the spouse's side of what they are going through as well, which was great. It took a huge weight off both of our shoulders, knowing that there is hope, there are treatments and we are not alone. All the pain, embarrassment, agony, etc. that I had been facing could now be re-arranged and worked on. There is HOPE!!! Praise God! Dr. Echenberg and his assistant, Kristin, have maintained close contact with me, even though I am unable to see him physically as often as I should. The constant validation, support and education that Dr. Echenberg and Kristin provide, through all that I face with the pain/etc., is what truly encourages me so much and keeps me pressing forward. They are definitely a blessing from God. I pray that more doctors start educating themselves on these pelvic pain conditions, as more patients start stepping forward and sharing their "hidden" pain. - Leslie El Paso, TX Live near El Paso, TX and want to contact Leslie? Contact Us. Have a Real Life Story to tell? Help us ShoutItOut and Contact Us. Dr. Robert Echenberg, chronic pelvic & sexual pain conditions specialist and medical content provider for Pain 'Down There', encouraged some patients to share their story. To ShoutItOut so others know there is hope and healing out there. Here is Bonita's story:
At a time when most healthcare professionals are being scrutinized for terrible bedside manner...not showing personalized care to the patient...abusing a patients' time in the waiting room and in general just showing an "I don't care" attitude...in comes Dr. ROBERT ECHENBERG and his carefully chosen team of office professionals. Firstly....the thought that ANY doctor will spend more than ten minutes with you in an exam room is quite absurd these days. When I heard that Dr. Echenberg spends a couple of hours with you on your first visit I was blown away. And then when I saw that he takes the time to actually show you your own anatomy and where your pain is emanating from I knew I was in the right place. We all come to this office with a problem that we don't want to discuss in the first place. PAIN DOWN THERE? WHERE? There...we whisper quietly. No need to whisper because Dr. Echenberg and his highly trained and compassionate staff knows exactly how to handle this. Their knowledge gets put to work as they diagnose your symptoms and come up with a proper plan to treat your pain. Yes, I was a bit hesitant about the nerve blocks ..but only the first time because Dr. Echenberg and his trusted assistants made it very easy to become very much at ease. With each and every visit the pain became less and less. My only disappointment now is that I have relocated out of state and will not be able to visit Dr. Echenbergs office any longer. For those of you who are still in the area and for those of you who have to travel a slight distance please do yourself a great favour and visit Dr. Echenberg so that your pelvic pain and sexual wellness is taken care of in the proper manner. - Bonita Have a Real Life Story to share? Help us ShoutItOut and Contact Us! Dr. Robert Echenberg, chronic pelvic & sexual pain conditions specialist and member of our Pain 'Down There' team, encouraged some patients to share their story. To #ShoutItOut so others know there is hope and healing out there. Here is Anne's story:
When I was first referred to Dr. Echenberg for serious sexual pain, I never imagined that help was actually available, especially for a woman of 70. I was overwhelmed by the compassionate care and thoroughness of the diagnoses that was discovered. My sexual and pelvic pain issues were based on years of trauma, abuse, stress, and multiple surgeries that I never fully connected to my current problems. The educational component helped both my husband and myself to understand the issues we were facing together. Through several treatment protocols, including nerve blocks, bladder installation, and additional sessions with a specialist in physical therapy trained in pelvic pain...I am learning to see my body as a whole unit of body, mind and spirit and to carry through on the treatment prescribed in lesser and less frequent sessions at this point. Having my husband's support each step of the way was vital and I certainly recommend others to get the help you need now instead of waiting 70 years as I did. Pelvic pain is not "in your head." It is a treatable problem that should be taken care of by specialists who understand and care. - Anne |
AuthorStephanie Yeager: Passionate about spreading the word of hope and healing for those like her, influencing a paradigm shift in the medical community toward greater understanding of chronic pelvic pain disorders, and prevention initiatives that may protect young women before onset can occur. Archives
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