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My daughter in law who is in Christchurch New Zealand had a TVT sling installed in England last June before emigrating with my son and her 6 year old twin girls to New Zealand. She has been in tremendous pain for some time and now they are waiting for an appointment with a doctor from the National Health in New Zealand. I said in the meantime go to a specialist privately and apparently he thinks the pain is nerve damage and has prescribed physical therapy. He specialist doesnt think its the sling but she thinks it is, I saw that removal of a TVT sling is a complicated procedure but there is one practice in California that say they can do it better than anyone else. http://www.meshsurgeons.com/treatments-mesh-pain.phpThis would be extremely expensive I imagine including travelling.Here is an email I just got from my daughter in law after seeing the specialistHe thinks it is from the operation I had in June '11. I had a prolapse repair in the back wall of my virgina, a cyst removed, and a TVT bladder sling put in. The doctor thinks the damage to the nerves happend while doing the prolapse repair but other people and doctors think that my problem is from the TVT sling.When I went to him, I thought I would go there and he would examine me, then say that it is the sling and I should have it removed. I still think/know that I have problems with the sling. All around it, in the inside, when I am examined, hurt's like hell and I have a lot of pain there. I also do have nerve problems in my pelvis and legs. So, I am still in a lot of pain. Today is especially bad. The doctor just increased one medication that I was already on and suggested physical therapy. I'll try anything, anything that will help but I need to solve this problem very soon because I can not live like this, the pain is unbearable.So, I am extremely disappointed and very sad. This can't be the way the rest of my life will be... just laying around in pain with bouts when I have little pain.I don't know what to do.Thank you again for the appointment with the specialist!What do you think?
Optional Information: Person's Gender: Female
Hello, this is Dr K99. Answers are not medical advice and do not constitute a Dr/patient relationship. Please consult your Dr for medical advice. Hello I can help you
If she is in pain from the sling, it is likely due to nerve compression The sling should be an easy and pain free procedure with not much recovery. It is alot harder to take out than to put in. A specialist is a good idea regardless of the cost.
Nerve injury to pelvic nerves or obturator nerve is only reported as 1 in 1000. There can also be pain after surgery if the tape becomes infected or migrates into other structures. At any rate, pain of this degree is not normal.
I am aware of the surgeons on the website you noted, they are internationally known and yes they are expensive. I am happy to answer your questions
Experience: Board certified ob gyn with 20 years experience
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my son thinks the pain may be from a prolapse tightening she had at the same time....a few months ago in UK....the surgeon thinks its nerve damage and has suggested physiotherapy.....she thinks she should have an exploratory surgery....
If she had a prolapse tightening, meaning an episiotomy revision, or surgery at the back of the introitus or vaginal area, the pain may be from that. A good surgeon will be able to determine that as a source of the pain and fix that as well, its a much easier surgery than taking out the tape.